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 Transition Planning Services

​Evaluation*Consultation*Program development*professional development

​​​​​Transition Planning

  • Evaluation
  • Consultation
  • Program Development
  • Person Centered Planning
  • Training

Is there any truth to the rumor that you have retired?

NO! The demand for transition planning evaluation, support, and professional development training has increased exponentially over the past few years and has become the exclusive focus

of my practice. 


​Why would a student need a transtion planning evaluation?

Transition planning evaluations determine the student's present level of performance in the transiton planning areas. This information is necessary to guide appropriate program planning for the student. 


How do I know if my child needs a transtion planning evaluation?

All students who are going to remain under the domain of public education beyond the 12th grade need an evaluation to appropriately identify his/her strengths and needs. While this is often done by the student's team, there may not be enough information to determine where the student is presently performing which is necessary to determine realistic long-term outcomes. The following are examples of when an independent transition planning evaluation may be warranted:

  • The parent/guardian feels that the current information is not sufficient enough to plan for appropriate long-term outcomes.
  • The team determines that outside help/evaluation is needed for them to plan/propose an appropriate program for the student.
  • ​There is a lack of consensus between the team and the parent/guardian regarding the needs of the student and the type of programming that will lead to relevant outcomes.
  • There is a lack of consensus between the team and the parent/guardian over whether a student should accept their diploma at the end of 12th grade and exit special education services, or if that student should forego acceptance and continue his/her education to receive transition services. 


What is included in a transition planning evaluation?

Every evaluation is individualized and specific to the student's unique profile. It is designed to be a collabarative process and every evaluation will include 3 basic components including parent/guardian/family input, information from school staff who know the student well enough to speak to strengths and needs, and through observation and interaction with the student. Typically parent interview(s) take place virtually along with the completion of several assessments. The student is observed on site (usually school) and evaluated there as well. The student participates to the greatest extent possible (e.g. interview, completion of assessments, etc.) School staff participates through interview and through the completion of assessments as well. This approach leads to the identification of the student's strengths and needs. From that information, recommendations are made for each of the transition planning areas (postsecondary education, postsecondary employment, independent living and community access and participation.)


How can I make an appointment to have my child evaluated?

The answer to this question is "you can't." Under most circumstances I direct parents/guardians to approach the school district and ask that they fund an independent evaluation with me. The reason for this is that I rely heavily on seeing the student in their learning environment and speaking with staff who know the strengths and needs of the student. It makes the evaluation authentic and relevant and eliminates the "but you've never seen him/her in our program" line of thought when it comes to consideration of the recommendations. Private pay referrals are accepted on a case by case basis.


Is this really an independent evaluation if the school district is providing the funding? 

Yes. Trust me. It is. 


How long does it take and do you have a waiting list?

The evaluation will be scheduled once a financial commitment is in place and records are received. I do not keep a typical waiting list. Once the evaluation begins, it is usually about 6-8 weeks until the report is finalized. That said, it must be understood that there are factors beyond my control that can slow down the process such as late returns on assessments from parents and school staff (#1 problem), the rotating schedule maintained by most high schools (I do not usually want to observe the student in gym or study hall) holidays, vacations, and for those of us living in cold climates, the dreaded snow day.  


Do you attend the IEP meeting at which your evaluation will be reviewed?

I am a firm believer that I can best present the findings of an evaluation that I have completed, therefore, I attend one meeting virtually at no additional cost if requested to do so. 


Please feel free to contact me through my website if you have any further questions or wish to discuss things in more depth.