Defining Transition and Transition Success: Perspectives From Different Stakeholders.
Jan Šiška, Julie Beadle-Brown, Šárka Káňová and 2 others
PMID 41781646WHAT IT FOUND
Young people with intellectual disabilities defined successful transition as gaining independence, responsibility, and social connections, similar to peers without disabilities.
Parents and special school teachers viewed it as uniquely difficult, focusing on protection and employment. Services must support community inclusion and skill building earlier, not just job placement.
Key findings
01Participants conceptualised transition primarily as outcomes like increased independence, employment, and community inclusion, rather than as a process.
02Young people with and without intellectual disabilities viewed transition similarly, focusing on responsibility and independence, whereas parents and special school teachers saw it as uniquely difficult and different.
03Successful transition was defined by having opportunities similar to everyone else, including social inclusion, relationships, and rights, not just paid employment.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Participants with intellectual disabilities were recruited from special colleges for those with mild or moderate disabilities, so findings may not apply to those with severe disabilities or in different educational settings. The study did not include young people with developmental disabilities who did not have an intellectual disability. Recruitment was voluntary, introducing potential self-selection bias. Focus groups were single-stakeholder, limiting the ability to observe interactions between different groups. The context is the Czech Republic, though the authors suggest relevance to other post-socialist European countries.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Czech Science Foundation and the Cooperatio Programme, Charles University. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that employment is the sole or primary indicator of a successful transition for young people with intellectual disabilities. The study found that while employment is valued, participants equally prioritised social inclusion, independence, and community participation, and parents' views on success differed significantly from those of the young people themselves.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →