Start on Success: A Model Transition Program for High School Students With Disabilities

Abstract

Employers provide jobs to people with disabilities at a much lower rate than the general population. Federal legislation requires schools to (a) work with students and parents to develop transition plans and (b) plan for students' employment after graduation. It is unfortunate that transition plans do not necessarily translate into successful employment. Students with disabilities need community-based education to learn the academic, social, and vocational skills necessary for success in today's society. In this article, the authors describe the Start on Success program as a model transition program that provides students with a community-based transition from school to work in a supported environment with support from the school district, mentors, parents, and a local university.