PARENT TRANSITION NEEDS LIST

After the parents and their son/daughter have discussed some long-range visions, together they can begin to plan for the future by exploring what is needed to reach their visions. The following list describes the options that may be available to the student. As the parent and youth discuss each item on the list, it would be helpful to determine when the activity should begin (date, school year, or how many years before graduation) and what the outcome should be (the goal).

Activities Related to Work and Post-Secondary Education:

  • Career exploration—a procedure to clarify the student’s interests and abilities through testing, job tryouts, individual and group counseling, and career search activities

Beginning:
Goal:
  • Classroom work training—training done in the classroom that is designed to teach a particular work skill (e.g., cleaning)

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Goal:
  • Competitive work program —a student obtains work experience by being placed in a job in the community during the day or after school at a regular wage

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Goal:
  • Community work experience—the student obtains work experience in the community during the day or after school, generally for lower wages

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Goal:
  • In-school job placement—the student obtains work experience in a job within the school (e.g., cafeteria) with or without wages

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Goal:
  • Non-paid training experience—the student gains experience in an occupation of interest to explore career options and obtain work skills, the student is not paid

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Goal:
  • Professional shadowing—a student is permitted to follow and observe a person working in a particular job

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Goal:
  • Summer job—the student obtains employment when out of school over the summer, often the private Industry council (PIC) funds these programs

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Goal:
  • Supported work experience—the student obtains work experience in the community and has on-going close supervision

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Goal:
  • Vocational education—the student is trained in a specific trade or skill as part of his/her school education

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Goal:
  • Work adjustment program—a program that emphasizes the development of work behaviors such as proper dress, punctuality, good attendance, etc.

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Goal:

Activities Related to Residential Living

  • Clothing care—programs designed to help the student wash, maintain, and repair clothing

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Goal:
  • Cooking and nutrition—programs designed to help the student plan and prepare balanced meals

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Goal:
  • Dealing with emergencies—programs designed to help the student handle common emergencies and to recognize and contact community helpers

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Goal:
  • Housekeeping skills—programs designed to help the student maintain a household (e.g., cleaning, making beds)

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Goal:
  • Guardian and estate issues—programs or services to help the student make decisions regarding his/her money, medical care, or other legal issues

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Goal:
  • Money management—programs designed to help the student budget money, comparison shop, and use banking options (checking and saving accounts)

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Goal:
  • Seek medical and health care—programs designed to help the student obtain medical and dental services, and to recognize when the services are needed

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Goal:
  • Self-care and safety—programs designed to help the student care for personal hygiene, appearance, and health

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Goal:
  • Home repairs and maintenance—programs designed to help the student get home repairs and/or preventative maintenance done

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Activities Related to Community Participation

  • Club/group membership—programs designed to expose the student to clubs and organizations related to his/her interests

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Goal:
  • Community awareness—programs designed to acquaint the student with the use of community resources such as libraries, social services, churches, etc.

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Goal:
  • Emotional awareness—programs designed to teach the student appropriate ways of dealing with emotions such as anger, fear, etc.

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Goal:
  • Leisure skills—programs designed to help the student learn new recreational skills and to identify programs in the community

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Goal:
  • Physical fitness—programs designed to teach the student how to maintain fitness through different kinds of exercise and how to use community resources for fitness programs

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Goal:
  • Political awareness—programs designed to teach the student to follow current events and become involved in the political process and vote

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Needs List developed by Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 1993

A product of the Transition Outreach Project, Grant #H158Q10027-01