Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Federal legislation requires that students with disabilities receive services to assist them in the transition from high school to postsecondary life. Transition services must address students' understanding of their disability, learning strengths and weaknesses, career decision—making skills, and preparation for the increased demands of postsecondary education. This study surveyed coordinators of special services for students with disabilities at 74 colleges and universities in New York state. Respondents provided their perceptions of how well the students they served had been prepared by the transition services they had received in high school. Overall, little satisfaction with transition services was expressed. Respondents were most satisfied with high schools' provision of updated evaluations for students prior to enrollment in college, and they rated students' preparation for self-advocacy as the greatest weakness of current transition services.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, P.L. 101-336, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.

Blackorby, J. , & Wagner, M. (1997). The employment outcomes for youth with learning disabilities: A review of the findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study of special education students. In P. J. Gerber & D. S. Brown (Eds.), Learning disabilities and employment (pp. 57—74). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

Collet-Klingenberg, L.L. (1998). The reality of best practices in transition: A case study. Exceptional Children, 65, 67—79.

Cummings, R. , Maddux, C. , & Casey, J. (2000). Individualized transition planning for students with learning disabilities. The Career Development Quarterly , 49, 60—72.

Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, P.L. 94-142, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.

Field, S. (1996). Self-determination instructional strategies for youth with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities , 29, 40—52.

Gajar, A.H. (1992). University-based models for students with learning disabilities: The Pennsylvania state university model. In F. R. Rusch , L. Destefano , J. Chadsey-Rusch , L. A. Phelps , & E. Szymanski (Eds.), Transition from school to adult life: Models, linkages, and policy (pp. 51—70). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole .

Getzel, E.E. , & Gugerty, J.J. (1996). Applications for youth with learning disabilities . In P. Wehman (Ed.), Life beyond the classroom: Transition strategies for young people with disabilities (pp. 337—389). Baltimore: Brookes .

Gordon, M. , & Keiser, S. (1998). Underpinnings. In M. Gordon & S. Keiser (Eds.), Accommodations in higher education under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A no-nonsense guide for clinicians, educators, administrators, and lawyers (pp. 3—19). New York: GSI.

10.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990, P.L. 101-476, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.

11.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997, P.L. 105-17, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.

12.

Kavale, K.A. , & Forness, S.R. (1996). Learning disability grows up: Rehabilitation issues for individuals with learning disabilities. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 62, 34—42.

13.

Lerner, J. (1997). Learning disabilities: Theories, diagnosis, and teaching strategies (7th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

14.

Levinson, E.M. (1998). Transition: Facilitating the postschool adjustment of students with disabilities . Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

15.

Levinson, E.M. , & Ohler, D.L. (1998). Transition from high school to college for students with learning disabilities: Needs, assessment, and services. The High School Journal, 82(1), 62—69.

16.

New York State Education Department. (2000 ). Part 200 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education . Albany: Author.

17.

Ohler, D.L. , Levinson, E.M. , & Barker, W.F. (1996). Career maturity in college students with learning disabilities. The Career Development Quarterly, 44, 278—288.

18.

Pagels, C.F. (1998). Transitioning high school students with learning disabilities to the college environment: Avoiding common pitfalls. Paper presented at the 1998 conference of the National Association of School Psychologists, Orlando, FL.

19.

Patton, E.A. , & McMahon, M. (1999). Career development systems theory: A new relationship . Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole .

20.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, P.L. 93-112, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.

21.

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2000). Postsecondary students with disabilities: Enrollment, services, and persistence (NCES Publication No. 2000-092). Jessup, MD: Education Publications Center.

22.

Wilson, G.L. (1994). Self-advocacy skills. In C. A. Michaels (Ed.), Transition strategies for persons with learning disabilities (pp. 153—184). San Diego: Singular.

The Transition From High School to Postsecondary Education for Students with Learning Disabilities

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References