Conference advances state transition efforts, attracts national experts
March 2007
Attracting more than 700 regional participants each year, the 17th Annual Transition Conference provides a forum for statewide and national collaboration among special education and rehabilitation practitioners, job coaches, transition counselors, families, students and agency representatives. The 2007 conference will be held March 12-14 at the Marriott Grand National.
Transition refers to a federally-mandated, coordinated set of activities designed for high school students with disabilities that prepares them to assume young adult roles within their chosen communities.
U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary John Hager will address participants at the opening session Tuesday March 13. Hager oversees the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and is expected to speak on the importance of transition programs. As the assistant secretary, he serves as the principal advisor to Education Secretary Margaret Spellings on departmental matters related to special education and rehabilitative services.
Also slated to speak at the Tuesday morning opening session:
- Bill East, Executive Director of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education
- Carl Suter, Executive Director of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation
Tuesday evening's speakers are advocates for promoting the abilities of people with disabilities:
- Trisston Wright, a graduate of Auburn University Montgomery and Ms. Wheelchair American/Alabama 2005
- Brian Burrows, a graduate of The University of Alabama and Auburn University and the Assistant Director of Local Transition Partnerships (LTP) for Auburn and Opelika schools. LTP is a model program structuring community support for and promoting advocacy and leadership among, area youth with disabilities.
A new groundbreaking initiative is the establishment of the Young Adults in Transition advocacy group which was formed to make recommendations to state policymakers on improving transition services, this panel of youth and young adults with disabilities will serve to create a better environment for transition. "This group has the potential of making real change for other young people with disabilities within the state," says Karen Rabren, director of the Auburn Transition Leadership Institute, which sponsors the conference.
In February of 2007, Alabama Governor Bob Riley signed a proclamation that made March 2007 Transition Awareness Month for Individuals with Disabilities. Of the more than 740,000 students in Alabama's public schools, students with disabilities make up an estimated 12 percent. The percentage of students with disabilities exiting high school, from 1999-2006, with either a graduation certificate, occupational diploma or regular diploma increased from 72 percent to 92 percent.
Inaugurated in 1990 by Auburn University's Rehabilitation and Special Education Department, College of Education, this conference continually draws nationally recognized speakers. For program updates visit www.auburn.edu/rse/institute.
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