More than 2,000,000 of our nation's young people between the ages of 14 and 21 have a disability. And, of these, more than 550,000 are exiting our public schools each year. The goal is to prepare them to "cross the bridge," or successfully transition, from school to community as responsible and productive young adults.

Auburn University's College of Education has played a leadership role in addressing this challenge. In fact, last year's AU Award for Excellence in Outreach was given to Dr. Philip Browning, department head of Rehabilitation and Special Education, for his contributions to transition. Through the Auburn Transition Leadership Institute, for which Dr. Browning is co-director, a number of outreach programs are ongoing, one of which is the conference on Transition in Alabama. This year, the 16^th annual conference will be held at the Marriott Lodge and Conference Center at the Grand National from March 13-15. More than 600 Alabama stakeholders are expected, which will bring the total number to more than 8,000 participants since 1991.

One of this year's major attractions is Madeline C. Will, who for three decades has been a national advocate for people with disabilities. In the early 1980s, she was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as assistant secretary to the U.S. Department of Education. During her time in office, Will became the founder and architect of the national movement of school-to-work for youth and young adults with disabilities.  

Will has continued through the years to be a national leader in the field of disabilities. In 2002, she became chair of President Bush's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, and two years later she was named the director of the Policy Center for the National Down Syndrome Society. That same year, she received the President's Award for Moral and Policy Leadership in mental retardation. Internationally, Will has served five nations in Central Europe as a disability consultant to nonprofit and government organizations.

This year's conference includes eight all-day Monday workshops, 34 Tuesday concurrent sessions to be delivered by more than 75 presenters, and a Share Fair on Wednesday. Also, there will be entertainment at the Tuesday evening banquet. First, they will hear Cynthia Outman tell her own remarkable transition story of never giving up until she achieved her goals.Outman, who is a recipient of President Clinton's Award for Educational Excellence, graduated from high school with honors in 1996. Next, Willie Moody, who has been blind since the age of two, will take the stage. Moody is an accomplished pianist, vocalist, lyricist, and composer, who has opened shows for the renowned Ray Charles, performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and represented Georgia for the Itzhak Perlman Award.

The conference is sponsored through the College of Education's Auburn Transition Leadership Institute. For further information, contact Diane Glanzer at 844-8105 or glanzed@auburn.edu.