Family Involvement in Transition Planning and Implementation. PRO-ED Series on Transition.

Part of a series designed to provide practical resources on topics essential to the process of preparing individuals with disabilities for adulthood, this manual focuses on family involvement in transition planning and implementation. Chapter 1, "Overview and Introduction," discusses the history of family involvement in education, and the potential benefits and current lack of adequate family involvement. Chapter 2, "Barriers to Effective Family Involvement", addresses professional mishandling of families, family mishandling of professionals, and indicators of a collaborative partnership. The following chapter, "Family Systems Theory," describes family characteristics, family interactions, the role of siblings in transition, family functions, and the family life cycle. Chapter 4,"Family Involvement in Transition Assessment and Planning," provides information on involving parents and family members in the planning process. Step-by-step strategies are provided for inviting parental involvement during the development of the Individualized Education Program and allowing the student to lead the meeting. The final chapter, "Parent Involvement in Transition Program Implementation," discusses family responsibilities, teacher responsibilities, and the characteristics of the effective partnership that teachers and parents can create. (Contains approximately 125 references.) (CR)