Researchers in UO's College of Education and their colleagues in five other U.S. universities will use the funds to assist state and local agencies that work directly with students as they prepare to graduate, enter the workforce and live independently. The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative serves all 50 states plus 10 other jurisdictions and territories.
"We know that change happens at the state and local level; so this is an efficiency model with states as the true change agents," said Deanne Unruh, co-director of the College of Education's Secondary Special Education and Transition Research unit.
Experts estimate that as many as 2 million students, about 13 percent of all of those in high school, have physical, emotional or other disabilities. Students with disabilities graduate and enter the workforce at lower rates than their nondisabled peers, according to research.
Among the center's responsibilities are helping State Special Education and Vocational Rehabilitation agencies to collect valid data on student performance, deliver professional development, improve methods for engagement with students and their families, and implement career pathways. Technical assistance focuses on improved school attendance and completion, participation in vocational rehabilitation, and progress toward competitive integrated employment. The technical assistance is free to the states.
"Our goal is to make sure that the playing field is equitable and that students with disabilities are leaving high school and going into the workforce prepared to meet their life goals," Unruh said.
Collaborators with the UO center include researchers and technical assistance providers at The George Washington University, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Maryland, The University of Kansas and Portland State University. The center staff are experts in special education, vocational rehabilitation and technical assistance.
"Our team is comprised of many of the people who have led the research that provides the evidence-based practices for this work, so I really consider this a dream team," Unruh said.
Under the new grant, the UO will provide fiscal and technical leadership for the center. Affiliated staff members are in 18 states and maintain close relationships with service providers. Over the past two decades, the center has provided services to all 50 states and 10 U.S. territories and jurisdictions.
The UO's initiative in transition services began in 1987 when, under the leadership of education researcher Andrew Halpern, the university created one of the first academic departments in the United States to study and address the needs of students with disabilities.
Halpern died in 2008, but the UO continues to be ranked third in the country in special education research, Unruh said. And the Department of Secondary Special Education and Transition continues to support state and local agencies around the country.
"We are a trusted source of research, information and resources," said Caroline MaGee, a researcher in the department.
As a result of their work, Unruh, MaGee and their colleagues have seen significant growth in the capacity of state and local agencies to serve students with disabilities. In addition, the graduation and employment gaps between disabled and nondisabled youth are closing.
Agencies from state to state "have different measurement outcomes, different data collection rules, and they have different rules and responsibilities that are related to the laws that govern their agencies," Unruh said. "We are constantly working on how they can improve their interagency collaboration among those that work with this population."
"The center has a proven and unparalleled track record of improving results for students and youth with disabilities as they move from school to adult life," she said.
