Transitions — Scope | Disability forum
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Transitions

melita
melita Community member Posts: 1 Listener
Hi,

I am very much interested in the transition process for 16 year olds who have learning difficulties and/or a disability. I am of the opinion that this represents the most challenging transition in a person's life. Arguably, the decisions taken at this stage will affect a person's long-term prospects not only in relation to F.E or H.E. but also as regards employment paths and prospects as well as his/her involvement at the community level.

With your help and cooperation I would like if possible to open a discussion regarding the hopes, anxieties, wishes and other experiences that might characterize this particular phase in a person's life.

I would also like to express my gratitude to those of you who decide to participate in this discussion.

Comments

  • JimJams
    JimJams Community member Posts: 174 Connected
    I was at an autism conference recently and a young mang with aspergers was speaking about his experiences during transitions in his life, he was very frank and honest and I think there were a few wrong decisions made about which school to go to and he really felt bullied and tried to end his life a couple of times, this really made me think that I will have to do an awful lot of research when the time comes for my son to go to secondary school, you are right transitions are a very difficult time and I think parents need to do a lot of research and visit different schools before making up their minds
  • BusyOT
    BusyOT Community member Posts: 76 Listener
    I agree transitions at 16 are potentially very difficult. The shift from children's to adult services is often confusing and the range of options can be limited. Each local authority (in Scotland) should have a Transitions Protocol and there are often very knowledgable Transitions Co-ordinators attached to schools.
    Interestingly, in my experience, I find that those young people who have come through the "special school" system are given more assistance at transition than those who are in mainstream education.
    It would be great to hear other people's stories and tips.
  • socksoff
    socksoff Community member Posts: 31 Connected
    Really interested in this as am working on my PhD specifically looking at the transitions of young people with autism from special school to mainstream college of further education. I have been tracking 6 students from 3 schools who went on to 5 colleges with mixed results. Schools are doing a lot of work in this area and for many of them the move to college has been really positive and very supportive - colleges are perhaps more used to 'doing inclusion' than schools so they are geared up - it's not as frightening as I first thought it might be. There are real tensions though about the growth to independence and the vulnerability of our young people and that one is hard for parents particularly to navigate when the colleges are pushing for independence. Early days with the findings but it's all very interesting. (I am also the parent of an 11 year old who is making a different transition to secondary school!) BusyOT is right about the amount of support from special school I think and at the moment the statement has ceased where a young person has gone on to mainstream college but if they stay in specialist post-16 provision then the statement has continued - with the new legislation the Education, Health and Care plan should stay up until 25 if needed - I believe!
  • Sneezy
    Sneezy Community member Posts: 15 Listener

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