The Implementation of a Regional Education Network through the Application of the Developmental Evaluation Process: A Case Study

One in three young adults with autism or developmental disability have never been employed within eight years of their leaving high school (Newman et al., 2011). These students graduate from schools and may then work with multiple services providers across agencies. Collaboration between these agencies is critical. This case study describes the successful efforts of a group of educational leaders, parents, individuals with disabilities, and service providers who came together to improve the transition outcomes of young adults with disabilities. The success of this large and complex effort was facilitated by the application of a developmental evaluation process which adjusted the networks efforts in real time. We present a case study of the first two years of the development and implementation of this regional educational network, as well as the theory and methods of developmental evaluation used to guide its implementation. We conclude with implications for building and leading effective collaborative networks in education.