Transition Timeline:  A To Do List...
Freshman Year Tasks
  • Learn the specific nature of your disability, how it affects you in the classroom and community and how to explain it so others will understand your needs.
  • Learn how to participate actively in your IEP, especially your transition plan, which is your plan to help you achieve your goal of attending college.
  • Learn how to advocate for yourself in developing your transition plan with your case manager and IEP team.
  • Prepare academically by carefully planning your course of study. Use your course of study and your success in class to set and adjust your post-secondary goals.
  • Work with your guidance counselor to be sure that you will have the standard and verified credits you need to obtain the desired diploma.
  • Develop your academic independence by learning how to use the academic adjustments, accommodations, services and learning strategies that you will need in college. Explore how you learn best – visual, audio, hands on. This will help you to “LEARN HOW TO LEARN!”
  • Ask your guidance counselor or transition coordinator to explain the college resources available in your school.
  • Explore career options with your guidance counselor and/or case managers and visit your school career center.
  • Become involved in school- and/or community-based activities that interest you and that might lead to a career.
  • Talk to people in various professions to find out what they like and dislike about their jobs and what kind of education is needed.
  • Continue to work on basic skills.
  • Learn strategies to help you access the same course work as your peers.
  • Learn time management, study skills, assertiveness training, stress management and exam preparation strategies.
  • Set up a system to organize your records and personal information. Keep disability records, health information, and various job, school and community involvement information.
  • Increase organization. Use a calendar or planner to keep track of your assignments.

Sophomore Year Tasks
  • Continue to actively participate in your IEP transition planning with your case manager and IEP team.
  • Continue taking courses to prepare you for college.
  • Add to your understanding and use of learning strategies to help you access the same course work as your peers.
  • Participate in extracurricular activities, hobbies and work experiences.
  • Identify interests, aptitudes, values and opportunities related to occupations in which you are interested.
  • Meet with your guidance counselor and/or transition coordinator to discuss colleges and their requirements.
  • Speak with college representatives who visit your high school and/or are at college fairs.
  • Visit college campuses and talk to college students about their campus experiences.
  • Continue to save for college and investigate funding sources.
  • Investigate summer pre-college programs at www.heath.gwu.edu.
  • Learn time management, study skills, assertiveness training, stress management and exam preparation strategies.
  • Develop self-advocacy skills. Be able to communicate your needs clearly and participate in developing positive solutions.

Junior Year Tasks

  • Continue to participate in your IEP transition planning with your case manager and IEP team.
  • Continue your involvement in school- and/or community-based extracurricular activities.
  • Focus on matching your interests and abilities to appropriate college and career choices.
  • Look for college campuses that have majors in which you might be interested and the kind of campus community in which you would like to live.
  • Identify the appropriate academic adjustments, accommodations and services that you will need in the post-secondary setting and learn how to use them efficiently. (Be sure to include assistive technologies such as electronic devices and specialized computer software.)
  • Keep a current list of the academic accommodations and related services you use in high school in your personal records.
  • Consider taking a course to prepare for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or ACT Assessment (ACT/American College Testing).
  • Take the SAT and/or ACT in the spring. Consider taking the tests more than once – once with accommodations and once without them.
  • Establish and investigate a possible career goal. (You can always change your mind!)
  • Learn time management, study skills, assertiveness training, stress management and exam preparation strategies.
  • Learn how to advocate for yourself – not everyone will understand your disability or be sensitive to your needs. Learn when, how and if to disclose your disability to others.
  • Gather information about college programs that offer the disability services you need.
  • Speak with college representatives who visit your high school and/or attend college fairs.
  • Visit campuses and especially disability service providers to verify the available services and how to access them. Identify sources of information on colleges such as the web, public library and so forth.
  • Consider people to ask for recommendations — teachers, counselors, employers, coaches, etc.
  • Investigate the availability of financial aid from federal, state, local and private sources.
  • Investigate the availability of scholarships provided by organizations, such as corporations, labor unions, professional associations, religious organizations, universities, disability groups, credit unions, etc.
  • Continue saving for college.
  • Learn about the services of the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) and determine your eligibility.
  • If appropriate, invite the DRS counselor to attend your IEP meeting.
  • Make sure that the documentation of your disability is current. Colleges usually want current testing; i.e., testing that is less than three years old when you begin college.
  • College visits:
  • Visit a friend or relative at college.
  • Email or call college admission offices and disability service providers requesting a visit/appointment.
  • Be prepared when you visit colleges to write or talk about your experiences and to take placement tests.
  • Obtain information about admissions procedures and financial aid opportunities from Admission Officers.
  • Take your personal records and information with you to share with disability service providers, if appropriate.
  • Visit the Disability Office. Evaluate the services, service providers and staff.
  • Talk with college students currently receiving disability support services about their experiences.
  • Compare the various colleges and think about living in the campus community (e.g., housing, social activities, classrooms, leisure activities, athletic activities, comfort level with support service).

Senior Year Tasks
  • Meet with your school guidance counselor early in the year to discuss your plans.
  • Continue to develop your advocacy skills and to polish study skills.
  • Be as academically independent as possible to prepare for the college environment.
  • Consider running a portion of your IEP meeting.
  • Learn time management, study skills, assertiveness training, stress management and exam preparation strategies.
  • Plan to visit campuses early in the year.
  • Learn interview skills.
  • Role-play college interviews with counselors, family members and teachers.
  • Understand your legal rights with regard to accommodations and modifications.
  • Organize transition information so that it contains at least the following:
    • Copies of your current psychological and educational evaluations.
    • Transcripts.
    • ACT and/or SAT scores.
    • Current or latest IEP.
    • Medical records (if appropriate).
    • A writing sample or other work samples related to your choice of major.
    • A list of activities (school & non-school), awards & recognitions, employment, etc., for your college application.
    • Letters of recommendation from teachers and employers, if required for admission.
    • Eligibility documentation.
    • Current list of academic accommodations and related services you may need in college (be sure to include assistive technologies).
  • Apply to two or more of your preferred colleges – choose one that is a “reach,” one where you expect to be accepted, and one where you know you can be accepted.
  • Prepare your applications carefully, paying close attention to the instructions and deadlines.  Be neat. Be accurate. Keep a copy “just in case.”
  • Take the ACT/SAT again, if appropriate.
  • Visit the college before you accept admission.
  • Apply for financial aid and scholarships
  • When accepted, consider attending the pre-admission summer program (if available). It will be worth your time and ease the transition when classes start in the fall.
Adapted from Virginia’s College Guide for Students with Disabilities (2003 Edition). Available at www.pen.k12.va.us