Transition Prep

As we move into spring, I start getting a lot more queries about transition, and that move out of school into the ‘real’ world.  So now would be a good time to talk about transition issues.

First, you cannot wait until second semester of a student’s senior year to think about transition.  If that is your case, you need to get moving now!  Many adult services require evaluations and often, going on a service list, and waiting for your turn. You want this process underway or completed (depending on the agency) before your child finishes school. 

Remember, you are moving out of the world of the school being responsible for services and into the world of the now adult child being responsible for requesting services.  There are many kinds of services, everything from Vocational Rehabilitation to Social Security to Agency for Persons with Disabilities, to various group homes to all kinds of other supports.  But you cannot expect a child to walk out of school one day and right into services the next day as an adult without some pre-planning. Also, many of these services interlock and are designed to work together with one another to create a safety net for the now adult with disabilities.  Let’s look at an example. 

Vocational Rehabilitation, for instance, can be extremely beneficial with providing services for a transitioning student with disabilities.  You should be in touch with them sometime during the second semester of the student’s junior year.  There is an evaluation process, and a waiting list for services based on the degree of disability.  You want to get on that list as soon as possible.  VR can be very helpful in setting up college services or helping with jobs placement and/or training.  Also, there is means testing to determine financial levels of support from the agency.  It would be wise to set up that appointment and discuss options with a VR counselor far enough in advance to allow your child to prepare accordingly.

While this is just one example, the same applies to many other agencies  You don’t really want to leave school, only to find that necessary services are not available because you and your now young adult did not take the time to pre-plan and set them up.  Get started now on the planning.  It will make for a much smoother transition for everyone.