Project Description:
2.01 Texas Transition Conference
Objective 2.01: Successful post school outcome rates in the area of post secondary education and employment for youth with disabilities continues to be considerably lower than for youth without disabilities. Comprehensive transition planning for youth with disabilities is the vehicle that ensures that each student reaches his or her post school goals. The final outcome of this planning process should be a life that includes employment, postsecondary education, a place to live, community involvement, financial stability, transportation, and ample medical services. Extensive research has been done on secondary practices that are effective for transitioning youth with disabilities into the post secondary and employment arenas. Also, this population's post school outcomes are directly affected by the training and support they receive at the secondary level. The need to provide updated information to students, their families, and the professionals that support them is imperative when considering post school outcomes.
The Texas Transition Conference is held annually to fill this need. The primary goal of this conference is to provide updated information to professionals, service providers, families, and consumers about best practices related to transition from school to work, legal requirements, and best practices in secondary and post-secondary education for persons with disabilities. Expected benefits of the conference will be updated educational practices related to transition planning and services, and better post school outcomes for youth with disabilities.
The Center allocated a portion of the conference proceeds to provide stipends to help offset travel and registration costs for parents and consumers attending the conference. In addition, the conference provided a reduced registration fee option for all parents and consumers.
The Texas Transition Conference was held February 21-23, 2018 in Houston, TX.
The conference focus was on postsecondary education and employment as it relates to transition. Two national speakers and experts in the field of transition were invited to speak on transition to employment as an intervention and desired outcome and the employment first policy as it relates to transition. Also, national and state level specialists in transition provided extended information on numerous areas relating to transition for youth with disabilities. All general and breakout sessions were organized under six general strands: (a) student-focused transition planning, (b) family involvement, (c) student development, (d) program structure, and (e) interagency collaboration and (f) assistive technology. At total of 6 general sessions and 48 break-out sessions were provided.
Five hundred and twenty-six secondary educators, transition specialists, service agency personnel, parents, and youth with disabilities attended this year's conference. Allocated funding provided 23 stipends to pay for conference fees and lodging expense (19 parents and 4 youth with disabilities). One hundred seven-one (33% of 526) completed conference evaluations. Of these 171 respondents, the vast majority were either highly satisfied (137) or satisfied (34) with the conference.
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Assistive Technology
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Specific Groups
