KRESA Transition Services
KRESA Transition Services is a post-secondary special education program providing a wide range of transition services for young adults with disabilities ages 18–26.
We partner with all nine local school districts in Kalamazoo County to support students who have completed high school but continue to need instruction in life skills through an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Transition Services offers a continuum of individualized services and learning experiences based on each student’s goals for adult life. Programming occurs across school-based and work-based learning environments, meaning students spend time both in the classroom and out in the community gaining real-world experience.
Our team emphasizes family participation, community involvement, and most importantly, student-directed goal setting in every student’s transition plan. We recognize each young adult as a unique individual with their own strengths and dreams, and we celebrate every step they take toward greater independence in adulthood.
Our Campuses
Transition Services operates on two campuses: KRESA Transition Services North at KRESA West Campus and KRESA Transition Services South at KRESA Commons. Each campus offers a unique learning environment, and together they provide a rich blend of classroom instruction and community-based experiences.
- KRESA Transition Services North at KRESA West Campus
4606 Croyden Ave, Kalamazoo
Our West Campus site is a traditional school-based setting where students receive classroom instruction and on-site training in daily living skills. This campus features structured classrooms and program facilities where young adults work on functional academics, communication, self-care, and vocational skills in a supportive environment. West Campus is the hub for many of our specialized supports and resources, providing a safe space for students to practice skills before applying them in the community. Staff at West Campus focus on individualized instruction, from teaching kitchen and home care routines to reinforcing social and safety skills. This setting gives students the consistency and structure they need to build confidence in new skills. - KRESA Transition Services South at KRESA Commons
5177 West Main St, Kalamazoo
KRESA Transition Services at KRESA Commons serves as a community-based extension of the program. Students spend much of their day learning outside the traditional classroom, using the community as their classroom. From this location, students access volunteer job sites, businesses, and community agencies throughout the area to practice work skills and independent living skills in real-world settings.
Specialized Services
Every student in Transition Services has an individualized schedule that may include a variety of specialized programs, services, and supports based on their needs and goals. Our continuum of services is designed to help each young adult build the skills and confidence they need for adult life. Key components of our program include:
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
We place a strong emphasis on career exploration and vocational training for our students. This includes supervised work experiences such as volunteer jobs and internships with local businesses and organizations, both on-campus and in the community.
Past Work-Based Learning Partners:
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC)
- Kalamazoo College
- Heritage Community Center
- Gernaat Greenhouse
- TSI Consulting Partners
- Marshall’s
- Harding’s
- Aacorn Farm
- Holiday Inn Express
- At Home
- The Dome Sports Center
- Kalamazoo RESA Service Center
- Chick-Fil-A
- Kalamazoo RESA Head Start
- Latitude 42
Independent Living Skills
Our program explicitly teaches and practices the daily living skills that young adults will use at home and in the community. Students work on personal home living skills such as cooking simple meals, doing laundry, budgeting and managing money, shopping for groceries, and cleaning.
Areas of focus:
- Cooking safety
- Making healthy food choices
- Cooking, baking and/or making simple snacks/meals
- Expected hygiene and grooming routines
- Creating a purposeful weekly schedule
- Identifying meaningful opportunities to engage in social connections
- Identifying and completing household tasks and chores
- Consumer spending
- Shopping
- Community safety
- Social expectations
Family Involvement
We understand that transition to adulthood is a collaborative effort that extends beyond the typical classroom or school day. Our program actively involves families and community agencies to create a strong support network around each student. From day one, we encourage parents and guardians to participate in planning and to maintain open communication with our team about their young adult’s progress. We regularly host meetings and workshops for families on transition topics (such as guardianship, community mental health services, or employment supports) so that parents can learn alongside their student.
Self-Advocacy & Social Development
Developing self-advocacy is a crucial part of our curriculum. We empower students to voice their needs, make choices, and take an active role in decisions about their lives. In the program, students receive guidance on understanding their own strengths and challenges, setting personal goals, and speaking up for themselves.
Community Resources
Community agency connections are another vital service we provide, linking students and families with resources that can continue to support the individual after they exit our program. By working hand-in-hand with families and outside partners, we ensure that students have a smooth handoff to adult service providers and that everyone is on the same page to help the young adult achieve their post-school goals.
Enrollment & Placement
There is no cost to families for enrollment; as a public special education service. If you are a parent or guardian considering this program for your young adult, the first step is to talk with your student’s teacher or IEP coordinator at your local district. They can help determine if a referral to Transition Services might be appropriate and guide you through the IEP process.
Once the IEP team agrees on Transition Services as the next step, the referral is made by the local district to Kalamazoo RESA. Our Transition Services administrators will then connect with the family and district to arrange an intake meeting or transition planning meeting. During this meeting, we review the student’s IEP goals, discuss specific needs (such as health or behavioral supports), and develop a personalized schedule and plan for the student’s start in the program.
Students may continue in the Transition Services program until they achieve their individual transition goals and are ready to move on, or until they reach the maximum age of special education eligibility (which is the end of the school year in which they turn 26).
Contact Us
KRESA West Campus
Address: 4606 Croyden Ave, Kalamazoo
Phone: (269) 250-9600
KRESA Commons
Address: 5177 West Main St, Kalamazoo