FY 2008 Annual Report of Achievements - Gallaudet University

Transition Skills Guidelines
National mission priority area: Transition
Principal Investigator(s):
Jacoby, Susan
A-138
Other Investigator(s):
Kowalski, Luanne
Olden, Lynn
Project description
The Transition Skills Guidelines (TSG) were developed to provide guidance to transition
counselors, teachers, and other educators about the knowledge and skills students must develop to
succeed throughout and beyond high school. The TSG is aligned with the KDES/MSSD life planning
student outcome and is consistent with National Career Development Guidelines. It identifies target
knowledge and skill areas for students in grades K–12 and serves as a framework for the MSSD
Internship Program curriculum, the MSSD Career Center, and transition support at KDES and MSSD.
The TSG is available via the Clerc Center’s transition Web site in both English and Spanish.
Development
Prior years. In FY 2000 and 2001, research began on transition knowledge and skills targets
for independent living and work preparation. School administrators reviewed an initial draft of the
TSG in relation to the KDES/MSSD life planning outcome in FY 2002, and the Clerc Center
Transition Team continued to review and revise the draft during FY 2003. The final TSG working
draft, expanded over previous versions to broaden the range of topics critical for transition and
reviewed by both Clerc Center content experts and the Clerc Center community, was completed in
fall 2004. The TSG was implemented within the demonstration schools in September 2004. During
FY 2005 work began to develop the TSG Web site, including the working draft of the TSG and
suggested classroom applications. Initial work began on programmatic and classroom applications
and continued into FY 2006. During FY 2006, the TSG was finalized based on feedback from
external stakeholders. A workshop for educators on the TSG and its use in an academic
environment was offered to educators. Two new TSG workshops—one for families and one for
deaf students with disabilities—were developed and piloted in FY 2007. During FY 2007, the
Spanish version of the TSG was made available via the Clerc Center’s TSG Web site, and TSG
workshops were reviewed and refined.
FY 2008 activities and/or product(s).
• Based on participant feedback during workshops and trainings, TSG trainings were
reviewed and refined.
Dissemination
Prior years. The TSG has been available via the Clerc Center Web site since October 2004.
Workshops for educators and families have been offered in FY 2006 and FY 2007, including
workshops focusing on using the TSG with students who have disabilities and for families wanting
to support transition at home.
FY 2008 activities and/or product(s).
Jacoby, S. (2007, October). Preparing for tomorrow today: Transition leads the way. Presentation at the Working
Together Conference—Educational Options for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students, Manchester, NH.
Kowalski, L. (2008, April). Transition Skills Guidelines—A workshop for families. Presentation at the CAL-
ED/Impact Conference, Sacramento, CA.