Transition Questions

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Transitions and Options
Transitions and Options
ReadySetGo
Educational Considerations for Young Children
with Disabilities
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A Project Developed by
WI STATEWIDE PARENT-EDUCATOR INITIATIVE
Department of Public Instruction
IDEA Preschool Discretionary Project
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Transitions and Options
Planning for The Future
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Transitions and Options

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
  (IDEA) 1997
• (pending reauthorization)
• PART C Birth to Three - Early Intervention
  Services for Infants and Toddlers
• PART B Section 619 Early Childhood Special
  Education - Services for 3-5 year olds.

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Transitions and Options

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
  (IDEA) 1997
• (pending reauthorization)
• PART C Birth to Three
• Natural Environments
• PART B Early Childhood Special Education
• A Full Continuum of Alternative Placements

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Transitions and Options
It looks different for each child in each
community.
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Transitions and Options
Effective partnerships between parents and
professionals require collaboration. It is hard
work. -J. Fialka
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Transitions and Options

• Early Childhood Special Education and Related
  Services
• Transition Planning Conference
• Referral
• Screening/Evaluation
• Determine Eligibility
• IEP Development
• Services Begin

• Birth to 3
• Referral
• Screening/Evaluation
• Determine Eligibility
• IFSP Development
• Services Begin
• Transition Planning Conference

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Transitions and Options

• Families prepare for transition by
• Talking with others
• Thinking about
• hopes, dreams and goals for your child
• Your childs strengths, interests and needs
• Where you see your child spending his/her day as
  a 3-5 year old
• Exploring resources and services
• Deciding who will participate in your transition
  planning
• Asking Questions

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Transitions and Options
A Look at my Childs Development
From Step Ahead At Age 3
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Transitions and Options

• Birth to 3 Staff
• Providing information
• The transition process (referral, evaluation,
  eligibility, etc.)
• Describe the program characteristics of early
  childhood programs
• Helping us decide if, when, and where to make
  referrals
• Inviting appropriate agencies to the transition
  conference (with permission)

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Transitions and Options
Transition Planning Conference

• Convened by Birth to 3 and families at least 3
  months (90 days) before childs 3rd birthday

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Transitions and Options
The Transition Planning Conference

• Is focused on the Child
• Allows for discussion of transition roles
• Reviews present services
• Discusses future options and possible changes in
  service delivery
• May begin involvement of new agencies
• May update or Develop a Transition Plan

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Transitions and Options
Transition Planning Conference

• Who will attend?
• Family
• Friends, relatives or support providers who know
  the child
• Birth to 3 staff
• Others
• Therapists, medical professionals
• School special education staff
• Head Start or other community programs

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Transitions and Options
At the Transition Planning Conference families
will

• Share hopes and concerns
• Ask questions
• Learn about transition procedures
• Discuss potential settings, programs and services
• Sign referral forms and release of records, if
  needed

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Transitions and Options
At the Transition Planning Conference community
programs will

• Learn from you about your child
• Discuss
• Programs and services
• Eligibility requirements (if any)
• Supports or resources needs
• Disclose program costs, if any

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Transitions and Options
At the Transition Planning Conference, school
will

• Learn from you about your child
• Discuss
• ECSE and Related Services
• the IEP process
• eligibility requirements
• preschool options and procedures
• Explain parental rights

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Transitions and Options
Following theTransition Planning Conference

• Visit to community programs
• Enroll your child
• Referral to Early Childhood Special Education

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Transitions and Options
Referrals to Special Education
If you understand the special education process
and are ready to make a referral at the time of
the conference
you can give consent to the Birth to 3 program to
release pertinent records to the school and begin
the 90 day timeline for evaluation, eligibility
determination, IEP Development and Placement...
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Transitions and Options
Referrals to Special Education
If you are not ready to make a referral to Early
Childhood Special Education at the time of the
transition planning conference the IFSP can
include information about the referral process
(such as timelines) and the procedures for when
and how the LEA (school) will be informed of your
decision.
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Transitions and Options
Referrals to Special Education
If and/or when the family decides A referral
is submitted to the school (LEA) which includes
the childs name and area(s) of concern
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Transitions and Options
Referrals to Special Education

