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Finding information about transition
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You are in the Transition branch of the Big Tree, the term ´Transition´ referring to the change from school and home to work and, possibly, independence. This is currently being developed, and we would welcome your ideas as to what should be included. We want the site content to reflect both the needs and expertise of its users, so if you know of a good resource dealing with employment and learning disabilities, or, by contrast, have been looking for information which you have been unable to find. Let us know and we will hunt for it on your behalf.
While we are developing the site behind the scenes, some external sources you may find useful are listed below. Meanwhile, please note that some specific aspects of Transition, such as regarding employment or education, are or will be covered in branches of the Big Tree dedicated to those topics. Here, therefore, the only two subsections are:
- Friendship and sexuality resources
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General advice resources
We have chosen our ´top sites´ – the ones which seem the most interesting and which we think will be of most use to you. These will change or be added to following feedback from yourselves, either on this site, or in our workshops and other contacts with people with learning difficulties and others involved with them.
Friendship and sexuality resources
This is the only site we have found in which people with learning difficulties have the opportunity not only to meet others socially but to also find partners, and to gain self-confidence and self respect. Outsiders is a community ´club´ for people who feel isolated because of social and physical disabilities. The club helps them gain confidence, make new friends and find partners. It welcomes people of all sexualities, whether and disabilities – including learning difficulties. Its members ´appreciate a club where disability is accepted and people can relax and be themselves´.
Leaflets are available on the site about sexual matters for people with learning disabilities (at www.outsiders.org.uk/leaflets/leaflets.htm).
NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)
We like this site, because of its downloadable resources designed for communicating with people with severe learning difficulties. It has produced an ´image vocabulary´ for children about feelings, rights, safety, personal care and sexuality, called ´How It is´
´yap´ is a recommended resource as it is made by people with disabilities themselves, and is extremely accessible – there is audio commentary and photo options for every page. On the web site people can find information about hobbies and interests, upload their own pictures and write about themselves. There is also a message board where people choose a topic (from a selection including sport, dancing, computer games etc.), post and reply to messages.
General advice resources
Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers. Mencap´s website is a mine of information, including that covering all aspects of Transition, and is both written in accessible language and includes audio versions of most content. Information central to Transition can be found on the ´Ask Mencap´ section of the website. This consists mainly of a series of accessible factsheets.
A website for teenagers and young people in the UK who have an impairment or disability and are wondering what opportunities and services there should be when they leave school. It is a recommended site because:
· Information and advice is available on all aspects of Transition
· It is written in an accessible style (though only those with mild learning disabilities will be able to read and understand the information
This is a website for finding research reports on the subject of people with learning disabilities. The principal interests of The Norah Fry Research Centre are the evaluation and development of services for people with learning difficulties. The Centre highlights good and innovative practice, identifies weaknesses and suggests areas for development. The organisation has made a number of its reports available online.
The attractions of the website are that:
· The reports are of much interest to the learning disabled community (they include:
o The Road Ahead. Information for young people with learning difficulties and their families at Transition.
o Bridging the Divide at Transition. What happens for young people with learning difficulties and. their families?
· The reports are available in short summary form
· The reports are also available in ´easy-read´ form so that people with learning disabilities themselves can read, understand and be helped by them.
Another attraction of the site is the online magazine ´Plain facts´, produced by the Institute. Plain Facts is a magazine and tape for people with learning difficulties and their supporters.
We recommend this site as it is involved in so many ways to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities. In particular it promotes their rights, quality of life and opportunities. It works with people with learning disabilities, their families and those who support them.
The Foundation website includes a number of useful fact-sheets, including:
The British Institute of Learning Disabilities also works to improve the lives of people in the UK with a learning disability. Of use with regards to Transition are the fact-sheets. The one of most relevance being:
· Person-Centred Planning
This is a site that is extremely useful as it is geared specifically to Transition. It includes a wealth of information accessible from its ´Information zone´, including advice on what happens at ages 13 to 16, planning meetings, and frequently asked questions. The site also includes a very comprehensive list of links and contacts, and has much ´accessible´ material including ´fun and games for teenagers´.
Connexions offers a service to all young people (not just those with learning or other disabilities) giving advice and guidance on a number of relevant issues. We recommend it because it has a section called ´Special Needs Choices´ offering advice, including future education, employment and funding possibilities.
A regional branch of Connexions, ´Connexions South Central hosts a booklet about Transition: