Envision the Future ... Transition from School to Adult Life
For a child who is visually impaired, blind, deafblind, and may or may not have additional disabilities, transitioning into adult life requires careful planning, skill building, and preparation on multiple levels.
To aid in this process, Perkins hosted our first "Envision the Future ... Transition from School to Adult Life" conference on March 29 and it was a great success!
The all-day conference attracted over 150 students, family members, and professionals, and the valuable input of 40 presenters and 40 exhibitors.
Co-sponsored by the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) and New England Center Deafblind Project (NEC) – the event focused on a wide array of issues including living options, post secondary education, and employment.
Perkins Outreach Services to Students offers programs to help young people with disabilities advance their transition planning such as our Sampling the World of Work Summer Program and Vocational Exploration Weekend. Also check out School to Work, a Perkins publication.
Why start transition planning early?
The Massachusetts Department of Education requires transition planning to become part of a special education student's Individual Education Plan by age 15. The planning involves thinking about the various options for a student's future and making sure he or she develops the academic and functional skills to attain his or her goals. With so many factors to consider, it is best to start early.
In Massachusetts in 2006, there were 894 students who were blind or visually impaired between the ages of 14 and 22. A 2004 United States survey found that only 35% of working-age people with disabilities are in fact working, compared to 78% of those without disabilities, according to United Nations statistics on disabilities. Two-thirds of unemployed respondents with disabilities in that survey said they would like to work but could not find jobs. Our hope is that early and extensive transition planning will help reverse such disturbing trends.