Virginia Department of Education's Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Commonwealth University

For parents, navigating the transition from high school to adulthood for students with significant disabilities can be unnerving. Questions may arise, such as: Where will my child live, work, play, or go to school? How will my child with significant disabilities maneuver complex life decisions? Moreover, ultimately, where do I go for support? These simple […]

In response to the updated process for determining student eligibility to participate in Virginia’s Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP), the Virginia Department of Education has developed an additional support resource titled Navigating the Transition. This resource is intended to assist school divisions in transitioning students with disabilities who are no longer eligible for VAAP. It supports […]

Chronic absenteeism, commonly defined as missing 10 percent or more school days in an academic year, poses significant challenges for all students. The impact on students with disabilities is particularly complicated. These students are disproportionately affected by barriers to consistent attendance and face greater consequences when instructional time is lost (U.S. Department of Education, 2016). […]

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is defined by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (2008) as a scientifically valid framework for guiding educational practice that (a) provides flexibility in the ways information is presented, in the ways students respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills, and in the ways students are engaged; and (b) reduces barriers in […]

As a secondary educator, knowing when to start supporting students with disabilities on the post-secondary transition journey can be challenging. Do we begin in high school? Or, do we plan from the beginning with the end in mind? Morningstar and Clavenna-Dean (2018) wrote a book, Your Complete Guide to Transition Planning and Services, that guides […]

Administrators play a vital role in fostering and sustaining excellence in transition IEPs and it has become essential that they provide guidance, support, and coaching to maintain compliance. The Council of Administrators of Special Education Essential (CASE) provides a guide to help administrators support transition within the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. By creating an […]

Assistive technology (AT) offers a multitude of benefits across all age groups by fostering independence, supporting inclusion, facilitating friendships, and leading to improved overall quality of life. For young children, it facilitates opportunities for play, learning, friendships, and development by providing tailored educational tools, enhancing communication skills through augmentative and alternative communication, and enabling access […]

Are you looking for an easy and accessible way to learn new information and hear people talk about practices they are implementing to help students be successful? Listen to a podcast! Podcasts are audio recordings typically played on demand on your smartphone or computer (Prince, B.F., 2020; Tobin & Guadagno, 2022). The number of people […]

Teachers and leaders continue to rebuild many aspects of the academic experience following the pandemic. Many of them can benefit from strategies to combat stress during the instructional day. In 2021, Elizabeth Steiner and Ashley Woo reported findings on teacher job stress. The results indicated that 78 percent of teachers experienced frequent job-related stress and […]

Soft skills such as navigating interpersonal relationships, time management, problem-solving, and decision-making are essential for all students. These skills are part of self-determination, “acting or causing things to happen as a person sets and works toward goals in their life” (Raley et al., 2023, p.403). Self-determination predicts positive classroom and post-school outcomes and improves access […]