The Post Secondary Transition Conversation

Links updated 10/2024! Happy New Year! Hosts Megan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) continue their climb up the ladder, with Part 2 of their overview of the  Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA); ​the state agency that provides funding and services to eligible people with disabilities. They work to explain the difference between entitlement vs eligibility, more information on the diffe...

Links Updated 10/2024! Happy New Year! Hosts Megan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) climb another rung on the ladder, as they discuss the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and its role in supporting individuals with disabilities. They emphasize the importance of completing the DDA application and the need for documentation. They talk about the Family Supports Waiver, which provides...

Links Updated 10/2025! Hosts Megan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) give parents an overview of what to expect from the transition process, starting in a student's freshman year of high school and working through to senior year (or the super-senior year). They emphasize the importance of starting early, with parents and students participating in IEP meetings and considering applications to D...

Updated Links 2/2025! Hosts Megan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) work to explain timeline(s) for students aged 14 - 21. They emphasize the importance of long-term planning, using school resources, and attending transition fairs. They talk about key milestones like starting transition planning at age 14, involving students in school activities, and exploring work programs like Career and Communi...

Updated Links 10/2024! This is a re-upload of a previous chapter in keeping with our Transition101 series of informational episodes. #enjoy Hosts Megan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) work to explain the responsibilities of a Transition Coordinator, including student interviews, progress monitoring, data tracking and collaboration with teachers & service providers. The conversation also touc...

Hosts Megan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss the importance of starting the transition process from school to post-secondary life with a ladder mataphor. For the bottom rungs, they emphasize the significance of the IEP's transition pages and the career preference or interest inventory, which helps build a student's profile. They differentiate between diploma and certificate trac...

Hosts Megan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) interview Selina & Curtis Gray who share their experience with Philip, their foster son who has autism. Selina and Curtis share how Phillip struggled in an adult day program due to the agency's failure to implement his behavior plan and the lack of suitable job opportunities. They also talk about their shift to self-directed programming, findi...

Links updated 4/10/2025! Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) interview parent (and special educator) Pam Paris. Pam shares the story of her son Mark, who has autism. She talks about Mark's transitions in school programs, including their experiences with Academic Life Skills (ALS) and Project SEARCH and working to secure work. Pam emphasizes the challenges of transportation, job pla...

Updated Links 10/2024! Hosts Megan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) work to explain the responsibilities of a Transition Coordinator, including student interviews, progress monitoring, data tracking and collaboration with teachers & service providers. The conversation also touches on the evolving IEP requirements to better integrate transition planning and the challenges of managing multiple...

Links updated 10/2024! Hosts Megan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) continue their interview with Remy and Nick Nirschl, parents of a student with autism. They continue to give insight on their experiences as they prepare for post-secondary transition. We focus on a variety of topics and still find more than a few "rabbit holes." Join us as we walk with this family on their journey.  Ep...

Links updated 10/2024! Hosts Megan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) interview Remy and Nick Nirschl, parents of a student with autism. Nick and Remy give insight on their current experiences around post-secondary transition. The family discusses a wide variety of topics and find more than a few "rabbit holes." Join us as we walk with this family on their journey. Episode Keywords: SSI,...

Updated audio 4/2024! Hosts Megan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss a working definition for post-secondary transition for families. They emphasize the importance of starting transition planning at age 14, with middle school teachers initiating discussions about career interests. They highlight the challenges families face, such as dealing with bureaucratic agencies and obtaining Social Se...

Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) introduce their new podcast that focuses on transition for students with disabilities (and their families). They aim for 15-minute bi-weekly episodes featuring discussions on various topics related to preparing students for life after high school. This time, the spotlight is on Patrick; he shares his journey into special education, highlighting his ea...

Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) introduce their new podcast that focuses on transition for students with disabilities (and their families). They aim for 15-minute bi-weekly episodes featuring discussions on various topics related to preparing students for life after high school. Meghan, with 18 years of experience in the education system, shares her background, including her sister&...