DECISION SUPPORT IN TRANSITION PLANNING

TRANSITIONING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FROM HIGH SCHOOL TOADULT LIFE IS A COMPLEX PROCESS. FEDERAL INITIATIVES IN TRANSITION MAKE SCHOOL PERSONNEL RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE PROCESS AMONG THE STUDENT, PARENT, ADULT AGENCY AND POTENTIAL EMPLOYER. THROUGH EXPERT INPUT, CRITICAL TRANSITION ELEMENTS WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND ORGANIZED BY PROJECT PERSONNEL. IN PHASE I, THE EXPERT OPINION WILL BE OBTAINED FROM BOTH PRACTITIONERS AND UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL AFTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS DEFINITIVE KNOWLEDGE BASE, IT WILL BE DETERMINED WHICH TRANSITION AREAS MAY BE BEST UTILIZED IN PHASE II. THIS PROJECT EXPECTS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF TRANSFERING EXPERT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE TRANSITION PLANNING FROM HUMAN EXPERTS TO A COMPUTER DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO ASSIST SCHOOL PERSONNEL IN THEIR DECISION MAKING ABOUT TRANSITION. SPECIFIC EXPERT SYSTEMS SHELLS WILL BE ANALYZED FOR THEIR SUITABILITY TO SUPPORT TRANSITION DECISIONS. AFTER PHASE II DEVELOPMENT, APRODUCT INCORPORATING THE RESULTS OF THIS RESEARCH WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES (LEA). LEA'SWILL UTILIZE THIS SYSTEM TO MAXIMIZE PARTICIPATION AND OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR PARENTS IN THE TRANSITION PROCESS.