Project Description:
2.1 Texas Transition Conference
Purpose: 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 conference provides a reduced registration fee option for all student teachers, parents and youth with disabilities.
This years Texas Transition Conference was held online April 26-28, 2021.
Total Funding: $163,960
The conference focus was on communication, collaboration and evidence-based practices that work as it relates to transition all throughout life. Our keynotes were experts in the field of motivation, transition assessment and intrapersonal competencies. They were invited to speak on the importance of collaboration, self-regulation and inclusive programming strategies to help support students of all ability levels in their transition to life after high school. 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 five general strands: (a) student-focused transition planning, (b) family involvement, (c) student development, (d) program structure, and (e) interagency collaboration. At total of 7 general sessions and 43 break-out sessions were provided.
four hundred and seventeen (N = 417) secondary educators, transition specialists, and service agency personnel and 2 parents attended this year's conference for a total of 419 attendees.
98 (23% of 419) completed conference evaluations. Of these 98 respondents, 63 were
highly satisfied, 27 were satisfied, 7 were neutral and 1 was dissatisfied with the conference.
Registration Fees:
$29,450.00 Vendors
$134,510 TWC/ISDs
Total registrations: 419
417 professionals
2 parents
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
