Transition Plan
Transition of Preschool Students Entering Elementary School
There is a transition process for preschool age students with special needs who are in any registered daycare and involved with a community program within Waterloo Region(such as KW Habilitation Services, KidsAbility, Pre-School Autism Services) prior to attending JK or SK in WCDSB Schools.
School personnel work collaboratively within this process with resource consultants from the community agencies and parents to facilitate the transition of students to elementary school.
Parents of a child with special needs who are not involved with a community agency, need to contact their home school early in the year prior to the child’s entry into school to begin the process of planning for their child’s transition.
If parents have any questions about their child’s transition to school, it is important to contact the home school Principal.
Transition of Students Moving from Elementary to Secondary Schools
Transition meetings for all Grade 8 students with an Individual Education Plan or IEP who are moving to a Secondary School in WCDSB need to be completed by the end of March of each school year.
The student’s current IEP will be the primary document used at all elementary to secondary Transition Meetings.
If a Grade 8 student has been part of the Identification Placement and Review Committee process (IPRC) in WCDSB, the IPRC Annual Review can be held in conjunction with the Grade 8 Transition Meeting (if this meets parent and school needs).
PPM 156 sets out requirements for transition plans for student with special education plans for kindergarten to grade 12.
Transition of Students Moving from Secondary Schools to Post Secondary Education, Workplace or the Community
All students on an Individual Education Plan or IEP must have a Transition Plan as part of their IEP. For students of high school age the Transition Plan identifies goals for work, further education and/or community living. The plan is prepared in consultation with the student, parent and/or community agencies. The plan reflects opportunities and resources available to the student when he/she leaves school. The plan changes yearly to include steps achievable by the student in helping him/her achieve goals.
The Ministry of Education resource on transition can be found at:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/ppm156.pdf
For those students with more complex needs who will require community supports upon leaving secondary school, the WCDSB Community and Workplace Officer is available to assist school staff, the student and the family with transition planning. The transition process for these students must be started 4-5 years prior to leaving school, in order to coordinate agency supports, as extensive wait lists exist for these supports.
Transitions for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Connections Initiative
Connections for Students is a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) and Ministry of Education (EDU). This initiative is designed to facilitate the smooth transition of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)from publically funded Autism Intervention Programs (AIP) to publicly funded school boards in Ontario. Connections for Studentswill improve on the current support for students with ASD transitioning from Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) services to Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) instructional methods.
Transitions for Students with ASD
The Ministry of Education also identifies the need for specific transition planning for students with ASD in Policy/Program Memorandum 140 (2007) as follows; “Transition planning is an important process for all students, but especially for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Principals are required to ensure that a plan for transition is in place for students with ASD.”
Types of Transitions may include:
- Entry to school
- Transition between activities and settings or classrooms
- Transitions between grades
- Moving from school to school or from an outside agency to a school
- Transition from elementary to secondary school
- Transition from secondary school to postsecondary destinations and/or the workplace
For students with ASD at WCDSB, transition activities and strategies are documented where appropriate, within the student’s Individual Education Plan and/or Transition Plan.
Link to PPM 156 – SUPPORTING TRANSITIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/ppm156.pdf
Link to PPM 140 – INCORPORATING METHODS OF APPLIED BEHAVIOUR ANALYSIS (ABA) INTO PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS (ASD)
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/140.html
Link for Connections for Students
Student Transition Planning Financial Resources
Henson Trust Handbook
There is a new resource available for persons with disabilities and their families: the Henson Trust handbook (2008), written by Harry Beatty, Mary Louise Dickson and John Stapleton. The handbook not only answers many questions about “Henson Trusts”, it also deals with various benefits available to persons with disabilities, including ODSP benefits.
Link to Henson Trust Handbook PDF
Tips on Estate Planning for Special Needs Families
by Brett Langill, BA, CFP
Link to Tips on Estate Planning for Special Needs Families PDF
You and Your Income Tax
by P.L. Chiu, Chartered Accountant
by Brett Langill, BA, CFP
Link to You and Your Income Tax PDF
Developmental Services Ontario-
Your contact point for all adult developmental services in Waterloo, Wellington, Dufferin, Halton and Peel Regions.
