Transition Iowa

10/28/2025

🌟 Post-Secondary Expectations: Examples (Part 3) 🌟

Help your child unlock their potential with clear post-secondary expectations in Living, Learning, and Working. These aren’t just goals—they’re essential pathways to success after high school.

🏡 Living:
- Levi will continue to live at home with his family.
- Emily will live in a waiver home.
- Zachary will live independently in his own apartment.

📚 Learning:

- Levi will participate in day habilitation opportunities.
- Emily will engage in ongoing on-the-job learning opportunities.
- Zachary will attend a two-year program for welding.

💼 Working:
- William will not work in competitive employment.
- Emily will work part-time as a dining aide at the hospital.
- Zachary will work full-time as a welder.

👉 Learn more and explore resources on the Iowa Transition Website:
🔗 https://www.transitioniowa.org

10/24/2025

🎓 New Webinar Available!
“ASK an Expert - 6 Principles of IDEA: Principle #1 Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)” is now ready for viewing!

Join ASK Resource Center for an engaging journey down the road to school—exploring how to design the right “vehicle” for each learner’s unique needs and ensure the right people are on board. 🚗✨

You’ll learn what FAPE stands for, identify what makes an education appropriate, and discover how to apply these principles in real-life situations. Perfect for parents, educators, and anyone committed to helping every student reach their destination: growth and development.

▶️ Watch now: https://youtu.be/awEaBShetPw

Join ASK Resource Center’s engaging webinar, presented as a journey down the road to school. Together, we’ll explore how to design the right “vehicle” to fit...

10/24/2025

New Webinar Available: Navigating the ACHIEVE Family Portal!
The ACHIEVE Family Portal is a valuable online tool for Iowa parents and caregivers. It lets you securely access your child’s IFSP or IEP, view progress updates, and stay connected to their educational journey—all in one easy-to-use space.

Join Shannon, Lisa, and Nancy from the Iowa Department of Education as they walk through how to make the most of the portal and share helpful navigation tips!

▶️ Watch the webinar: https://youtu.be/yZC9D1AhjhU

📑 PowerPoint Presentation and all supporting documents can be found in the YouTube Description.

The ACHIEVE Family Portal is a helpful online tool for parents and caregivers in Iowa. It makes it easy to access your child’s Individualized Family Service ...

10/24/2025

It’s National Dyslexia Month! If you’re looking for support after a dyslexia diagnosis, resources are available. The Iowa Dyslexia Handbook offers information on what a formal diagnosis means and what education supports are available. https://tinyurl.com/243kvb4t

10/22/2025

🗣️ Your voice matters!
The Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council wants to hear from you.

Take a few minutes to share your thoughts in their 2025 Annual Survey — your feedback helps shape programs, publications, and advocacy priorities that support Iowans with developmental disabilities.

💡 The first 300 people to complete the survey by November 7, 2025 will be entered to win one of three Visa gift cards!

👉 Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/iddc-2025-annual-survey

📞 Need help filling it out? Call 800-452-1936 for assistance.

Please share your thoughts about our events, resources, publications, and more!

10/22/2025

Attention: Wapello County and surrounding areas!

🌟 4th Annual Resource Fair 🌟
📅 October 23rd 🕠 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Liberty Intermediate

🍕 Pizza, chips, cookies, and drinks will be provided. Join us for an informative and engaging evening connecting with providers and professionals from Wapello County and surrounding areas!

This event is a great opportunity to meet experts one-on-one and learn about a wide range of services and support for individuals with physical, mental, or intellectual disabilities.

Explore resources such as: Guardianship BHIS (Behavioral Health Intervention Services) Vocational Services HCBS Waivers Early Access Child Health Specialty Clinic Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) Behavioral & Mental Health Services Dental & Pediatrics Special Olympics Job Corps …and much more!

Whether you’re seeking support, information, or local resources, this event is for individuals, families, and caregivers alike.

