About Career Technical Education (CTE)
The California Health and Education Linked Professions (CAHELP), a Joint Powers Authority, in partnership with the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), California Department of Education (CDE), participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in the Desert Mountain Special Education Local Plan Area (DMSELPA) and Desert Mountain Charter Special Education Local Plan Area (DMCS), and community partners, work together to ensure the successful transition of students with disabilities from school to post-school activities.
Together, these agencies endeavor to meet the requirements in law by providing effective transition services to promote successful post-school employment and/or training and education, and to ensure that students with disabilities live a life of significance. The CAHELP’s mission is “The Relentless Pursuit of Whatever Works in the Life of a Child” and achieves this mission through the programs, supports, and resources it provides to educators, students, families, and communities.
Transition services are required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). IDEA addresses the provision of transition services to assist students with disabilities in achieving their post-school and career goals. More importantly, IDEA ensures that all students with disabilities have available to them a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.
As defined in IDEA, transition services are a coordinated set of activities for students with disabilities that is designed to be a results-oriented process that focuses on improving the academic and functional achievement of the student with a disability to facilitate the student’s movement from school to post-school activities, including postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation. Active student involvement, family engagement, and cooperative implementation of transition activities, as well as coordination and collaboration between the CAHELP, DOR, CDE, and participating LEAs are essential to the creation of a process that results in no undue delay or disruption in service delivery.
Successful transitions are well-planned, thoughtful actions designed to accomplish particular outcomes. Planning and communication are essential to provide a smooth transition and to encourage and sustain collaboration among families and agencies involved, and ensure appropriate services for students with disabilities. A transition plan includes several goals and serves as a guide to students throughout the transition process