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.

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

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)
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition-The Collaborative (NTACT-C). Research: Effective Practices-Criteria and Levels of Evidence (Set up a free account to NTACT-C for access to all information)
Health Care
Living in the Community: PACER: Independent and Community Living
- Transportation: Oragami Driving School
- MI Driver's License and State ID: Michigan Accessibility and Accommodations and Michigan Driver Education and Testing Businesses
- Voting in Michigan: Accessible Voting; Absentee Voting (Accessible Ballot)
Technology: individuals with disabilities can be vulnerable as victims of online crimes, cyber bullying, sexting, and other activities. They also can inadvertently commitment crimes by downloading illegal pornography. It is easy to land on inappropriate sites, follow dangerous links, and be lured on social media. Parents and caregivers may not be aware this is happening, or even a problem. There are resources below to become better informed on this important issue.
- Sexuality Resource Center for Parents-Internet Safety
- Michigan State Police: Internet Safety, Federal Agencies-Internet Safety
- The Marshall Project: Downloading a Nightmare: an actual situation where a young man with autism inadvertently found himself and his family in the legal system. This case is about a person with autism, but this can happen to anyone with or without a disability. The legal system does not make exceptions for people with disabilities, and young adults with disabilities are in jail and prisons due to internet activity, and they often did not know what they were doing was illegal. It is important parents and caregivers are education on this topic, as well as individuals with disabilities.
- Stop It Now: for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities-provides resources for creating a family safety plan, talking to your child to reduce vulnerability, behaviors to watch out for, resource guides, and more.
Transition and Adult Related Resources