Successful Transitions

Assisting Students With Disabilities Achieve Their Future Goals

Transitioning from school to adult life can be a fun time. Planning ahead and knowing the right steps to take is helpful for getting the most out of high school and preparing for life after high school.

Unfortunately for individuals with disabilities, there is often a gap in the services offered by the school and those offered by adult service agencies. Sometimes students don’t feel ready for the stage of life after high school. Without guidance and counseling, many of these students and their families may not know about the services available to them, or they may not apply in time to allow for a smooth transition.

Successful Transitions is a program in partnership with the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC), designed to assist EVSC students with disabilities as they transition from high school to adult life. This group of 18 to 21 year old individuals (whose needs and disability levels vary from mild to severe) has been determined to have the greatest need of transition services. Specially-trained staff members meet with the counselors, parents, and program participants to plan for their future. Our program goal is to ensure that students transition from high school special education programs into their adult life with minimal delay or interruption. Prior to the development and implementation of this program, many of these students spent up to two years sitting at home after high school graduation before gaining access to the resources and supports they need to pursue their goals – losing vital skills they had learned during their educational experience.

Through person-centered planning, each student participating in Successful Transitions will set goals for their life during and after high school. One of the objectives of Successful Transitions is to ensure that each individual’s Independent Education Plan (IEP) is synchronized with his or her person-centered plan. Successful Transitions seeks to increase the parental/family involvement, which informs the student and his or her family members of the services and choices available.

To learn more about Successful Transitions and the program’s services,
please contact Lyneve Scott at 492-1206.