Write a paper about either a transition resource in your area, or three college programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Assignment Question

For this assignment, you will write a paper about either a transition resource in your area, or three college programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. 1. Read Paper Topic 1: Community/School Resources That Facilitate Transition Skills and Paper Topic 2: College Programs for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and select the topic you would like to pursue for this assignment. 2. Follow the directions for the topic you selected. Conduct additional research as necessary. 3. Write a 1,250-1,500 word (5-6 page) paper fulfilling the written requirements for the topic you selected. Follow the APA style of writing. Paper Topic 1 Overview: Conduct a site visit to a community resource/agency or school resource that facilitates transition skills. Research: Visit a transition resource, either in the community or within a school system, and determine the services available to youth with disabilities. Acceptable resources to visit include a school career center, a one-stop center, a vocational evaluation site, the State Department of Rehabilitation Services office, the local community services board, or a job placement/training program. You could also interview a school or county transition coordinator. Be sure to make an appointment ahead of time. Your “lens” for this visit should be, “What opportunities exist for youth with disabilities through this avenue during and/or after high school?” Make copies of materials available at the transition resource. Additionally, review professional literature on transition and career education.

Paper: Describe the transition resource you visited in terms of its agency/office, services, accommodations, and population(s) served. Include the questions you asked the staff and the answers they gave, as well as relevant materials (pamphlets, etc.) from the resource. Close by synthesizing what you learned from the site visit and the professional literature you researched.

Paper Topic 2 Overview: Compare three college programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Research: Identify three college programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities and then review the programs. If you can’t find the information you need on their websites, you may have to send them an email. Your “lens” for this review should be, “What opportunities exist for youth with intellectual disabilities?” What types of course work are they required to take? Do they stay on campus with peers with disabilities, or do they have separate housing? What opportunities do the individuals have to collaborate with peers without disabilities and participate in general college events? Download (or copy the links to) relevant materials on the programs’ websites. Additionally, review professional literature on college programs available for individuals with severe disabilities.

Paper: Provide a critical overview of the programs. Describe them in terms of their services, accommodations, population(s) served, curricula, etc. Then discuss their highlights, and what you would enhance/modify. Close by describing which program you believe is best and why. Throughout, synthesize what you learned from the professional literature you researched.