VCU RRTC

A student-led IEP process is one way of ensuring that transition IEP's truly reflect student preferences and interests while providing an opportunity for students to increase their self determination skills. This webcast will provide guidelines for transition teams to use to implement this approach, beginning with the pre-meeting planning and assessment, continuing through the meeting, and ending with the implementation and evaluation of the plan's goals. While the majority of the focus will be on steps for implementing the process, a discussion of teacher attitudes and interaction styles that facilitate success will also be included.

Colleen Thoma, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Special Education and Disability Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University. She coordinates the Master's of Education degree program in Special Education/MR and teaches the major courses in the program. Dr. Thoma has been conducting research on student self-determination since 1996 and is well-known for her work in this area, particularly in facilitating student self-determination in the transition IEP process.