Students and their families should also receive accurate, understandable information about community services. Relevant agencies might include vocational state rehabilitation services, Social Security Administration, colleges and universities, independent living centers, and others. Ideally, besides academic classes, transition programs should provide students with opportunities for career development and vocational instruction. Opportunities for students to learn about and work in community jobs makes transition easier. A way to gain work experiences for students with severe disabilities beside short-term opportunities is through supported employment programs.
Employment is just one part of adult living.
Transition plans should also include goals related to community participation, social relationships, postsecondary educational training, social, recreational, and independent living skill instruction and assistance. In one recent Beach Center research project, students said families were their best source of future planning and offered suggestions on how families can make transition easier. They noted that transition planning should start earlier, and that general discussions about future would be most beneficial. Having a bank account and being responsible for budgeting, students said, also aided transition. By listening to students and helping to make ideas and desires real, families can be more powerful partners in student transition planning.