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 the 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 year's Texas Transition Conference was held live at the Embassy Suites & Conference Center in Denton, Tx on February 15-17, 2023.
Total Funding: $251,200.00
The conference's 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. A total of 7 general sessions and 35 break-out sessions were provided.
Six hundred and twenty-seven secondary educators, transition specialists, service agency personnel, 8 parents and 9 students attended this year's conference for a total of 644 attendees.
156 (24% of 644) completed conference evaluations. Of these 156 respondents, 107 were
highly satisfied, 45 were satisfied and 4 were dissatisfied with the conference.
Registration Fees:
$34,500.00 Vendors
$216,700.00 TWC/ISDs
Total registrations: 644
627 professionals
8 parents
9 students
Comments:
Everything was wonderfully planned. The location was perfect- clean & convenient. The presenters were knowledgeable & speakers were inspirational. Definitely worth the time & effort.
This was terrific & informative, great sessions!
Wonderful, informative conference. Definitely would like to attend again next year!
Thank you for a great conference. I feel like I gained so much more understanding. I really enjoyed learning about the assessments. I also really liked getting to hear about new job ideas.
I always appreciate the hard work and effort that goes into this conference. The sessions have been engaging and the keynotes have all applied to the work I do as a TED.
I loved the information provided about the 18 plus programs. It was enlightening and real. It is so important to individualize and this session, certainly brought that to light.
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
