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Disability Rights Montana Advocates to monitor how high schools prepare students with disabilities for life after graduation
Disability Rights Montana says the law is clear about what schools need to do to make sure students on individualized education programs, or IEPs, are ready for what comes next. They want to get a better picture of how the system is working in Montana right now.
Goldin says about 21,000 students across the state are on IEPs, for a wide range of disabilities that require changes to either what they learn or how they’re taught. Under federal law, schools are required to update those plans once a student reaches age 16, to include goals and “transition services” needed to help them be ready for education, training, jobs and living on their own after graduating.
Disability Rights Montana has also opened an online survey, where they’re asking students with disabilities to weigh in on how prepared they feel for life after high school. While it’s aimed primarily at students, it can also be answered by parents, guardians, teachers or others.
By: Jonathon Ambarian
Pre-employment transition services can be a powerful resource to prepare high school students with disabilities for future careers.
- People with disabilities are employed at a lower rate than people without, but federally funded pre-employment transition services aim to help. They support high school students who have some form of emotional, cognitive, physical or other disability in preparing for a job or postsecondary education.
- Pre-ETS can help students pursue careers, learn skills for living independently as an adult and gain their first work experience.
- These programs face some challenges, including struggles to ensure parents know such a resource exists. Some providers also worry about the future of funding under the Trump administration.
