Status of Community-Based Transition Programs: A National Database

Abstract

The goal of transition services is to improve the postschool outcomes for students with disabilities, but more than 10 years after the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) mandated transition services, students with disabilities are still exiting high school with significantly different postschool outcomes than their peers. Community-based instruction, work experience, family involvement, interagency collaboration, and postsecondary training have been highlighted as methods to improve student outcomes. This article identifies 101 community-based transition programs that incorporate community-based instruction, work experience, and postsecondary education especially designed for students aged 18-21 years old. Findings regarding disability populations, ages served, community locations, funding sources, interagency collaboration, and staffing of these programs are discussed.