What is the Role of the Secondary School Professional in the Transition Process?
The obvious answer is that school personnel are responsible for providing the best possible educational preparation for each student to make the transition from school to adult life, but that answer is a bit simplistic. For most families, beyond health issues, the school has been the major source for support and information for most of their child’s life. Teachers, counselors, social workers, psychologists, coaches and so forth have provided guidance through K-12 education and not unreasonably, parents have the expectation that these knowledgeable professionals will help guide them into the unknown world beyond the school doors. Referral to the NYS Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) or the NYS Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH) is certainly a major part of that guidance, but assistance to families should not end there. School professionals have a responsibility to have at least a basic knowledge of the resources available to their community whether that student plans to attend college, work in a supported environment, or own his own business.