Affiliations: Arkansas Research and Training Center in Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation, University of Arkansas, 346 West Avenue Annex, Fayetville, AR 72701, USA | Department of Special Education, 4 State Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201-1071, USA
Abstract: As part of a systems change grant, the Arkansas Transition Project implemented procedures to improve and monitor school-to-adult agency linkages for high school students with disabilities. In this article, the impact of a referral monitoring form, a Database Management System (DBMS) and training of school and agency personnel are examined over a 3-year period. Trends over time in the operation of the referral tracking system indicated that more students and schools were involved, time from referral to agency and project response decreased, more students were accepted for services and agency personnel responded more specifically regarding reasons for finding students ineligible. Although a trend toward more referrals for individual students appeared, it was only minimal and most of the referrals were to Vocational Rehabilitation. Indicating a need for additional training, school personnel continued to make referrals that were not appropriate.
