Written by:
Rae Roebuck and Judy Coultes-MacLeod
First Leadership Limited

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

“Connections: A Guide to Transition Planning” was developed and written by Rae Roebuck and Judy Coultes-MacLeod of First Leadership Limited. Initial funding for this project was provided to Toronto and York Region by the Ministry of Community and Social Services through the Innovation Fund
2005/6. The May 2007 reprint (Central West version) has been supported by the Central West Regional Office of the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

We would like to thank the joint Toronto and York Regions Transitions Partnership Projects Steering Committee for their input and support in the initial development of “Connections”. Special thanks goes to the co-chairs of the joint Steering Committee – Sandy Keshen of Reena, John Flannery of Surrey Place Centre, Karen Hirstwood and Kelly Casey of York Support Services Network.
Thanks to the Ministry of Community and Social Services and members of the planning communities and the Boards of Education in the Central West Region for their input on this version of “Connections”.

The development of “Connections” would not have been possible without the valuable input from a number of organizations, parents, and individuals. We would like to acknowledge the work of the British Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Development the New Brunswick Association for
Community Living, the Persons with Developmental Disabilities Central Alberta Community Board, the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living and Bloorview Kids in Toronto.

Finally we would like to thank the parents of children with developmental disabilities who have shared their experiences with us and allowed the inclusion of their stories in “Connections.” Their time and insight was invaluable to us in making this document helpful to the many other parents with children just beginning the journey to adult life.