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Transition Portfolios for Students With Disabilities
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Transition Portfolios for Students With Disabilities
How to Help Students, Teachers, and Families Handle New Settings



August 2002 | 144 pages | Corwin

"This book on transition portfolios provides state-of-the-art information on transitioning needs of a wide range of students with disabilities, including those with the most complex needs. Filled with practical ideas and strategies, this book supports the efforts of teachers and families to help the student progress successfully through the educational experience."
June Downing, Professor
California State University, Northridge

Students with mild to severe disabilities have special needs, including specific ways of learning and communicating. Teachers learn these cues and use them to effectively teach their students, but the lessons are often lost when the student moves to a new setting. This user-friendly guide helps teachers create a transition portfolio that will accompany the student to new classrooms and schools, and convey special needs, accommodations, and other vital information to a new team of teachers.

Transition Portfolios for Students With Disabilities offers practical details on gathering critical information, including tips on what to include, sources, and timelines. It also shows you how to collect and include

  • Educational components, including learning style, physical influences, and environmental influences
  • Accommodations to instruction, environment, or materials
  • Medical information
  • Students' communication styles
  • Positive behavior support plans

The authors also include a section on how to collect personal information about students, as well as sample mapping sessions. They also provide easy-to-use charts and tables to help you develop a successful transition portfolio for your students with disabilities.

 


 
About the Authors
 
Introduction
 
1. Gathering Information to Create a Transition Portfolio
Contents of a Portfolio

 
Sources of Information

 
Timelines for Developing a Portfolio

 
Summary

 
 
2. Collecting Personal Information About the Student
Information-Gathering Techniques

 
Summary

 
Additional Resources

 
 
3. Including Medical Information in a Portfolio
Components of a Medical Section

 
Summary

 
Additional Resources

 
 
4. Educational Programming
Educational Components of a Portfolio

 
Summary

 
Additional Resources

 
 
5. Adaptations and Supports
Assistive Technology

 
Individualized Accomodations to Instruction, Environment, or Materials

 
Specialized Accomodations for Visual and Hearing Impairments

 
Assistance From Other People

 
Summary

 
Additional Resources

 
 
6. Special Considerations for Students With Physical Impairments
Appropriate Positioning of Students With Physical Impairments

 
Summary

 
Additional Resources

 
 
7. Communication
Documenting the Student's Receptive and Expressive Communication

 
Communication Opportunities

 
Communication Partners and Communication Topics

 
Teaching Communication Skills

 
Summary

 
Additional Resources

 
 
8. Behavior Support and Reinforcement Strategies
Effective Reinforcement Strategies

 
Functional Behavior Assessment

 
Underlying Assumptions

 
Completing a Functional Behavior Assessment

 
Developing a Positive Behavior Support Plan

 
Summary

 
Additional Resources

 
 
9. Teaming, Problem Solving, and Keeping Notes
Elements of an Effective Collaborative Team

 
Getting Organized and Making Decisions

 
Collaborative Problem Solving

 
Writing It All Down

 
Summary

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Final Thoughts
 
Appendix A: Suzie's Case Study
 
Appendix B: Steve's Case Study
 
Appendix C: Patrick's Case Study
 
References
 
Index

"This book on transition portfolios provides state-of-the-art information on transitioning needs of a wide range of students with disabilities, including those with the most complex needs. Filled with practical ideas and strategies, this book supports the efforts of teachers and families to help the student progress successfully through the educational experience." 

June Downing, Professor
California State University, Northridge
Key features
  • The authors have written the first book on transition portfolios although much has been written and researched over the last 2-3 years.
  • The book will provide sample portfolios across grades and abilities.
  • It will make a nice addition to a growing special education list, and one that has the potential to reach the largest demographic within that market.

 

For instructors

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Paperback
ISBN: 9780761945840
$39.95