I had the best intentions of getting this blog off the ground quite a while ago. But as the saying goes, “life is what happens when you’re busy making plans.” So after many changes in my life during the past few years, I am rededicating myself to sharing my thoughts, ideas, knowledge, whims, hopes, dreams, etc. on the topic of transition planning. My goal is to put up a weekly post, but I’ll be satisfied with a biweekly accomplishment to start. I plan to cover as many topics as I can think of, and I am hoping that in time this endeavor will grow to become a resource to assist in meeting the needs of students, families, and professionals alike. So feel free to suggest topics going forward.
So where to start?? Ah yes, we had a pandemic that sent the entire world into a tailspin and took a toll on transition services as well as every other aspect of public education. What we knew in our hearts all along to be true was proven; “virtual learning” for most students with disabilities was the working definition of the term oxymoron. Preparation for adulthood came to all halt in every way except for the passing of time. Countless students “aged out” of public education and many now sit at home unemployed, isolated, and unable to move forward. I have read accounts of parents who have had to leave or change jobs to provide care for their now adult child because he/she does not qualify for adult services; others report that the adult day program that they were counting on to provide support no longer exists.
As with most situations in life, the lesson learned has come at a price. The take-away from the pandemic pandemonium (for me anyway) is that preparation for adulthood is an educational outcome that is essential for every student. It’s not the “3Rs” that matter anymore, it’s 4 “reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmetic and reality.” We need to begin the process of preparation for adulthood earlier and approach it with the same level of intensity and commitment that we do when advocating for all other aspects of a student’s education. It’s just that important.
It’s good to be back.