Transition

Transition planning is a possess that is necessary for all students. An effective transition plan assists students (and their families) as they plan for life after high school. The student’s interests, needs, and additional disabilities will help guide the transition process. Effective transition for students who are visually impaired will involve agencies, the student’s family, and the student who is visually impaired. 

Transition services and a written transition plan are required for students who receive special education services. By law, transition planning must start at age 14 in Pennsylvania; however, for students who are visually impaired, it is essential to begin transition planning as early as possible, even as early as kindergarten!

The following is a list of Pennsylvania agencies to connect with for supports and services:

 

Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS)

BBVS assists Pennsylvanians who are blind or visually impaired gain the skills necessary to live and work independently in their communities. BBVS is a part of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) Services.

Pennsylvania Associations for the Blind 

PAB’s are member agencies that provide programs and resources to local communities across Pennsylvania. Their services are designed to meet the individual needs of Pennsylvanians with vision impairment.

TechOWL - Technology for Our Whole Lives​ 

TechOWL provides people with disabilities a program to explore tools and technology to be successful in life. TechOWL provides people with disabilities a program to explore tools and technology to be successful in life. This organization holds the Pennsylvania State Grant for Assistive Technology Program and the Assistive Technology National Activities funded under the Assistive Technology Act (AT Act of 2004).

The following is a list of National resources:

 

American Printing House for the Blind

The site listed below provides multiple resources for families and professionals that are applicable to secondary transition planning.

• CareerConnect Expanding Employment Possibilities for People with Vision Loss provides employment information, career exploration tools, secondary transition lessons, and job-seeking guidance for individuals with vision loss and the professionals who work with them.

• Family Connect – Transition to Independence provides numerous articles and resources on the secondary transition to families of children who are visually impaired and the professionals who serve them.

Perkins School for the Blind Transition Websites

• College Success @ Perkins is an initiative to address the gaps in college readiness for all students with visual impairments – as early as possible, in order to increase efficiency, promote self-advocacy and set students up with the strongest possible foundation for success. Checkout the College Readiness Resource Center section.
• Paths to Transition Explore ideas and resources related to the transition from school to adult life for youth who are blind or visually impaired, including those who are deafblind or who have multiple disabilities.​

Utah School for the Blind’s Core High School Readiness Checklist

This checklist is for students to be competent in high school. Students who are engaged in rigorous high school level work can then focus on the road to success in college or the workforce. The Expanded Core High School Readiness Checklist is divided into three grade bands:

• Preschool & kindergarten
• First through fourth grades
• Fifth through eighth grades