• An evaluation must be completed, an IEP
  developed, and placement offered within 90 days
  of referral.
• DPI Bulletin 99.09

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Transitions and Options
Referrals to Special EducationSpring/Summer
Birthdays

• Considerations
• Eligibility and placement
• Continuation of Birth to 3 services services over
  the summer
• Extended school year services may be discussed
• ECSE Services may begin
• Immediately
• Before the third birthday
• At the beginning of a new school year

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Transitions and Options
Referrals to Special Education
Referral
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Transitions and Options
The IEP Team
Roles and Responsibilities

• Take into consideration the work done by the
  Transition Planning Team
• Determine Eligibility
• If appropriate, write goals based on Special
  Educational Needs (IEP Development)
• Determine the location or Placement for
  service(s) (called Preschool Options)

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Transitions and Options
The IEP TeamDetermining Eligibility

• Is there an Impairment?
• Does the impairment adversely effect the childs
  educational performance?
• Is there a need for special education?

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Transitions and Options
Individualizing Services for children with these
Impairments

• Cognitive Disabilities
• Orthopedic Impairment
• Visual Impairment
• Hearing
• Impairment
• Speech and Language Impairment
• Specific Learning Disability

• Emotional Behavioral Disability
• Autism
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Other Health Impaired
• Significant Developmental Delay

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Transitions and Options
The IEP Team Determining Placement
Children with disabilities must be educated with
their nondisabled peers to the maximum extent
appropriate.
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Transitions and Options
IDEA
The full continuum of alternative placements at
34 CFR 300.551, including integrated placement
options, such as community-based settings with
typically developing age peers, must be available
to preschool children with disabilities. Federal
Register Vol. 64, No. 48, p.12639 (comments to
final regulations)
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Transitions and Options

• PreschoolOptions

School districts must consider a variety of
educational settings for young children with
disabilities.
See Part B, 34 CFR SS300.551
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Transitions and Options
Review of Research

• Children with disabilities in inclusive settings
  make more social and language gains.
• Families were developing a different vision for
  their children - one that attributed their
  learning to a range of opportunities in places
  with typically developing children, as opposed to
  the learning that occurred only in special
  schools with special teachers. (Bruder, 2000)

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Transitions and Options
The IEP Team
Determining Placement Cont.

• Preschool Inclusion
• Natural Environments
• Typical Settings
• Age Appropriate Settings
• Routines Based Interventions
• Itinerant Services to Preschool Setting

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Transitions and Options
Settings for serving preschoolers with
disabilities in Wisconsin
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Transitions and Options
Possible settings for preschoolers with
disabilities

• Home
• One-to-One Services outside the Home
• Part-time General Education/Part-time Special
  Education
• Residential Facility
• Separate School
• Any combination of above

• General Education Settings
• 4 Year Old Kindergarten
• 5 Year Old Kindergarten
• Title One Preschool
• Licensed Daycares and Preschools
• Head Start
• Special Education Classrooms

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Transitions and Options
Placement is determined based on the individual
needs of the child by the IEP Team
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Transitions and Options
It looks different for each child in each
community.
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Transitions and Options
It happens one child at a time in communities
that are ready with a full continuum of special
education and related services as preschool
options!
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Transitions and Options

• WI FACETS
• [phone]
• www.wifacets.org
• Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative
  (WSPEI)
• [phone]
• www.dpi.state.wi.us/een/parent.html
• Preschool Options Project
• www.preschooloptions.org
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
• www.dpi.state.wi.us
• Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners
• www.collaboratingpartners.com

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Transitions and Options
Transitions and Options
Questions?