Any questions, please reach out!
Erin Hinebaugh
erin.hinebaugh@ottumwaschools.com
641-680-9197

10/21/2025

✨ Post-Secondary Expectations (PSE) – Part 2 ✨

When creating a PSE (Post-Secondary Expectations), keep these key points in mind:

1️⃣ Keep it short and clear — one sentence is best.
2️⃣ Focus on the student’s vision — what do they want to achieve in the future?
3️⃣ Make it measurable — each expectation should be something you can see and measure.
4️⃣ Get more specific over time — as the student gets older, expectations should become more detailed.

👉 For more resources and guidance, visit the Iowa Transition Website:
🔗 https://www.transitioniowa.org

10/17/2025

Last week, nearly all employees at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) who oversee the implementation of the federal special education law, called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), received Reduction in Force (RIF) notices. This means their positions are currently scheduled to be completely eliminated on or shortly after December 9th, 2025.

Over the past few days, ASK has heard from many families that they are deeply concerned about the loss of expertise that supports their children’s education. As Iowa’s PTI, we serve as one of the voices of families who rely on OSEP’s guidance and oversight to ensure their children’s rights under IDEA are upheld.

The OSEP staff, many of whom are families of students with disabilities themselves, protect and support children with disabilities, their families, and the states.

ASK wants to make certain that accurate information is shared about the possible effects this RIF could have on ensuring that families, schools, and states receive the services and guidance they need to provide students with disabilities a free, appropriate public education (FAPE).

The IDEA Preservation Coalition is collecting testimonials about this issue. You can provide your testimonial here:
https://forms.gle/Gh4oMoTT7f7eyVR69

If you are concerned about the potential impact of these changes, you can consider signing this petition:
http://bit.ly/IDEASIGN

10/14/2025

✨ Post-Secondary Expectations (PSE) ✨

When you attend your child’s IEP meeting, one section you’ll see is called Post-Secondary Expectations (PSE). Over the next few weeks, we’ll share tips and examples to help you create a strong PSE for your child’s future.

To get started, think about these key questions:

🏡 Living: Where do you picture your child living after high school?
📚 Learning: Do you think your child will want to continue their education after high school? If yes, where might they go?
💼 Working: What kind of job do you imagine your child doing in the future?

These conversations help shape meaningful goals and plans for life after high school.

👉 Learn more at the Iowa Transition Website:
🔗 https://www.transitioniowa.org

10/07/2025

s💼 What Should Be Included in a Working Assessment Summary?

A Working Assessment Summary looks at the skills students need to succeed in the workplace. It should include:
✅ Task Completion – Do they finish their work?
✅ Punctuality – Do they arrive on time?
✅ Deadline Adherence – Are they meeting deadlines?
✅ Teamwork – How well do they work with others?
✅ Feedback Handling – How do they respond to suggestions and feedback?
✅ Job Search Skills – How effective are they at finding jobs?

Gathering different viewpoints is key—if you only rely on the student’s perspective, you might miss important details.

👉 Learn more at the Iowa Transition Website: https://www.transitioniowa.org/assessments-and-activities

09/30/2025

📘 What Should Be Included in a Learning Assessment Summary?

A Learning Assessment Summary gives a clear picture of a student’s academic progress and needs. It should include:
✅ Progress monitoring data
✅ District-wide assessments for a comprehensive view of achievement
✅ Formal assessment data reflecting academic performance

Reviewing the summary helps ensure IEP academic goals are clear and focused—supporting student success and achievement.

👉 Learn more here: https://www.transitioniowa.org/assessments-and-activities

09/23/2025

🌟 What’s in a Living Assessment Summary? 🌟

A Living Assessment Summary looks at the everyday skills students need for greater independence. It covers:
✅ Cooking skills
✅ Laundry skills
✅ Housekeeping skills
✅ Transportation skills
✅ Leisure and recreation skills
✅ Safety awareness and decision-making
✅ Medication management

To get a full picture, it’s important to include input from multiple people and sources.

👉 Learn more and explore tools here: https://www.transitioniowa.org/assessments-and-activities/assessments

Transition assessment is an on-going process of collecting information on the student's strengths, needs, preferences and interests.