The final report describes the objectives and accomplishments of Project COMPETE, a 3-year project in New York State whose purpose was to develop secondary and transitional postsecondary programming for training youth with severe disabilities in skills necessary to achieve a successful transition from school to vocational opportunities in their…

This training module focuses on the paraprofessional's role in the transition of students with disabilities from school to the adult world. The module is comprised of two components, a facilitator's guide and a student's guide. The facilitator's guide provides the full text of the student's edition as well as chapter goals to be accomplished by…

Provides a summary of seven eras reflecting the philosophical perspectives that have influenced the treatment of handicapped individuals in the past. Issues concerning the integration of handicapped people into the community are reviewed. A conceptual framework for examining factors that influence service delivery is provided. (Author/BJV)

Reviews some of the major developments in teaching and training relevant community skills to mentally retarded persons. The following adaptive skills are discussed: (1) toilet use and bed wetting; (2) eating, dressing, and personal hygiene; (3) community survival; and (4) vocational and social skills. (BJV)

This article examines psychosocial needs of learning-disabled individuals making transitions from secondary to postsecondary education and ways in which service providers can address these needs. A transition project at the University of Minnesota is described, and techniques such as individual and group counseling, disability awareness training,…

This paper provides an overview of the transition process for students with severe handicaps. For secondary age youths with severe handicaps, explicit and intensive transition planning is necessary to bridge the gap between school experiences and adult life. The transition planning process is designed to build the skills necessary for an…

Two documents focus on Transitional Service Centers (TSC) programs designed to help persons with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities enter into employment and community life. The procedural manual introduces the concept of transition from school to work and community living and examines steps in developing TSCs: (1) conducting a…

The Career Assessment and Placement Center is a school-to-adult-life transition program which provides vocational and independent living services to individuals with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. A set of five manuals was prepared to assist in developing services similar to those provided by the Center. The "Operations"…

This guide provides an approach to assist public schools and adult service agencies in designing programs that will maximize the ability of severely disabled students to function in non-sheltered vocational environments. The guide is composed of a list of questions to be used in a self-evaluation process; the questions concern needs assessment,…

Researchers and practitioners have generally concentrated on the following areas of social competence: (1) social assertion; (2) interviewing skills; and (3) conversational ability. Reviews issues of methodology. Studies are reviewed and recommendations for future research are made. (Author/BJV)

A distance education program trained teachers in West Virginia and Missouri rural school districts to implement the Life Centered Career Education Curriculum, a comprehensive K-12 transitional program. The program allowed educators in rural school districts to access a campus-based training course and begin incorporating transitional…

This newsletter issue describes a programmatic line of research to develop and standardize a test battery of transition skills (employment and independent living skills) for adolescents and young adults (ages 14 to 25) who are deaf. The newsletter first discusses the importance of assessment data to the transition process for persons who are deaf.…

The handbook is intended for school and community programs helping learning disabled young adults make the transition from school to work. The first chapter describes development of the Transition Project by York County (Maine) and project components including referral, assessment, membership on the Transitional Pupil Evaluation Team, the…

The manual was the outcome of a 3-year project to develop a training program on self-advocacy for special education students. The student training is a 3-4 hour program aimed at increased student awareness of their rights and responsibilities as they begin the transition process. Training materials include outlines for each session, student…

This handbook acquaints special needs students with programs and opportunities available to help them make the transition from school to working. The guide helps students identify their personal strengths, identify goals for the future, determine skills needed to reach those goals, and determine help needed from others. The body of the guide…