Planning for the Future: A Model for Using the Principles of Transition to Guide the Development of Behavior Intervention Plans

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates the implementation of a behavior intervention plan based on a functional behavioral assessment when a student’s behavior necessitates disciplinary actions. However, IDEA does not provide any clear guidelines as to what the plans should contain nor how they can address behaviors that may affect a student’s transition to postsecondary life. This article blends research in the areas of transition-focused planning and behavior into a framework that can be used for the development of transition-focused behavior intervention plans. Case study application strategies are presented, along with guidelines for practitioner implementation.