TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD

Transition planning is very important during high school and a legal obligation for a student with a disability (with an Individualized Education Program, IEP) by the time they turn 16 years of age.  Transition goals are set at this IEP with discussion related to career goals and a post high school goals are defined related to education, employment, and sometimes independent living. Students should participate in their IEP where transition is discussed as it relates to what they may plan to do for work and living after high school.

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Below are activities involved in transitioning to life as an adult. Many of the resources below are focused on individuals with disabilities and meeting their needs. Resources provided are considered to have an evidence base, meaning there is credible, duplicated research in respected journals and publications in the disability field supporting effectiveness, usefulness, and quality of the program, procedures, therapy, approach, or supports.  There is additional information on the Resources and Video Resources pages of this web site.

Transition Information

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• Transition to Adulthood Timeline

• Self Advocacy:

  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Employees Practical Guide to Requesting and Negotiating Reasonable Accommodation Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

  • Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)

  • I'm Determined

  • Job Accommodation Network (JAN): Disclosure

  • Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center

  • TASH-Disability advocacy organization for rights of people with significant disabilities

  • Virginia Commonwealth University-Center for Disability Leadership

• Transition Planning:   U.S. Department of Education Post-secondary Education Transition Guide

  • Comparing High School to After High School Expectations--A Quick Checklist

  • Transition planning and the IEP: Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) Elements in IEP Transition Planning

  • What to expect at the transition planning part of the IEP: Michigan Alliance for Families Transition IEP

  • PACER Center: National Parent Center on Transition and Employment

  • Transition TN:  evidence based training and research for preparing young adults with disabilities for life after high school

  • Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: Opening Doors to Postsecondary Educaiton and Training-Planning for Life after High School

• Independent Living and Adaptive Skills: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Center on Transition Innovations, Independent Living

• Considerations for Transition:

  • Health insurance: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Health Care Programs Eligibility

  • Guardianship, special needs trusts, powers of attorney: National Council on Disability-Beyond Guardianship: Toward Alternatives that Promote Greater Self-Determination; ARC Michigan: Rethinking Guardianship

  • State support programs and federal support programs:  Michigan Disability Resources; MI Disability 101

• Employment Options

  • Job readiness and support:  Vocational Rehabilitation-Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) and Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) 

• Important Research on Transition

• Health Care​;  Transition Health Care Checklist-Waisman Center

  • Puberty and Sexuality

  • Mental health: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Community Mental Health (CMH): Mental Health Services Programs

• Living in the Community: PACER: Independent and Community Living​​

  • Transportation: Oragami Driving School 

  • MI Driver's License:  Accommodations During Driver's Education for Individual with Special Needs; Testing for Driver's Education with a Disability

  • Voting in Michigan: Accommodation for People with Disabilities;  Absentee Voting

• Technology: Sexuality Resource Center for Parents-Internet Safety

  • Using social media; using the internet and staying safe

  • Living in a technology-based world

• Transition and Adult Related Resources