A Family Guide to Transition Services in Massachusetts Click here!

A Family Guide to Transition Services in Massachusetts is a comprehensive guide to transition services and supports published in partnership with FCSN and the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC).

 

TIPS: Transition Information for Parents and Students with IEPs 

TIPS Brochures are designed to offer guidance around the secondary transition process.  Each brochures provides important information from the Transition Technical Assistance Advisories developed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).  

TIPS: The Secondary Transition Planning Process   

Learn about key transition terms, creating a student vision, transition assessment, and IEP goal development, as well as tips for working with the IEP Team to develop a strong transition plan. 

English (PDF)

Spanish (PDF)

Portuguese (PDF)

Haitian Creole (PDF)

Chinese (PDF)

Vietnamese (PDF) Coming Soon

TIPS: Transition Assessment  

Learn how assessments can vary from student to student, strategies for guiding an assessment in line with a student’s vision, and scenarios when consent is or is not required. 

English (PDF)

Spanish (PDF)

Portuguese (PDF)

Haitian Creole (PDF)

Chinese (PDF)

Vietnamese (PDF)

Technical Assistance Advisory SPED 2014-4, Transition Assessment in the Secondary Transaction Planning Process: www.doe.mass.edu/sped/advisories/2014-4ta.html 

TIPS: Self-Determination 

Learn ways to foster self-determination in transition aged students, including skills and opportunities that can help students become better self-advocates.

English (PDF)

Spanish (PDF)

Portuguese (PDF)

Haitian Creole (PDF)

Chinese (PDF)

Vietnamese (PDF)

Technical Assistance Advisory SPED 2016-2, Promoting Student Self-Determination to Improve Student Outcomes:  www.doe.mass.edu/sped/advisories/2016-2ta.pdf 

TIPS: Decision-Making and the Age of Majority  

Learn how families and students can prepare for the impact of turning 18 and manage the decision making process  

English (PDF)

Spanish (PDF)

Portuguese (PDF)

Haitian Creole (PDF)

Chinese (PDF)

Vietnamese (PDF)

Administrative Advisory SPED 2011-1, Age of Majority: https://www.doe.mass.edu/sped.advisiories/11_1.html 

TIPS: Secondary Transition Services  

Learn about secondary transition services and tools to develop effective secondary transition plans to increase positive outcomes after high school. 

English (PDF)

Spanish (PDF)

Portuguese (PDF)

Haitian Creole (PDF)

Chinese (PDF)

Vietnamese (PDF)

TIPS: Disability Disclosure  

Learn all about Disability Disclosure:  what it is, why it’s important, and how it changes from high school to adulthood. 

English (PDF)

Spanish (PDF)

Portuguese (PDF)

Haitian Creole (PDF)

Chinese (PDF)

Vietnamese (PDF)

TIPS: The Transition Planning Form  

Learn about the Transition Planning Form (TPF) and how to use the form to help write the IEP.  

English (PDF)

Spanish (PDF)

Portuguese (PDF)

Haitian Creole (PDF)

Chinese (PDF)

Vietnamese (PDF)

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Transition Planning Form:  

https://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/secondary-transition/resources-materials.html 

TIPS: Graduation and Students with IEPs  

Learn how students with IEPs can earn a regular high school diploma in Massachusetts.  

English (PDF)

Spanish (PDF)

Portuguese (PDF)

Haitian Creole (PDF)

Chinese (PDF)

Vietnamese (PDF)

Administrative Advisory SPED 2018-2, Secondary Transition Services and Graduation with a High School Diploma: https://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/advisories/2018-2.html 

TIPS: Autism Spectrum Disorder  

Learn the importance of transition planning for students with ASD.  

English (PDF)

Spanish (PDF)

Portuguese (PDF)

Haitian Creole (PDF) Coming soon!

Chinese (PDF)

Vietnamese (PDF)

Technical Assistance Advisory SPED 2007-1, Autism Spectrum Disorder: https://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/advisories/07_1ta.html 

TIPS: Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) though the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)  

Learn about Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) provided by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC).  This brochure explains who is eligible for Pre-ETS, how to get connected to Pre-ETS, and what types of services may be available for students with disabilities.  

English (PDF)

Spanish (PDF)

Portuguese (PDF)

Haitian (PDF)

Chinese (PDF)

Vietnamese (PDF)

Technical Assistance Advisory SPED 2020-1 Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS): https://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/advisories/2020-1ta.html 

TIPS: Chapter 688 Referral  

Learn about the Chapter 688 referral process including who is eligible for a 688 referral and the importance of the referral for students with significant disabilities who will need support from adult service agencies.  

English (PDF) 

Spanish (PDF)

Portuguese (PDF)

Haitian (PDF)

Chinese (PDF)

Vietnamese (PDF)

MA DESE Guidance on Chapter 688: https://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/iep/688/ 

 National Transition Resources 

Center for Parent Information and Resources is a central hub of information and products created for Parent Centers serving families of children with disabilities.   

Got Transition is a federally funded resource center on health care transition. 

Think Work!  is a site facilitated by the Institute for Community Inclusion at University of Massachusetts, Boston for an array of programs related to the employment of individuals with IDD.  

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability  www.ncwd youth.info/publications/guideposts – A federally funded program focused on improving outcomes for youth with disabilities and their families, especially with regard to workforce preparation systems. 

National Division on Career Development and Transition is a private non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of, and access to career development and transition services for individuals with all exceptionalities across the life span.  

National Technical Assistance Center on Transition is a federally funded program to support youth with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who work with them in finding effective services and instruction for students and out-of-school youth with disabilities.  

 The PACER Center – National Parent Center on Transition and Employment provides quality information on transition for youth with disabilities in a format that’s useful to families, youth, and professionals.   

Webinars 

 Resources for Families  

A Comprehensive Approach to Transition  

Charting the LifeCourse 

https://www.lifecoursetools.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Family-Perspective-Portfolio-Sept-2017-rev-May-2018-1.pdf 

 Resources for Youth  

A Comprehensive Approach to Transition www.aucd.org/docs/publications/transition2_web.pdf 

https://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/products/BeingaHealthyAdult.html    

Charting the LifeCourse