www.dsontario.ca (English Link)
www.sopdi.ca (French link)
Ontario Disability Support Program
Income support to help you and your family with monthly living expenses
www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/odsp/contacts/index.aspx
Link to PPM’S
Special Education PPMs:
- PPM 156:Supporting Transitions For Students With Special Education Needs (PDF, 43 KB)
- PPM 149:Protocol For Partnerships With External Agencies For Provision Of Services By Regulated Health Professionals, Regulated Social Service Professionals, And Paraprofessionals (PPM 149 – PDF format, 40 KB)
- PPM 145:Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour (PDF, 179 KB)
- PPM 144:Bullying Prevention and Intervention (PDF, 134 KB)
- PPM 140:Incorporating methods of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) into programs for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (PPM 140 – PDF format, 64 KB)
- PPM 81:Provision of Health Support Services in School Settings
- PPM 8:Identification of and Program Planning For Students With Learning Disabilities (PDF, 74 KB)
All PPM’s:
- PPM 160:Protected Time for Daily Mathematics Instruction, Grades 1 to 8 (PDF, 62 KB)
- PPM 159:Collaborative professionalism (PDF, 80 KB)
- PPM 158:School Board Policies on Concussion (PDF, 92 KB)
- PPM 157:Use of Copyright-Protected Works for Education (PDF, 171 KB)
- PPM 156:Supporting Transitions For Students With Special Education Needs (PDF, 43 KB)
- PPM 155:Diagnostic Assessment in Support of Student Learning (PDF, 61 KB)
- PPM 154:Applications for Letters of Permission for Positions Requiring a Registered Early Childhood Educator (PPM 154 – PDF format, 75 KB)
- PPM 153:Applications For Temporary Letters Of Approval (PPM 153 – PDF format, 52 KB)
- PPM 152:Terms And Conditions Of Employment Of Principals And Vice-Principals (PPM 152 – PDF format, 52 KB)
- PPM 151:Professional Activity Days Devoted To Provincial Education Priorities (PPM 151 – PDF format, 48 KB)
- PPM 150:School Food And Beverage Policy (PPM 150 – PDF format, 304 KB)
What You Need To Know About The School Food and Beverage Policy
What People Are Saying About Ontario’s New Nutrition Standards - PPM 149:Protocol For Partnerships With External Agencies For Provision Of Services By Regulated Health Professionals, Regulated Social Service Professionals, And Paraprofessionals (PPM 149 – PDF format, 40 KB)
- PPM 148:Policies Governing Admission To French-Language Schools In Ontario (PPM 148 – PDF format, 100 KB)
- PPM 147:Applications For Letters of Permission (PPM 147 – PDF format, 80 KB)
- PPM 145:Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour (PDF, 179 KB)
- PPM 144:Bullying Prevention and Intervention (PDF, 134 KB)
- PPM 142:School Board Programs For Expelled Students (PDF, 86 KB)
- PPM 141:School Board Programs For Students On Long-Term Suspension (PDF, 81 KB)
- PPM 140:Incorporating methods of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) into programs for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (PPM 140 – PDF format, 64 KB)
- PPM 138:Daily Physical Activity in elementary schools, Grades 1-8 (PPM 138 – PDF format, 33 KB)
- PPM 137:Use of additional teacher resources to support student success in Ontario secondary schools (PPM 137 – PDF format, 30 KB)
- PPM 136:Clarification of section 49.1 of the Education Act: Education of persons unlawfully in Canada (PPM 136 – PDF format, 33 KB)
- PPM 132:Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Students: Implementation in Ontario Secondary Schools
- PPM 131:Home schooling
- PPM 129:Prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR): Implementation in Ontario Secondary Schools
- PPM 128:The Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct (PDF, 78 KB)
- PPM 124A:Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirement: Community Involvement Activities in English-Language Schools
- PPM 123:Safe arrivals
- PPM 120:Reporting violent incidents to the Ministry of Education (PPM 120 – PDF format, 34 KB)
- PPM 119:Developing and Implementing Equity and Inclusive Education Policies in Ontario Schools (PDF, 117 KB) [Updated in accordance with changes in legislation.]
- Ontario’s equity and inclusive education strategy(PDF, 2.4 MB)
- Quick Facts(PDF, 84 KB)
- PPM 118:Religious education programs offered in inspected private secondary schools
- PPM 117:Access to information on secondary school programs and to guidance services between coterminous school boards
- PPM 108:Opening and closing exercises in public elementary and secondary schools
- PPM 89:The residential demonstration schools for students with learning disabilities: General information and details of the referral process
- PPM 81:Provision of Health Support Services in School Settings
- PPM 76C:Alternative Educational Programs and Services for Deaf, Blind, and Deaf-Blind Exceptional Pupils
- PPM 76A:Workers’ Compensation coverage for students in work education programs
- PPM 75A:Carter Scholarship Program, 1994: Procedures and conditions of award
- PPM 60A:Ontario Young Travellers Program (PPM 60 – PDF format, 51 KB)
- PPM 59:Psychological Testing and Assessment of Pupils
- PPM 53:Ontario Scholar Program (PPM 53 – PDF format, 34 KB)
- PPM 11:Early identification of children’s learning needs
- PPM 9:Reporting of children in need of protection
- PPM 8:Identification of and Program Planning For Students With Learning Disabilities (PDF, 74 KB)
- PPM 1:Ontario Schools for the Blind and Deaf as Resource Centres