The Perspectives of Young People with Additional Support Needs of Post-School Transition Planning and Preparation

In: Richardson , T , Hannah , E & Jindal-Snape , D 2016 , ' The Perspectives of Young People with Additional Support Needs of Post-School Transition Planning and Preparation. ' Paper presented at School of Education and Social Work Research and Scholarship Conference , Dundee , United Kingdom , 20/06/16 - 20/06/16 , . DOI:10.20933/10000103

Abstract

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (United Nations, 1989) enshrined the rights of children and young people to participate in decisions affecting their lives. This Convention has impacted on national legislation and policy (UNICEF, 2009) and influenced the development of appropriate methodologies for listening to children (Hill, 2006). This presentation will outline a case study of nine college students with additional support needs (ASN). The aim was to understand their recent lived experiences of transition planning and preparation. Visual resources in the form of a 'discussion poster' were developed to support the interviews with the young people both as a stimulus and as a recording method. Interviews were video-recorded using an iPad and photographs were taken of the completed posters. Inductive thematic analysis was utilised (Black & Ubbes, 2009). All the young people reported a positive transition experience; and the majority recalled being involved in some form of transition planning and preparation (e.g. meetings, college visits, part-time college attendance), although they appear to have been aware of limited post-school options. Finally, the presentation will consider the use of visual and other creative methodologies to inform and support post-school transition practices. Black, J., & Ubbes, V. (2009). A thematic analysis of convention and conference themes from 1975-2009. International Electronic Journal of Health Education, 12, 33-47. Hill, M. (2006). Children's voices on ways of having a voice: Children's and young people's perspectives on methods used in research and consultation. Childhood, 13, 69–89. doi:10.1177/0907568206059972. UNICEF. (2009). Celebrating twenty years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved from UNICEF website: http://www.unicef.org.uk/ United Nations. (1989). United Nations convention on the rights of the child (UNROC). Retrieved from UNICEF website: http://www.unicef.org.uk/