International Transition
The topic of transition from school to adulthood for youth with disabilities is addressed somewhat differently within each country and culture. In the US, there are policies and regulations in place related to transition planning and the provision of transition services. Within other countries, practices that support the transition process for youth with disabilities may be more or less formal. In the US, transition programs are often situated in their own building or in a specified area of a high school. Most U.S. programs place a far greater emphasis on transition to employment and independent living than on transition to post-secondary education. In other countries (e.g., European nations), technical colleges are places where students with disabilities have the opportunity to access secondary and post-secondary education. In many developing countries, transition services are less ebbing and flowing with activities taking place in the community (e.g., harvest time on farms, religious festivals). There are many opportunities to enrich and to learn from each other’s approaches addressing the needs and goals of transition-age youth across borders and cultures.