Early Transition Planning is the Key to Future Success!

Transition services are a coordinated set of activities that will help students with disabilities prepare for life after high school. A transition IEP should describe what the student wants to do after high school and what steps the school must take to help them get ready for adulthood. The transition IEP should include a plan of how they will reach these goals. The transition team at your child’s school needs to create a transition plan based on the student’s preferences, skills, needs and interests in the areas of education/training, employment and independent living, and the transition plan will outline what the school must do to help them in reaching these goals and preparing for adulthood.

Many parents and caregivers rely on the school to help the young person set and meet post-secondary goals in the areas of employment, education and independent living, but discover too late that their young person is not adequately prepared for life after high school. Schools, even with the best of intentions, are often unable to meet the many needs of their transitioning students. 

An important part of planning for your young person’s move from high school to adult life is to think about what their financial future looks like. Do you understand that once your young person leaves school or turns 21 they are no longer entitled to services, and must apply for services they may need?  Are you aware of the various government benefits they may be eligible for? Programs such as Social Security, Medicaid and state services for persons with disabilities all need to be considered. Not every person with a disability receives benefits, but it is essential that you explore what your young adult might be eligible for, and start the application process as early as possible to ensure that your young person has access to these benefits upon or before leaving school.

Future planning for your young person is essential during the transition process. Until they reach the age of majority, parents are considered natural guardians for their children and make all legal decisions for them. When the child reaches the age of majority “transfer of rights” occurs. It is important that you be prepared for this change, because your young person’s consent will be needed for you to see their educational records and attend IEP meetings or make changes on their IEP. Outside of school, they will be assumed capable of making all decisions for themselves that you once made, including decisions impacting their health, finances and safety and overall well-being. It is essential that guardianship and guardianship alternatives be considered and put into place, if needed, prior to your young person reaching the age of majority. Additional considerations for future planning include understanding financial options for saving, including special needs trusts and ABLE accounts, and creation of a future planning document that will provide essential information about your young person to those that might not know them as well as you do.