This booklet is for young people with handicaps who are getting ready to graduate from high school and begin working and living in the adult world, with special focus on individuals with cultural differences. The booklet provides advice on completing preliminary, essential tasks of adult living. It also explains the services of various agencies…

In 1997, John N. Gardner, Gretchen Van der Veer and associates published their landmark book, The Senior Year Experience: Facilitating Integration, Reflection, Closure, and Transition. One impact of this book, and the Senior Year Experience program within the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the…

The child welfare field is uncertain how to best prepare older foster wards for independent living. Research priorities in this area are discussed in five categories: (1) education and school-to-work transitions; (2) formal assessments of readiness for self-sufficiency; (3) provision of transitional supports; (4) support networks; and (5)…

This review explored the literature on programs for students with learning disabilities incorporating self-advocacy components into secondary-to-post-secondary transition programs. An evaluation of self-advocacy components is presented to determine to what extent such self-advocacy skills as knowing one's rights, effective communication skills,…

Discusses life skills instruction in the transition education of adolescents with disabilities. The relationship of life skills instruction to the transition process, curricular issues related to students with special needs, models for teaching life skills, options for covering life skills in the curriculum, and cultural considerations are…

This article presents early descriptive findings on youths and their experiences in the first 12 to 18 months after leaving foster care as part of the state of Wisconsin's Foster Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study. Findings suggest that the transition to independence is a difficult time for youth leaving the out-of-home care system. (Author/SD)

The transition to adult life for students with reading and writing challenges is an area that is not often addressed. The purpose of this article is to relate the informal assessment process to the broader context of high stakes assessment, high school exit exams, diploma options, and transition planning; identify the competencies needed for a…

This Spanish version of "How to Work and Live in the Real World: Basic Steps for Youth with Handicaps and Their Parents and Teachers" is for young people with handicaps who are getting ready to graduate from high school and begin working and living in the adult world. The booklet places a special focus on individuals with cultural…

This curriculum outline for the Sevier County, Tennessee, transition program for special needs students provides goals and objectives for the following domains: domestic, vocational, community functioning, and recreation/leisure. The domestic domain covers personal hygiene/grooming, first aid, home nursing, birth control/pregnancy, parenting, drug…

The effectiveness of independent living programs for developmentally disabled persons in Los Angeles County was examined using a sample of 33 clients (ages 18-50) who exited such programs between June 1984 and June 1986. All but one were mentally retarded; seven also had either cerebral palsy or epilepsy. Survey forms for each client were…

The Cooperative Extension Service is targeting more educational programs to older people and families. This coincides with the increasing numbers of older persons and four generation families. The Extension Service seeks to provide preventive education which will help individuals make informed decisions and develop living skills. The Extension…

An occupational therapy-based independent living skills program at a California high school was designed to help disabled adolescents assume adult roles. Based on occupational science principles, the program's themes include occupation and occupational role, environment, independence, and adaptation. (SK)

The McLellan County (Texas) Cooperative for Exceptional Children emphasizes vocational training in community settings as well as domestic skills through the Living in Functional Environments program. Community-based instruction improves the transition not only to employment but to independent living and community participation for youth with…

The article describes Project M.E.A.L.(Model for Employment and Adult Living) in Phoenix, Arizona, designed to move unemployed young learning disabled adults recently out of school to employment and community living. Training and support services link clients with available community training or education programs and sustained employment in…

Reviews data on the skill level and readiness for independence of adolescents who are placed in the substitute care system in Washington State. Findings suggest that many of these youth do well in terms of skill learning and performance, and are prepared for independence upon emancipation. Nevertheless, remedial training is suggested to better…