Date

5-20-2026

Department

School of Education

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)

Chair

Constance Pearson

Keywords

collaboration, disabilities, perception, support, transition

Disciplines

Special Education and Teaching

Abstract

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological research study was to develop an understanding of recent special education graduates' perceptions of transition programming taxonomy at a southern coastal community. Maslow’s theory of the hierarchy of needs was used. This theory directly relates to the study showing how important understanding the perceptions of support the recent special education graduates during their lived experiences as they transition into adulthood. The Central Research Question was: What are recent special education graduates’ perceptions of transition programming taxonomy? This transcendental phenomenological research study of 10 participants was designed to use data collected from independent interviews, focus groups, and journal prompts. The collected data were organized into codes which were then synthesized into themes and subthemes. The overarching result was that participants, who had used the transition programming taxonomy, found success in their transition into adulthood. They recognized the importance of family, friends, educators, and the community collaboratively.

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