Abstract
The purpose of this study was to collect data from the perspective of licensed school social workers regarding the preparation of students with an EBD for life post-graduation. This study conducted six interviews with licensed school social workers to learn about their perceptions of post-graduation preparation, strengths, weakness, transition planning and unmet needs. This research study, like other studies found that students with an EBD are unprepared for life post-graduation. Themes noted were the overall lack of preparation, the skill of survival skills, the lack of preparation for further education, lack of realistic goals and expectations, skills learned, lack of parent involvement and unmet needs in the areas of resources, programming and overall communication and connection. Implications for social workers and recommendations for future research are to define a more universal social work role, to connect skills learned in high school to adult life, the need for more resources and programming for this group of students and to gain the perspective of other key stakeholders, such as students, parents and teachers.