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Promising Transitions
Our project will bring together the expertise of three faculty members from the Michael D. Eisner College of Education: from College Counseling/Student, School Psychology and Special Education in order to provide a transdisciplinary focus to the transitioning of students from high school to postsecondary education.
This specific project is addressing the successful transition to college of those students with learning, emotional, and developmental needs (particularly Asperger's Syndrome within the Autism Spectrum). The three faculty members will be delivering joint presentations in each other's classes.
The fall 2010 classroom presentations will be focused on a transdisciplinary approach to the transition of students to postsecondary education, with aspects of the presentations tailored to the specific needs of the intended audience. The primary purpose of the presentations is to introduce students to the value of the transdisciplinary approach, and particularly as it relates to a strengths-based orientation. In addition, this project will explore multi-system interventions that are effective in each of the three student groups’ area of practice. The content will include a transdisciplinary model of services, information about the characteristics and needs of high school and young adult students with disabilities, the differences in the supports for K-12 and post-secondary education, how the transition process works at the high school level, the role of assessment for Individual Transition Plans, and teaching educators, counselors, and psychologists what college students with disabilities can and should expect when they enter college.
In the second part of the project, the graduate students will participate in a mini-conference that will include a keynote presentation who will address ways to support the successful adaptation to college of students with Asperger's Syndrome as well as other workshops on such topics as universal design, and a panel of representatives from offices that serve students with disabilities (e.g., community colleges, four-year universities, Department of Rehabilitation, etc.). During the workshop, small groups of students will work collaboratively in teams of mixed program background (i.e., college counseling with school psychology with special education) on a group exercise and plan for how they will implement their knowledge at their current or future place of employment.
Anticipated Outcomes
1) Pre-test and post-test instrument
2) List of relevant readings and handouts (including electronic versions)
3) Outline of content and handouts for classroom presentations (for future use)
4) Case examples that include well-developed Individualized Transition Plans, and some that are ineffective, for use in analytical exercises
5) Edited tape of keynote speaker's presentation on transition to college with Asperger's Syndrome
6) Description of assignment on identifying resources
7) Moodle LMS page created for project
Project Lead:
Merril Simon, Ph.D.