Transition from School to Post School for Students with Disabilities

  • A successful transition process is based on the student’s strengths, preferences and interests, and requires collaboration between the school district, student, family and community agencies.  Transition planning and services are designed to prepare a student with a disability to achieve his or her post-secondary goals related to living, learning and earning within the community.

    Transition Requirements and Guideline as per the New York State Education Department (NYSED)

    http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/transition/randg.htm


    Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education – Know Your Rights and Responsibilities

    https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.htmlesponsibilities

    Transition Resources

    Adult Career and Continuing Education Services/Vocational Rehabilitation  (ACCESS-VR) 

    www.acces.nysed.gov       
    800-441-0320
    Suffolk County Office 
    250 Veterans Highway
    NYS Office Building
    Room 3A-12
    Hauppauge, NY 11788 
    631-952-6357  

    ACCES Vocational Rehabilitation program can help an eligible person with a disability to plan for a career, participate in paid work experiences, receive training to achieve work goals and find jobs that match their abilities, interests and needs.

    Association for Children with Down Syndrome (ACDS)                            

    www.acds.org
    4 Fern Place
    Plainview, NY 11803   
    516-933-4700 x 111

    ACDS is dedicated to providing lifetime resources of exceptional quality, innovation and inclusion for individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities and their families.

    Advocates for Individuals with High Functioning Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders (AHA/AS/PDD)                       

    330 Broadway 
    Amityville, NY 11701  
    631-734-8156  or  888-918-9198

    AHA/AS/PDD; the goal of this not for profit organization is to increase awareness and knowledge about ASD, attain appropriate educational programs, effective social skills training, meaningful employment and satisfactory independent living accommodations.

    Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities (ACLD)     

    www.acld.org
    807 South Oyster Bay Road
    Bethpage, NY 11714                                                 
    516-822-0028

    The mission of ACLD is to support the pursuit of an enviable life for people with developmental disabilities. We will accomplish this by: assisting individuals to make meaningful choices, develop significant relationships and have productive, healthy and enjoyable lives.

    AHRC Suffolk Chapter  

    www.ahrcsuffolk.org  
    300 Knickerbocker Avenue #1
    Bohemia NY 11716        
    631-589-5222

    AHRC Suffolk's mission is to support and advocate with individuals of all ages with unique abilities and challenges. Our commitment is to provide individualized, high quality services utilizing person-centered approaches assisting them to discover and define their own quality of life.

    Career Zone                                                                        

    http://www.careerzone.ny.gov
    Career Zone is an online career exploration system that was designed for middle and high school students by the NYS Department of Labor with a grant from the US Department of Labor. It is an interactive site designed to encourage students to explore career options as a means of making informed choices about their future.

    CHADD – Suffolk Chapter   

    P.O. Box 414
    Centereach, NY 11720

    Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), is a national non-profit, tax-exempt (Section 501 (c) (3) ) organization providing education, advocacy, and support for individuals with ADHD.

    Clubhouse of Suffolk     

    939 Johnson Avenue
    Ronkonkoma, NY 11779              
    631-471-7242
    For intake screening, call: Dennis Skow at 531.369.0022 ext 1205  

    Clubhouse serves those individuals whose lives are affected by serious mental illness to live healthy, productive, addiction free, and satisfying lives.

    Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH)

    866-871-3000
    TTY: 866-871-6000

    This site has information regarding specialized transition services for youth that are blind or have visual impairments. The mission of the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped is to enhance employability, to maximize independence, and to assist in the development of the capacities and strengths of people who are legally blind.

    Community Resource Database of Long Island                     

    www.211longisland.org/cms

    This is a database of over 11,000 Health, Human Services, and Educational Resources on Long Island.

    Family Service League  

    www.fsl-li.org
    471 Atlantic Ave
    Bellport, NY 11713
    631-286-9090 

    Family Service League serves individuals of all ages and families who are in crisis and challenged by homelessness, unemployment or mental illness. These services include counseling, vocational services, and housing.

    Families Together in New York State                                     

    www.ftnys.org
    Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
    Bldg 45 3rd Floor 998
    Crooked Hill Road
    West Brentwood, NY 11717 
    631-761-3181                   

    This is a nonprofit, parent-run organization that strives to establish a unified voice for children with emotional, behavioral, and social challenges. Their mission is to ensure that every family has access to needed information, support, and service.

    Federation of Organizations                         

    www.fedoforg.org   
    1 Farmingdale Road
    West Babylon NY 11704
    631-669-5355 x 1270

    Federation of Organizations is a multi-service, community-based social welfare agency operating programs that utilize peer support within a self-help model. We develop programs that are designed to meet the needs of special populations, such as people recovering from mental illness, the homeless, low-income seniors, and at-risk children. For more than 35 years, Federation, a not-for-profit corporation, has been working to improve services to people with disabilities and their families through education, information and referral services, legislative action, and program development.

    Health and Transition                                                                   

    www.healthytransitionsny.org

    This website is for youth with developmental disabilities ages 14-25 years, family, caregivers, service coordinators, and health care providers. Healthy Transitions NY teaches skills and provides tools for care coordination, keeping a health summary, and setting priorities during the transition process. It features video vignettes that demonstrate health transition skills and interactive tools that foster self-determination and collaboration. Use this site to develop skills for transitioning from pediatric to adult health care.

