What Transition Planning Should Actually Help a Student Do

Transition planning should help a student move from school-based support toward life after school. It should connect the student’s strengths, needs, preferences, interests, and future goals to practical services and activities.

For school-based physical therapy, this may include mobility, access, endurance, equipment use, transportation routines, safety, independence, environmental access, or participation in work, community, education, or daily living routines.

A strong transition plan helps the team ask practical questions: What will this student need to do after school? What supports will make that more possible? What can the student begin practicing now? Who is responsible for helping that happen?