Age 10-14: Awareness

Start Transition!

 

Life Skills for Emerging Adults

• Order meals at restaurants independently

• Pay for items at the store independently

• Learn how to use a cell phone and carry one, if applicable

• Find adult mentor/role model with similar disability

• Talk about your dreams for the future with the people you care about and ask for their help

• Increase independence of Activities of Daily Living (ex: dressing, feeding, bathing, toileting, etc.)

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Family Involvement

• Discuss child’s hopes & dreams

• Have child help with chores to teach living skills

• Discuss sexuality & family planning issues

• Open bank account for child and discuss money and budgeting

• Inform local fire department of necessary accommodations for emergency preparedness

• Develop family plan of what to do in case of emergency

• Set up a Special Needs Trust, if applicable

• Talk about end-of-life plans with family

• Facilitate opportunities for your child to make his or her own choices and decisions

• Find or create a safe place to talk about experiences with the disability (family discussions, support groups, counseling)

 

School   

• Incorporate transition planning into last middle school IEP because it will follow student to high school

• Update IEP as often as necessary, at least once per school year

• All IEP requests should be in writing to the school district and special education department

• Support student to engage in middle school and high school classes and extra-curricular activities related to their interests and strengths

• If assistive technology (AT) device is needed at school, make sure it is written into IEP

• Parents: get involved in child’s school to create partnerships and build relationships

 

Career Planning

• Start thinking about & researching possible career interests: take advantage of career fairs, job shadowing opportunities

• Volunteer in a variety of environments

 

Health/ Health Coverage

• Ask questions at doctor appointments

• Obtain EPSDT services from Healthy Communities, if on Medicaid

• Build relationships with your medical providers

• Create a list of contacts for doctors, therapists, equipment vendors, etc., in case of emergency

• Ask for care coordinator through insurance to help with services and needs

• Learn more about your health & health care needs

• Develop a portable medical summary including medications

• Develop a family medical history

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Age 15-17: Exploration

Explore Interests and Talents!

 

Life Skills for Emerging Adults

• Arrive on time to appointments, work, & activities

• Carry state ID card or driver’s license and a copy of health insurance card

• Schedule your own appointments

• Think about future living arrangements

• Carry a cell phone, if applicable

• Work on self-advocacy in meetings and appointments

• Seek care from adults other than parents so that you learn to interact with new people and communicate needs to others

• Attend a sleep-away camp to foster independence

• Teach teen how to handle emergency vs. non-emergency medical situations

• Discuss vocational training vs. post-secondary education

• Special Needs Trust, if applicable

 

Family Involvement

• Create opportunities to test independence of youth in a safe environment

• Explore public transportation together or use a community resource to learn about transportation to increase independence

• Find or create a safe place to talk about experiences with the disability (family discussions, support groups, counseling)

• Assist youth in connecting with an adult mentor/role model with a similar disability

 

School  

• At 15, incorporate first transition goal into IEP

• Update IEP/ transition goals as often as necessary, at least once per school year

• Student attends own IEP meeting to work on self-advocacy

• Transition goals should be individualized to student’s interests

• Decide on transition program with vocational training vs. graduation and higher education

• Support student to engage in classes and extra-curricular activities related to their interests and strengths

 

Career Planning

• Begin job shadowing

• Practice completing  job applications

• Develop a résumé or video résumé

• Work summer job, if applicable

• Volunteer in a variety of environments

• Learn about a variety of career opportunities based on your interests and strengths

• Remember to think outside the box!

 

Health/ Health Coverage

• Establish plan for adult medical services & obtain referrals

• Update list of contacts for doctors, therapists, equipment vendors, etc., in case of emergency

• Obtain a Letter of Medical Necessity for use with insurance, therapies, SSA, and other systems

• Learn more about your medical background

• Schedule medical appointments independently

• Learn to refill prescriptions independently

 

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Age 18: Preparation

Welcome to Adulthood!

 

Life Skills for Emerging Adults

• Register to vote

• Males: Must register for draft

• Plan future living arrangements

• Carry a cell phone, if applicable

• Prepare your “elevator speech” about your diagnosis for providers, therapists, teachers, etc.