    International Dyslexia Association    

    www.interdys.org     
    410-296-0232     

    The IDA is promoting literacy through research, education and advocacy. The purpose of the IDA is to pursue and provide the most comprehensive range of information and services that address the full scope of dyslexia and related difficulties in learning to read and write.

    This is a leading resource for individuals with dyslexia, their families and educators. Speech-to-Text Freeware: There are a number of free software programs (very basic) for speech to text. 

    Learning Tools:
    www.learningtools.us
    Assistive technology and regular technology for students with disabilities.

    Job Corps                            

    http://www.jobcorps.gov
    18 Railroad Ave
    Patchogue, NY 11772              
    631-569-2868

    Job Corps is a free education and training program that helps young people learn a career, earn a high school diploma or GED, and find and keep a good job. For eligible youth at least 16 years of age, Job Corps provides the all-around skills needed to succeed in life.

    Long Island Advocacy Center         

    http://www.theliac.org         
    490 Wheeler Road
    Suite 165
    Hauppauge, NY 11788
    631-234-0467
                                                                            
    This is a not-for-profit agency dedicated to protecting the legal rights of students and individuals with disabilities. This center offers students solutions to problems such as discipline, suspensions, and inappropriate placements. Individuals with disabilities are offered assistance with case management, obtaining vocational rehabilitation services and appropriate educational programs.

    Long Island Parent Center  

    LIU Brentwood
    1001 Crooked Hill Road
    Brentwood, NY 11717
    516-589-4562   

    LIPC provides training for parents of students who are receiving special education services. Available services include advocacy training, individual assistance to parents and workshops.

    Mental Health Association in Suffolk County (MHA)       

    http://mhaw.org/programs/mental-health-help-line/
    631-226-3900

    MHA is a not for profit agency devoted to improving mental health and mental health services.

    Center for Parent Information and Resources (Formerly NICHY) 

    http://www.parentcenterhub.org

    CPIR offers a wealth of information on disabilities. CPRI serves the nation as a central source of information on disabilities for all children, IDEA, NCLB, research based educational practices, and Transition.

    Office of Mental Health (OMH)                                                                   

    www.omh.ny.gov
    Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
    Building 45-3 998
    Crooked Hill Road
    West Brentwood, NY 11717
    1-800-597-8481    
    Long Island Parent Representative:  631-761-2334

    OMH offers a comprehensive array of services for children and adults with serious mental illness.

    Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)              

    www.opwdd.ny.gov
    415 Oser Ave Suite A
    Hauppauge, NY 11788                                                    
    631-434-6000

    OPWDD works cooperatively with local governments, voluntary organization, providers of services, and persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities and their families. The mission of OPWDD is for people with developmental disabilities to lead rich and fuller lives.

    One Place for Special Needs                                   

    This is an information network and social community that allows the disability community to share resources and make connections in their own neighborhood. It is also a place where those who actively work with individuals with disabilities can let us learn about their products, programs, and service.

    Parent to Parent of NYS         

    LI Contact - Valerie Colavecchio: vcolavecchio@ptopnys.org
    415 Oser Avenue
    Hauppauge, NY 11788     
    631-434-6151

    Parent to Parent’s mission is to match parents on a one to one basis via the telephone to offer support, educational and community resource information, presentations and educational advocacy.

    Social Security Administration     

    www.socialsecurity.gov
    75 Oak Street
    Patchogue, NY 11772                 
    (800) 772-1213

    SSI makes monthly payments to people with low income and limited resources who are 65 or older, or blind, or disabled. Visit the web site to learn more about if your child could be eligible to receive payments.

    Suffolk County Accessible Transportation (SCAT) 

    631-853-8337

    SCAT provides curb to curb service to individuals with disabilities. SCAT provides safe, reliable transportation service designed to increase mobility in Suffolk County. Applications can be found on the website homepage.

    Suffolk County Department of Labor–Disability Employment Initiative Project     

    H. Lee Dennison Bldg
    100 Veterans Memorial Hwy,
    P.O. Box 6100
    Hauppauge, NY 11788
    631-853-6526  

    Offering employment related services to Suffolk County Youth to include Career Counseling, Resume preparation, Computer labs, Job listings, Vocational training, Video library, Phones/Faxes, and Job search web sites for Career Exploration to include Career Zone and Choices.

    Suffolk Independent Living Organization (SILO)             

    http://www.siloinc.org/
    Regional Resource Development Center
    755 Waverly Avenue
    Holtsville, NY 11742  
    631-320-1662

    SILO is a not-for-profit agency that advocates for the independence and rights of individuals with disabilities. Direct services assist consumers to act for themselves in developing skills and abilities that leads to autonomy and independence. Programs and services focus on empowerment, mentorship, knowledge, and advocacy.

    Transition ListServ

    This list serve sends information via your email on transition resources and upcoming events on the local, state and national fronts. To receive information, send a blank email to tps@lists.esboces.org  and you will be instantly signed on.

    U.S. Department of Education- Office of Civil Rights                             

    https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html
    1-800-421-3481

    US Department of Education enforces Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. These laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of a disability. OCR’s mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence through vigorous enforcement of civil rights in our nation’s schools.