Transitioning Across Grade Levels and Schools

Transitioning from one grade to the next and even to a new school can be overwhelming for children with special needs. To help minimize these problems we add this Transition Checklist to my son's IEP.

The Transition Checklist is in the book: Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Practical Solutions for School Success by Brenda Smith Myles, 2001, p. 128 and 129. (Click on that to take a gander at the book and the list.)


Check all that applies to your child and put in the IEP.

(This book is fantastic! It's a must to buy. The Transition List that they have is so useful. The other stuff I added below are just things that I thought needed to be in the list as well.)


**You might want to add the following to the Transition Checklist if your child needs them.

Under Transition Planning Meeting:

1. Determine who will provide assistance for student when the bus arrives as school, particularly on the first day and to the bus at the end of the day.
2. Determine who will provide assistance with AM preparation, changing of classes, lunch, afternoon packing before getting on the bus in middle school.
3. Determine who will provide student with a visual schedule for the day as well as one for the morning and afternoon procedures.
4. ALL teachers will be given a copy of Accommodations and Modifications that are in the IEP.

Under Training for School Personnel:

1. Schedule several observations and done at different times of the day by an Asperger Syndrome Specialist for help with strategies and modifications in the classroom when needed. A meeting after observations will be given to discuss strategies and modifications with teachers and parents.

Under Student Orientation:

1. Obtain books for home use.
2. Place to store books in classroom.
3. Obtain agenda book to put in student’s binder.
4. Obtain school supplies list.
5. Obtain locker by home base and put dial barrel type lock on it. Practice with lock.
6. Bus procedures written up and explained to student.
7. Student will meet school personnel whom they can approach during the lunch period when encountering problems.
8. Show student where his assigned seat in the lunchroom will be (a quiet table).
9. Obtain gym locker near adult supervision and put dial barrel type lock on it. Practice with lock.
10. Practice dressing out for P.E. (obtain gym clothes)
11. Student will meet safe person and visit home base.
12. The Travel Pass and the procedure of it’s use explained, written up, and given to student before school starts. (Have time limit on use).
13. Obtain bus driver’s name, bus number, and what time pick up and drop off is. Be sure bus driver knows that student is to sit directly behind him. Provide the bus driver information on the specific behavioral and emotional concerns of student.