Transition
Timeline - Your "To Do" List
Pre-High
School Tasks
-
Take
challenging classes in English, mathematics, science,
history, geography, foreign language, and the fine and
practical arts
-
Develop
study skills and strategies that you know work for you
-
Investigate
which high school classes will best prepare you for the
colleges you want to attend
-
Investigate
your options among schools and programs of study and choose
ones that will promote your academic and career interests
-
Investigate
how to save money for college and options for financial
aid
-
Your
IEP should include the course of study needed for you
to transition smoothly to higher education
-
Remediate
basic skill deficits in reading, mathematics, oral and
written language
-
Plan
to graduate with a Standard Diploma or Advanced Studies
diploma and plan your course of study accordingly
-
Plan
to take the SOL tests in English: Reading/Literature and
Research, English: Writing, and Mathematics at the end
of eighth grade
- Begin
a transition portfolio of important documents and work samples
that may be helpful in college planning
Freshman
Year Tasks
-
Learn
the specific nature of your disability and how to explain
it so others will understand your needs
-
Learn
how to participate actively in your IEP, especially your
transition plan, which is your plan to help you achieve
your goal of attending college.
-
Learn
how to advocate for yourself in developing your transition
plan with your case manager and IEP team
-
Prepare
academically by carefully planning your course of study
-
See
http://www.pen.k12.va.us/2plus4in2004/
for information for students regarding Virginia's diploma
options.
-
Work
with your guidance counselor to be sure that you will
have the standard and verified credits you need to obtain
the desired diploma
-
Prepare
for and pass the end-of-course SOL tests required for
verified credits
-
Develop
your academic independence by learning how to use the
academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and services, and
learning strategies that you will need in college - LEARN
HOW TO LEARN!
-
Ask
your guidance counselor to teach you about the college
resources available in your school
-
Explore
career options with your guidance counselor and visit
your school career center
-
Become
involved in school- or community-based activities that
interest you and that might lead to a career
-
Talk
to people in various professions to find out what they
like and dislike about their jobs and what kind of education
is needed
-
Continue
to remediate basic skill deficits
-
Learn
strategies to help you access the same course work as
your peers
-
Continue
to add to your transition portfolio
Top
Sophomore
Year Tasks
-
Continue
to actively participate in your IEP transition planning
with your case manager and IEP team
-
Continue
taking courses to prepare you for college
-
Continue
to remediate basic skill deficits
-
Continue
to add to your transition portfolio
-
Add
to your understanding and use of learning strategies to
help you access the same course work as your peers
-
Participate
in extracurricular activities, hobbies, and work experiences
-
Identify
interests, aptitudes, values, and opportunities related
to occupations in which you are interested
-
Meet
with your career or guidance counselor to discuss colleges
and their requirements
-
Register
and take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)
in the fall - consider using testing adjustments and auxiliary
aids
-
Speak
with college representatives that visit your high school
and are at college fairs
-
Visit
college campuses and talk to college students about their
campus experiences
-
Continue
to save for college and investigate funding sources
Top
Junior
Year Tasks
-
Continue
to participate in your IEP transition planning with your
case manager and IEP team
-
Continue
your involvement in school- or community-based extracurricular
activities
-
Focus
on matching your interests and abilities to the appropriate
college choice
-
Look
for college campuses that have majors in which you might
be interested and the kind of campus community in which
you would like to live
-
Identify
the appropriate academic adjustments and auxiliary aids
and services that you will need in the postsecondary setting
and learn how to use them efficiently (Be sure to include
assistive technologies such as electronic devices and
specialized computer software)
-
Keep
a current list of the academic adjustments and auxiliary
aids and services you use in high school in your transition
portfolio
-
Consider
taking a course to prepare for the Scholastic Aptitude
Test (SAT) Test or for the ACT Assessment (ACT).
-
Take
the SAT or ACT in the spring. Consider taking them more
than once - once with testing adjustments and once without
them
-
Establish
a possible career goal (you can always change your mind!)
-
Determine
a college major consistent with this career goal
-
Learn
time management, study skills, assertiveness training,
stress management, and exam preparation strategies
-
Learn
how to advocate for yourself - not everyone will understand
your disability or be sensitive to your needs
-
Gather
information about college programs that offer the disability
services you need (you may want to add these to your transition
portfolio)
-
Speak
with college representatives who visit your high school
and at college fairs
-
Visit
campuses and especially service providers to verify the
available services and how to access them
-
Consider
people to ask for recommendations - teachers, counselors,
employers, coaches, etc.
-
Investigate
the availability of financial aid from Federal, State,
local, and private sources
-
Investigate
the availability of scholarships provided by organizations,
such as corporations, labor unions, professional associations,
religious organizations, and credit unions
-
Continue
saving for college
-
Contact
the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) Counselor
who serves your school to determine your eligibility for
DRS services
-
Invite
the DRS counselor to attend your IEP meeting
-
Make
sure that the documentation of your disability is current.
Colleges usually want current testing, usually less than
three years old when you begin college
Top
Senior
Year Tasks
-
Meet
with your school guidance counselor early in the year
to discuss your plans.
-
Continue
to develop your advocacy skills and to polish study skills
-
Plan
to visit campuses early in the year
-
Learn
how to be interviewed
-
Role-play
college interviews with counselors, family members, and
teachers
-
Finalize
your transition portfolio so that it contains at least
the following:
-
Copies of your psychological and educational evaluations
-
Transcripts
-
ACT
or SAT scores
-
Your
current or latest IEP
-
Your
medical records (if appropriate)
-
A
writing sample or other work samples related to your
choice of a major
-
Your
letters of recommendation from teachers and employers
-
The
current list of academic accommodations and auxiliary
aids and services you may need in college (be sure
to include assistive technologies)
-
College
visits
-
Write
letters to college admissions officers and service
providers requesting a visit.
-
Be
prepared when you visit colleges to write or talk
about your experiences and to take placement tests.
-
Admissions
officers will provide information about admissions
procedures and financial aid opportunities
-
Take
your transition portfolio with you to share with disability
service providers, if appropriate.
-
Evaluate
the disability services, service provider, and staff
-
Talk
with college students receiving disability support
services about their experiences
-
Compare
the various colleges and think about living in the campus
community (e.g., housing, social activities, classrooms,
leisure activities, athletic activities, comfort level
with support service)
-
Apply
to two or more of your preferred colleges - choose one
that is a "reach," one where you expect to be
accepted, and one where you KNOW you can be accepted.
-
Prepare
your applications carefully, paying close attention to
the instructions and deadlines. Be neat. Be accurate.
-
When
accepted, consider attending the pre-admission summer
program (if available). It will be worth your time and
ease the process when classes start in the fall.
-
Take
the SAT again, if appropriate
-
If
not done in your junior year, contact the Department of
Rehabilitative Services (DRS) counselor to determine your
eligibility for DRS services while in college
Top
Excerpted
from Virginia's College Guide for Students with Disabilities
(2003 Edition).
Available at http://www.pen.k12.va.us
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