• Obtain a passport, if desired

• Work on self-advocacy in meetings and appointments

• Seek care from adults other than parents so that you learn to interact with new people and communicate needs to others

 

Family Involvement

• Discuss representative payee & guardianship

• Assist teen with living options

• Discuss vocational training vs. post-secondary education

• Inform local fire department of necessary accommodations for emergency preparedness

• Determine guardianship, Medical Durable Power of Attorney, or conservatorship

• Explore Special Needs Trust, if applicable

• Facilitate opportunities for your child to make his or her own choices and decisions

• Find or create a safe place to talk about experiences with the disability (family discussions, support groups, counseling)

• Assist youth in connecting with an adult mentor/role model with a similar disability

 

School

• Update IEP/ transition goals  as often as necessary, at least once per school year

• Attend your own IEP and work on self-advocacy

• All IEP requests should be in writing to the school district and special education department

• Transition goals should be individualized to student’s interests

• Can walk at graduation with high school class if graduating or if utilizing school transition services

 

Career Planning

• Continue job exploration/ job training

• Work summer job, if applicable

• Volunteer in a variety of environments

• Complete résumé and/or video résumé

• Find opportunities to connect with career interests

 

Health/Health Coverage

• Switch to adult medical providers

• Obtain EPSDT services through age 20, if on Medicaid

• Apply for adult SSI in order to keep Medicaid, if applicable

• Update list of contacts for doctors, therapists, equipment vendors, etc., in case of emergency

• Have an understanding of medical background & needs

• Update Letter of Medical Necessity with current abilities and needs

• Update portable medical summary

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Age 19-21: Education/Training

Focus on Job Skills and Life Skills!

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Life Skills for Emerging Adults

• Inform local fire department of necessary accommodations for emergency preparedness

• Carry a cell phone, if applicable

• Bring together people you care about to plan with you and help you reach your goals (Person-Centered Planning)

• Practice self-advocacy in interactions with doctors and professionals

• Seek care from adults other than parents so that you learn to interact with new people and communicate needs to others

• Talk about your dreams for the future with the people you care about and ask for their help

 

Family Involvement

• Plan future living arrangements

• Develop a long-term financial plan

• Discuss vocational training vs. post-secondary education

• Determine guardianship, Medical Durable Power of Attorney,  or conservatorship

• Explore/set up Special Needs Trust, if applicable

• Support independent choices

• Find or create a safe place to talk about experiences with the disability (family discussions, support groups, counseling)

 

School

• Update IEP/ transition goals  as often as necessary, at least once per school year

• Attend your own IEP and work on self-advocacy

• Transition goals should be individualized to student’s interests

• At 21, complete school transition services

• Begin post-secondary education, if desired

• Utilize 504 Plan (ADA) to receive accommodations in college and work

 

Career Planning

• Determine vocational direction & apply to job postings

• Continue volunteering to learn about opportunities and to network

• Learn to self-advocate for accommodations in the work environment

• Look into work incentive programs through SSA

 

Health/Health Coverage

• Build relationships with adult medical providers

• EPSDT services through age 20 (dental & vision coverage ends at 18 if on Medicaid)

• Dental and vision care can be written into DD service plans

• Update list of contacts for doctors, therapists, equipment vendors, etc., in case of emergency

• Assume responsibility for health care needs (make appointments, fill prescriptions, manage medication)

• Update Letter of Medical Necessity with current abilities and needs

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Age 22-26: Career

Explore Life! Put Talents and Skills to Use!

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Life Skills for Emerging Adults

• Take on as many independent living responsibilities as able

• Maintain friendships & social life

• Inform local fire department of necessary accommodations for emergency preparedness

• Create list of necessities for emergency preparedness (medication, equipment, supplies, etc.)

• Carry a cell phone, if applicable

• Bring together people you care about to plan with you and help you reach your goals

• Practice self-advocacy in interactions with doctors and professionals

• Talk about your dreams for the future with the people you care about and ask for their help

 

Family Involvement

• Determine guardianship, Medical Durable Power of Attorney,  or conservatorship

• Establish Special Needs Trust, if applicable

• Encourage increased & ongoing independence

• Discuss “End of Life” planning for all family members

• Find or create a safe place to talk about experiences with the disability (family discussions, support groups, counseling)

 

School

• Continue in post-secondary school, if desired

• 504 Plan can be utilized in college to receive accommodations

• Stay involved with continuing education or certificate programs, if applicable to career path

 

Career Planning

• Continue work or apply for jobs matching interests & skills

• Volunteer, if time permits

• Learn to self-advocate for accommodations in the work environment

• Apply for jobs

• If not able to work, make plans for daily activities & community involvement

 

Health/ Health Coverage

• At 26 yrs old, adult is no longer eligible for parent’s health insurance (unless negotiated with private carrier)

• Build relationships with adult medical providers

• Update list of contacts for doctors, therapists, equipment vendors, etc., in case of emergency

• Obtain updated Letter of Medical Necessity with current abilities and needs, as needed