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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION?
GARRETT CENTER
FOR TRANSITION & DISABILITY SERVICES

New SHSU Center to Provide Support for Transition Services

pproximately 8.5 percent of the
more than 5.5 million students
Ain Texas schools receive special
education services, such as support
in general education classes and
specialized instruction.
However, disability also impacts
adult life. Many individuals with
disabilities have difficulty getting
a job, attending postsecondary
education, or being independent
adults. To help facilitate positive post-
school results for students, federal law
requires school districts and other
public education agencies to provide
transition services.
Recently, the Sam Houston State
University College of Education “Although there are universities in Corinna Villar Cole, and assistant
received approval to establish the Texas that have centers dedicated to director Leena Landmark.
Eleanor and Charles Garrett Center the field of disability studies, research “Public education is supposed to
on Transition and Disability Studies. and even transition research, there is result in something for all children,
The center will be the first of its kind not a center dedicated to practitioner including children with disabilities,”
in Texas to have a dedicated focus on transition issues,” Mitchell said. Mitchell said. “The goal of the Garrett
the practitioner aspects of transition “There is a lot of information, but Transition Center is to play a key
services and will serve as a dedicated no central place for individuals who role in supporting public schools
gateway of information for transition must access a multitude of websites in to provide transition services, at all
team members including educators, Texas or across the nation. Our goal grade levels, that facilitate positive
students with disabilities, their is to have our website up and running post-school results for children with
families, and agencies and community on September 1 and grow our website disabilities.”
partners. resources over time for stakeholders in One of the first events, was the
“We saw the need in the state of any role of transition services.” “18+ Symposium” on June 19. The
Texas to have a center dedicated to In addition to the website and other one-day symposium is sponsored
transition services, which are services communication platforms, the Garrett by the Eleanor and Charles Garrett
provided in public schools to support Center will offer workshops and Center on Transition and Disability
the education of children with conduct research to improve services Studies and was held at the Region 4
disabilities and facilitate the transition and outcomes for both children, Education Service Center in Houston.
from public education to employment, youth and adults with disabilities. Session topics ranged from how to
postsecondary education or training, Currently, the Garrett Center has a develop the continuum of services for
and, if appropriate, independent living Twitter account @GarrettCenter that adult students ages 18-21 to lessons
skills,” said Vickie J. Mitchell, the is tweeting information regarding learned from the perspective of rural
Eleanor and Charles Garrett Endowed current bills in the legislature related and suburban school districts.
Chair in Special Education at SHSU to special education and transition. For more information, contact
and the co-director of the Garrett Additional leaders at the Garrett Vickie Mitchell at vmitchell@shsu.edu
Center. Center are co-director Jaimie or call 936.294.3911.
Betancourt Durán, associate director

Sam Houston State University | College of Education Annual Report 2017 11