About the Project

According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the educational rights of students receiving special education services transfer from parent to student when the student reaches the legal age of majority. This transfer process may be in each state depending on the state’s education regulations, legal age of majority definitions, and other factors. Regardless of the potential differences in how or when the process occurs, all students and their family members eventually encounter the planning decisions that must be addressed as the student assumes leadership in his/her educational planning.

The purpose of the Transfer of Rights at Age of Majority Project focused on exploring the transfer of rights process from the vantage point of all potential partners: students with disabilities, their family members, educators, and other community service providers. University of Oregon project staff worked in collaboration with staff at the Oregon Parent Information and Training Center (Oregon PTI) to conduct a series of student and parent focus groups in three locations across the state. In addition, project staff conducted phone or in-person interviews with students, educators, and community service providers in New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Utah. The project was funded by a grant from the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

Ultimately, the project’s data collection efforts led to the development of a “Transfer of Educational Rights at Age of Majority” guide that is designed for students and their family members to use together. The purpose of the guide is to ensure that students and their family members understand the educational rights transfer process and have the information and skills they need to make effective planning decisions. The guide is available as an interactive web-based document, and can also be reproduced in hard copy format.

[Student Checklist] [Glossary] [Resource Directory] [About The Project]

Last updated: 02/08/2005