The Eanes and Lake Travis school districts will co-host a Transition and College Fair for students with disabilities Saturday, Jan. 30, in the Hudson Bend Middle School cafeteria at 15600 Lariat Trail just north of Lakeway. It is the third such transition fair the two school districts have organized for local families.

“It’s a trip well worth the drive for students with disabilities and their parents,” said Leslie McCulloch, transition facilitator for the Eanes school district. “It’s really a unique opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with representatives from both colleges and schools and state and private agencies to find out what types of services and programs are available to students with a wide range of disabilities once they leave high school.”

Agency and community resource representatives will share information and answer questions regarding employment, funding, housing options, guardianship, respite care, estate planning and summer camps.

College, university and trade school representatives will share information about application processes, admission requirements, support services, accommodations, programs of study, financial aid and vocational training.

“The transitions from elementary school to middle school and from middle school to high school are big transitions for students with disabilities,” said Benita Montgomery, 18-Plus transition instructor for the Lake Travis school district. “But the transition from high school to secondary education or work is huge. It can be overwhelming for both the students and the parents. They may not know the right questions to ask in order to receive services available. We want to help get them connected to the services that can take over when the students have left secondary education.”

McCulloch has traveled to colleges, universities and other learning centers throughout Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas, meeting with admission specialists and people in the student’s with disabilities offices. This spring she will continue her travels into Arizona.

“I find out specifically what our students need to get in and what kind of support they have once they do,” she said. “All schools provide accommodations. It is just a matter of finding out the specifics of what each school provides. These days, there is more and more support for students at schools.”

Eanes school district parents and students interested in special services provided by universities and schools not attending the fair can contact McCulloch directly at 732-9280, extension 33707 or by e-mail at lmcculloch@eanesisd.net. Lake Travis school district families can contact Montgomery at 533-5916 or montgomeryb@ltisdschools.org.