FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
?
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
MEMORANDUM
Contact Information:
TO:
Transition Stakeholders
Janet Adams, BEESS
(850) 245-0478
FROM:
Bambi J. Lockman, Chief
Bureau of Exceptional Education
and Student Services
janet.adams@fldoe.org
Donni Sorrell, DVR
(850) 245-3360
donni.sorrell@vr.doe.state.fl.us
Bill
Palmer,
Director
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
K12: 2006-12
DATE: February
7,
2006
SUBJECT:
Checklist for Students with Disabilities Transitioning to Adult Life
School district exceptional student education (ESE) and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) personnel
throughout Florida are working in collaboration to assist students with disabilities to reach the highest
level of student achievement and successfully transition to adult life. Our mutual objective is to improve
the post-school outcomes of students with disabilities. This begins with knowledgeable staff sharing
information with students, parents, and others involved in the transition process.
One of the important steps in the transition process is for students to think about their future beyond high
school and take an active role in transition planning. It is also important for students and their families to
become aware of agencies and the services that they provide to individuals with disabilities. At the state
and local levels, the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) and Division of
Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) are working together to reach out to students and their families.
However, we need your assistance in order to strengthen this important communication.
In an effort to increase student awareness about the importance of taking an active role in their transition
planning, a transition checklist brochure was developed collaboratively by DVR and BEESS that may
help students address their transition needs as they prepare for life after high school. Copies of the
325 W. GAINES STREET • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
Students with Disabilities Transitioning to Adult Life
February 7, 2006
Page Two
Checklist for Students with Disabilities Transitioning to Adult Life
brochure are available by contacting
Susan Lombardi, DVR Communications Office, by phone at (850) 245-3323 or by electronic mail at
susan.lombardi@vr.fldoe.org.
If you have any questions about the role of DVR in transition services for students with disabilities or
need additional information, please contact Donni Sorrell, DVR Program Administrator/Transition
Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, by phone at (850) 245-3360 or by electronic mail at
donni.sorrell@vr.fldoe.org.
If you need additional information or assistance regarding ESE and transition planning through the
individual educational plan (IEP) process, please contact Janet Adams, Program Specialist, Transition,
Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, by phone at (850) 245-0478 or by electronic mail
at janet.adams@fldoe.org.
BJL/BP/jam
