Transition Report Released

Ann Kurz, member of the Steering Committee, compares her transition experience to that of recent graduates

Local Students with Developmental Disabilities Struggle to Plan for their Futures

At a community meeting on December 14, a Steering Committee made up of individuals with disabilities, family members, school officials, disability service providers and community leaders, released its report on transition for students with developmental disabilities from school to the adult world. The Golisano Foundation and The Advocacy Center led the project, which interviewed diverse Expert Panels about their experiences with transition. More than two hundred people participated in the project. The purpose of the process was to examine the experiences of students, families, educators, and other professionals involved in transition for students with developmental disabilities and to make recommendations to improve the process.

The report describes the struggles of families as they try to plan for their loved ones' futures and as they face complicated systems and a lack of information about their options. Recommendations in the report include local solutions such as increased communication between schools and service providers, as well as changes needed at the state level.

"This project has already resulted in increased communication and collaboration between families, educators and adult service providers, and we are confident that the Rochester community will come together to improve outcomes for students and their families," noted Ann Costello, Director of the Golisano Foundation.

The Golisano Foundation funds programs that help individuals with developmental disabilities achieve their maximum potentials by integrating independence, self-determination, and productivity into all facets of their lives. The Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization that provides education, support and advocacy to approximately eighteen thousand people with disabilities per year.

The full report is available as a PDF using the link ABOVE entitled "Transition Project Final Report." For more information, contact: Allyn Stelljes-Young, The Advocacy Center, 585-546-1700, stelljes-young@advocacycenter.com .