Transition
June 21st, 2009 Posted in Partnering with FamiliesFederal regulations for the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (commonly referred to as Part C of IDEA) require states to “ensure a smooth transition of children receiving early intervention services to preschool or other appropriate services”. (Title 34 Code of Federal Regulations. Section 303.148).
The National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study (NEILS) studied family satisfaction with the transition process. Overall, most families gave ratings of good or excellent when asked how well prepared they felt for the changes in services after EI; overall, however, 18% gave ratings of fair or poor, indicating EI needed to do a better job with a fairly large number of families. Families whose child left EI at 36 months and would be receiving special education services were the least satisfied with the process of leaving EI. Only 35% reported they were very satisfied with the transition. Obviously, early intervention programs need to evaluate and refine transition support services.
As a home visitor, relate your experiences with the families you work with surrounding transition.
1- What, in your opinion, would assist in a smoother transition process for families?
2- As a home visitor, what do you do to ensure a smooth transition for families?
-submitted by Gina Guarneri and Karen Baas, Infant Development Association of CA
One Response to “Transition”
By Angie Rivera on Jul 19, 2009
I trust that we all do our very best to prepare families for the changes that they will encounter, after EI.
Transition time brings up many emotions for our families; some are excited, others frightened, others may go through depression. To try to take in what the law says, what their rights are, what questions to take to the IEP, can be totally overwhelming.
I believe that the best that we can do for parents to have a smooth transition, is to give them the information they need at the moment, answer their questions clearly and make sure that they are connected to either another parent, a support group or a family resource center; preferably all of the above.
That way, whenever challenges arise, they have the resources needed to answer their questions and support them through the process.