The transition of students with disabilities from high school to post secondary activities: A Prince Edward Island perspective

This qualitative study explored the transition process for students with disabilities in Prince Edward Island, Canada when they transitioned from high school to post secondary activities. Information was obtained from 2 questionnaires. One questionnaire was submitted to each of the 12 high schools in Prince Edward Island. A second questionnaire was submitted to Disability Support Workers in the provincial Department of Social Services and Seniors. A third data collection was obtained from a focus group interview of parents of students with disabilities who had transitioned from high school. Although there are elements and pockets of some form of transitional planning occurring in educational and social services jurisdictions across Prince Edward Island, it is apparent from the research findings that it is not consistent. In fact, there is an absence of neither a common process nor a common practice when transitional plans are developed for students with disabilities.