Evidence-Based Instructional Strategies for Transition

Professionals need proven and practical ways to support successful transitions for young adults with significant disabilities. Now there's a single guidebook to help them meet that critical goalstraight from David Test, one of today's most highly respected authorities on transitions to adulthood.

Packed with down-to-earth, immediately useful transition strategies, this book has the evidence-based guidance readers need to help students with moderate and severe disabilities prepare for every aspect of adult life, from applying for a job to improving social skills. Special educators, transition specialists, guidance counselors, and other professionals will discover how to:

• align instruction with IDEA requirements. Get tips and tools to ensure full compliance with Indicator 13, including a checklist that shows at a glance whether an IEP meets the requirements.
• pinpoint student needs and interests with formal and informal assessment strategies.
• strengthen IEPs with measurable, relevant, and specific postsecondary goals.
• teach students the skills needed to succeed. Lesson plan starters, drawn from evidence-based practices identified by the National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center, make it easy to teach employment skills, life skills, and academic skills.
• use the most effective instructional strategies, such as mnemonics, response prompting, peer assistance, visual displays, and computer-assisted instruction.
• assess effectiveness of instruction. Get a quick guide to the who, what, when, and why of data collection.
• increase student and family involvement in transition planning the best way to ensure positive outcomes that reflect a student's individual choices.

Readers will help make transition as seamless as possible with practical materials that guide the planning process, including IEP templates and worksheets, checklists and key questions, thumbnails of key research studies, and sample scenarios that show teaching strategies in action.

An essential road map for all professionals involved in transition planning, this book will help ensure that students with moderate and severe disabilities reach their destination: a successful adult life that reflects their goals and dreams.

Teach students the real-world skills they'll need to:

• apply for a job
• complete assignments accurately
• participate in IEP meetings
• use an ATM
• shop for groceries
• do the laundry
• make purchases
• read sight words
• communicate their needs
• increase social interactions
• and more!

Table of Contents

Series Preface

Editorial Advisory Board

About the Author

About the Contributors

Acknowledgments

1. Transition-Focused Education - David W. Test
• Taxonomy for Transition Programming
• Transition-Focused Education and Standards-Based Education
• Overview of This Book
• For Further Information
2. Transition Assessment for Instruction - Dawn A. Rowe, Larry Kortering, & David W. Test
• Transition Assessments: The Key to a Transition-Rich Individualized Education Program
• Definition and Types of Transition Assessment
• Using Transition Assessment to Write Postsecondary Goals
• Using Transition Assessment to Write Present Levels of Performance
• Using Transition Assessment to Write Annual Individualized Education Program Goals
• Using Transition Assessment to Determine Transition Services
• Using Transition Assessment to Guide Instruction
• Transition Assessment and Indicator 13
• For Further Information
3. Teaching Strategies - Sharon M. Richter, April L. Mustian, & David W. Test
• Instructional Content: Finding Balance
• Community-Based and Community-Referenced Instruction
• Simulated Instruction
• The Recommendation: Pair Simulated Instruction with Community-Based Instruction
• Selecting Evidence-Based Instructional Practices for Simulated Instruction and Community-Based Instruction
• Task Analysis with Whole Task Chaining
• Self-Management via Audio Prompting
• Training for Generalization
• Summary
• For Further Information
4. Data Collection Strategies - Valerie L. Mazzotti & David W. Test
• Dimensions of Behavior
• Data Collection Strategies
• Data Collection Issues
• Summary
• For Further Information
5. Student-Focused Planning - Nicole Uphold & Melissa Hudson
• Student-Focused Planning
• Rationale for Involving Students in Transition Planning
• Steps for Involving Students in the Transition Planning Process
• Summary
• For Further Information
6. Student Development: Employment Skills - Allison Walker & Audrey Bartholomew
• Least-To-Most Prompting
• Community-Based Instruction
• Computer-Assisted Instruction
• Mnemonics
• Response Prompting
• Summary
• For Further Information
7. Bound for Success: Teaching Life Skills - April L. Mustian & Sharon L. Richter
• What Are Life Skills?
• Why Is Life Skills Instruction Different?
• Importance of Life Skills Instruction
• Evidence-Based Practices in Life Skills Instruction
• Types of Instruction Used in Life Skill Development
• Summary
• For Further Information
8. Strategies for Teaching Academic Skills - Allison Walker & Kelly Kelley
• Self-Management
• Technology-Based Instruction
• Academic Peer Assistance
• Visual Displays
• Mnemonics
• How Can Teachers Use These Interventions within One Lesson?
• For Further Information
• References
• Index

"This text provides literally dozens of practical strategies grounded in tested research and proven to aid students with disabilities in the transition process. A must for anyone who seeks clear and positive ways to improve students' skills."
- Diane Bassett, University of Northern Colorado

"Incredibly practical, yet grounded solidly in the best of what we know works . . . For middle and high teachers committed to evidence-based instruction, this is the book to read."
- Erik Carter, Peabody College at Vanderbilt University

"An essential addition to the tool belt of anyone who is a transition stakeholder . . . If you are looking for a book that guides you step by step through the assessment, instructional delivery, and data collection/analysis processes, this is it."
- Colleen Thoma, VCU School of Education

"Provides a wealth of information for teachers whose students are preparing for transition to adult life . . . an invaluable resource for practitioners."
- Harold Kleinert, University of Kentucky

"Dr. Test has built a bridge from transition-related research to practice in an exemplary fashion . . . This text provides a clear road map supported by the assurance that the path taken has a solid research foundation."
- Donna Wandry, Professor, Special Education; Chair, Department of Special Education, West Chester University of Pennsylvania