What you'll need to do and when…

Student-Led IEPs: A Guide for Student Involvement Transition Planning: A Team Effort THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT OF 1997 TRANSITION REQUIREMENTS: A Guide for States, Districts, Schools, Universities and Families

Start considering your future opportunities early. As a student with a disability, you can participate in planning your transition from high school to college during the annual review of your IEP or at any other IEP meeting where you request to discuss this issue. In fact, the IDEA requires that transition planning is part of the IEP process for all students with disabilities beginning at age 14. If you plan to attend college, preparing for this goal is essential.

Use these articles to learn how to include your plans for attending college in your IEP and the steps to take along the way.

• Transition Timeline: provides suggestions to put into practice during your middle school and high school years. Also available in PDF (7 pg. 116 KB) and WORD (7 pg. 45 KB)

• Transition Planning: Your plans for college will need to become part of your Individualized Education Program (IEP) and your Transition Plan beginning at age 14.
  
  
• Student Summary of Performance: A summary of academic achievement and functional performance, including recommendations on how to assist in meeting the student’s postsecondary goals, is required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) for all students whose eligibility for special education terminates due to graduation with a regular diploma, or due to exceeding the age of eligibility. Get details and a model Student Summary of Performance form here.