2011

With the passing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEIA), the U.S. government reinforced the need for specific services provided to students with special needs. Students identified with special needs are given an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) that must include services designed to help them succeed at school. Included in the IEP are required transition services, or coordinated activities for students with disabilities, that include actions which help students plan for and be successful in postsecondary education or vocation. The IDEIA states that transition services should include “instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-secondary adult living objectives, and, if appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation.” [34 CFR 300.43 (a)]. These activities must be derived from student needs and should be based on student’s interests, strengths, and preferred activities (U.S. Department of Education, 2007).