The Second Shock: A Qualitative Study of Parents' Perspectives and Needs during Their Child's Transition from School to Adult Life

Abstract

This paper describes a study in the tradition of qualitative research (Biklen & Moseley, 1988; Bogdan & Biklen, 1992; Taylor & Bogdan, 1984) and examines the transition from school to adult-life process. This study employed methodology similar to other investigations that have described the nature of relationships between families and professionals (Ferguson, Ferguson, Jeanchild, Olson, & Lucyshyn, 1993) and investigated the transition process from the perspective of those who experience it (Ferguson, Ferguson, & Jones, 1988; Zetlin & Hosseini, 1989; Zetlin & Turner, 1985). Results indicate that parents of students who are involved in the transition process have a vision for the future of their child. They measure the quality of school services, the potential for future happiness and their faith in the transition process by how their child is succeeding in moving toward that vision. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.