WRSD Transition Services

Our Transition Services in ASL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdPVSQSanVc

Transition Overview

As mandated by the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process, transition planning starts for all students at WRSD at age 14.  Our transition specialist meets with the student to ask about their vision for their future and creates a transition plan for the student.  This plan is reviewed at the IEP meeting with the team and updated annually. Educational planning and course selection is guided in part by the transition plan. 

Our transition coordinator also helps to ensure that the student is making progress towards their future goals, whether that be academic goals, vocational goals, or independent living goals by working with the student and their family closely. The transition specialist will also bring in appropriate agencies to support the students. 

Academic Goals

Our transition coordinator helps students prepare for graduation by helping them monitor their coursework and grades. They will discuss graduation requirements and help students set goals. The transition coordinator also helps students prepare for college or training programs by helping coordinate campus visits, prepare for entry exams, applications, and essays. They work closely with families to help them navigate the post secondary education process.  They also assist students with finding financing for college through financial aid, grants, scholarships and awards. 

Vocational Goals

WRSD has a school to career coordinator who provides our work study program.  Working closely with the transition coordinator, the school to career coordinator develops and instructs career readiness classes and life skills classes.  In addition to coursework, the work study program also provides students with opportunities to develop job skills through work experiences.  Students in the work study program spend a part of their school day working in various environments learning essential work behavior skills.  Each year in high school, the student’s participation in work study experiences increases in complexity and length. 

Independent Living Goals

Our transition coordinator also works with students and their families to make the important connections that will assist their transition to adulthood.  Students are referred to the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (or another agency as appropriate such as the Department of Developmental Services) and meetings are coordinated with a counselor.  These counselors work with our transition coordinator to help students transition to college and career.  Before graduation and typically in their last months of school, students begin transitioning to postsecondary programs provided in our area. 

As part of our life skills classes, students learn how to access services and learn more about their rights as a Deaf adult.  Students learn how to request interpreters, request accommodations and assistance. Through field trips and presentations from professionals, students learn how to navigate independently as a Deaf adult. 

Curriculum used

We have access to various curricula: Attainment’s Pre-ETS Pre-Employment Transition Solutions, which covers Jobs and Career Exploration, Work-Based Learning, Workplace Readiness, Self-Advocacy, and Post-Secondary Training. We also use Brigance Transition Skills Inventory and Activities, which covers Academic Skills, Post Secondary Opportunities, Independent Living, Community Participation and Self Assessments. We also use assessments such as the Transition Planning Inventory - 2nd Edition, Transition to Work Inventory - 2nd Edition, and Career and Life Explorer - 3rd Edition, various hands-on pre-vocational kits (culinary, manufacturing, sorting, assembly, sewing, filing, data collection, and basic payroll/bookkeeping). In addition, we also teach indoor/outdoor survival signs and help students prepare for the written learner’s permit test as appropriate. 

Revised July 2024