What is an Individual Transition Plan?

An Individual Transition Plan (ITP) is a document created as part of the IEP to prepare a student for life after high school. Planning for a student’s ITP is an important time in a student’s life — and an invaluable opportunity for parents to ask their child about their hopes and dreams for the future.

The ITP has two primary components:

1. Establish educational, residential, social, and recreational goals.

Goals are one of the most important topics the ITP will cover, and they should address the following areas:

• Independent living
• Employment (such as supported employment or other community-based work training programs)
• Post-secondary education
• Community integration
• Self-determination skills

2. Establish an interagency linkage.

Interagency linkage is a key component in ensuring a seamless transition from school to adulthood.

The school should play the role of case manager in creating a collaborative team between the school and other government and public service organizations. Because agencies outside the school district will be responsible for providing the services a student will need after graduation, it’s important that representatives from these agencies are invited to and attend the IEP/ITP meeting. Some of the agencies that support students prior to and/or after graduation are the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), your local Regional Center, and college disability service programs.

For further reading about ITPs, see Individual Transition Plan (ITP) 101.