Transition Tidbits

The Bridging Knowledge to Know-How (BK2KH) Conference, held July 28–31, 2025, at The Penn Stater, brought together three major events—the HELIX Collaborative, the National Autism Conference, and the Pennsylvania Secondary Transition Conference—into one comprehensive learning opportunity. Participants explored topics including autism, sensory disabilities, secondary transition, and complex instructional needs while connecting with educators, families, youth, and community partners from across the state.

Educators, families, and community partners gained practical strategies and tools to better support youth with disabilities in transition. They participated in sessions focused on evidence-based practices, cross-system collaboration, assistive technology, and navigating complex instructional needs. Many valued the opportunity to network and build partnerships that will strengthen supports for students as they move from school to adult life.

Save the Date!
Mark your calendar for next year’s BK2KH Conference—August 4–7, 2026, at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square. Don’t miss this chance to bridge knowledge to know-how and bring learning to life.

The Interagency Collaboration Toolkit is a comprehensive guide designed to help schools, families, and community agencies improve coordination and collaboration around transition planning.

Features:

• Checklists for building effective partnerships
• Sample Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs)
• Strategies for resolving conflicts and communication barriers

The Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) (TM) framework is a powerful resource designed to support individuals with disabilities and their families in creating a vision for a meaningful life. While it is often used by families and educators, CtLC tools are also highly effective for strengthening interagency collaboration.

By using CtLC, schools, vocational rehabilitation, service providers, and community partners gain a common language and set of visuals that help focus discussions on what really matters: the individual’s goals, strengths, and supports across all life domains. Tools such as the Life Trajectory, Integrated Star, and One-Page Profile make it easier for agencies to share information, align services, and avoid duplication.

For example, during transition planning, teams can use the Life Trajectory tool to map out the student’s vision for adulthood and then work together to identify the supports each agency can provide. The Integrated Star helps clarify both formal services and community-based supports, ensuring that resources are maximized and gaps are identified early.

When agencies use CtLC tools together, the process becomes more person-centered and coordinated. This approach not only supports Employment First goals but also fosters smoother transitions across education, employment, and community living.

Tip for Teams: Try introducing the Life Trajectory worksheet at your next interagency meeting. Have each partner contribute how their agency can support the youth’s trajectory, and identify opportunities for collaboration.

At the Bridging Knowledge to Know How Conference, youth didn’t just sit back and listen; they took the lead! The vibe was powerful from start to finish because students were front and center, sharing their own stories, goals, and ideas.

Three YOUth-led sessions, Student-Led IEPs (SLIEPs) and the Youth Citizen Advisory Committee (YCAC) and the How and Why of Youth Engagement showed teachers and adults how to let students take the lead in their own education and advocacy. Instead of just being talked about, youth shared their goals, strengths, and ideas for their future. Through real stories and hands-on activities, participants saw how student voices could guide the process and left with practical strategies to support other youth. The best part of all the youth sessions was having real youth present alongside us. It wasn’t just professionals talking, but authentic perspectives straight from the source, which made the experience powerful and meaningful. Educators walked away understanding what SLIEPs and YCAC were, why they matter, and how to foster leadership and self-advocacy in their students. A special thank-you goes out to the Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network (PYLN), the Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership Center (PEAL), and the Youth Engagement Transition Initiative (YETI) for their incredible youth participation.

Congratulations to the Katie Smith Awardees Sara Nye and Anthony Vancliff and the Paul Fogle Awardee Lillian Sellers. The Bridging Knowledge to Know How conference was truly a vibe, and if you missed it, you should definitely plan on attending next year! Contact one of the Youth Engagement Specialists for more information by visiting the PaTTAN Website.

Do you know students who make & sell their own products?

We’re highlighting mini-businesses established by students in the #secondarytransition process at the 2026 PDE Conference!

• Applications due Friday, 1/9/26
• Contact the PDE Exhibit Hall team to apply
• pdeconferenceexhibitors@pattankop.net

The Student Shoppe is a great opportunity for #SpecialEducationInPa students to expand their work skills and broaden their understanding of marketing, advertising, and sales.

Apply now and join us in #MakingADifferenceinPA!

http://tinyurl.com/PAEdConf

This is a great tool from Transition Coalition, which can assist IEP teams in determining what information is already known about a student, what information needs to be known, and what types of assessments need to be administered to get this information.

Access the Transition Assessment Plan Form here!

The Life Trajectory Tool from the Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) framework is designed to help youth, families, and teams envision the “good life” they want and identify what they want to avoid. It’s a simple, visual way to capture hopes, dreams, and goals while recognizing the barriers or experiences that could steer someone off course.

In transition planning, the Life Trajectory can be used to:

• Set a vision: Identify what the student wants for adult life—jobs, living, relationships, and community connections.

• Spot barriers early: Note what could get in the way, such as limited experiences or skills, and plan supports to overcome them.

• Guide IEP goals: Align annual goals and services with the long-term vision for adulthood.

• Track progress over time: Revisit and update the trajectory to reflect growth, new experiences, and changing interests.

• Engage families and teams: Provide a shared roadmap that keeps everyone focused on the student’s desired outcomes.

Looking for a place where you can Connect, Collect, & Contribute

to all things secondary transition?

Connect with people from across our state to collect

resources, share events and contribute stories about positive post-school outcomes!

Click here to create an account and login to join our PA Secondary Transition- Public Square.

Are you looking to learn more information about transition?

The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C) provides information, tools, and supports to assist multiple stakeholders to provide effective services and instruction for students and out-of-school youth with disabilities.

Check out their Training Resource Library.

If you're new to transition, be sure to check out Transition 101!

Are you looking for transition events across PA?

Don't forget to check the events calendar to stay up to date on all of the great events happening in PA and nationally related to secondary transition!

The Pennsylvania Community on Transition is a group of various stakeholders from across Pennsylvania who work collaboratively to ensure appropriate transition outcomes for Pennsylvania youth and young adults.

The Pennsylvania Community on Transition is a state leadership team consisting of representative from: the State Departments of Education, Health, Labor and Industry, and Human Services; Various Serving Agencies, Young Adults, Parent Organizations, Advocates, Higher Education, and Employers.

The shared vision and common goals of the Pennsylvania Community on Transition is achieved when all PA youth and young adults with disabilities:

• Successfully transition to the role of productive and participating adult citizens
• Are empowered to recognize their talents, strengths, and voice
• Have equal access to resources that will promote their full participation in the communities of their choice.

Email: pasecondarytransition@gmail.com
Website: https://www.pasecondarytransition.com/
Phone: 4128266878
Twitter: @hmangiskuntz