Meeting the Needs of All Students: Strategies to Develop Culturally Responsive Transition Goals

Doing the work to become a culturally responsive transition professional is a multi-layered, ever-evolving process. Educators must “talk the talk” AND “walk the walk”. Transition professionals continue to support students from diverse cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds different from their own personal cultural background (Shim, 2018). A hallmark of high-quality transition planning is the involvement of the students themselves. This means incorporating student interests, postsecondary aspirations, and personal values. The intersectionality of each individual directly influences this process. Developing individualized annual transition and postsecondary goals through the lens of culturally responsive practices allows for student voices and choices to be heard, respected, and amplified. This seminar will provide teachers with practical tips, strategies, and case study examples to practice infusing cultural responsiveness into transition planning.