Transition to Adulthood
The transition from being a young adult to an adult can be very overwhelming. There are many things to think about when entering the “adult” world, such as housing, jobs, possibly continuing education, and so much more. This guide is to help ease the transition process. Keep in mind that everyone will have different needs during this life stage, and the below items may not be applicable for everyone in their planning. The most important thing is to start planning early. Once the needs are reviewed and goals are set (and remember, they can change), a transition plan will be developed that builds the skills necessary for your child to be able to achieve these goals in adult life.
Knowing Your Rights
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), it is required that those with disabilities are provided with a variety of resources as they go throughout school, such as an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). An IEP is a plan that provides a layout of the program for special education, the services needed, and the supports that will be needed. One of the many things provided by an IEP during high school is transition planning, developed by a personalized team for what services may be needed to achieve goals after post-graduation. This transition plan is started once a student hits age 14, or whenever it is deemed suitable. Transition services and a plan are determined by age 16. Once the student graduates, the IDEA is no longer offered, as it is only for primary education, meaning that those services are no longer provided by the state. There are also other government funding that can help to provide services and there are also state-provided services.
Housing
At the age of 18 years old, the United States legally recognizes an individual as a legal adult that can make their own decisions. As a legal adult, then, they are eligible to sign a lease or buy a home. There are a variety of options when it comes to deciding where you would like to live. See a list of housing options available to those with disabilities at this link.
Higher Education
You may decide that you would like to further your education. There are important factors to consider when deciding to further your education. First, it is important to decide what you want to study. Consider things you enjoy and things you have priorly been interested in learning about. Once you decide your area of study, you can then begin to look into the programs offered by the schools. Some things to consider are the location, services, and accessibilities of the school itself. Visit the campus and reach out to the admissions office and the office of disabilities. Ask questions you may have regarding the campus, student life, and/or courses. They will be able to provide information about support services and specific financial opportunities for students with special needs. Note if the school has accommodations as you may find the accommodations would benefit you. Second, consider how you will pay for tuition and other charges. We have a list on our website of grants and scholarships available to those with disabilities that plan to further their education. Some schools even offer programs specifically for people with autism, which we have a list of on our website.
Day Habilitation Programs
Day programs are a great option for furthering independent living skills, money managing, safety tips, and job readiness. They often run 5 days a week for 5 hours per day and typically have access to transportation. Most states offer these programs to those with disabilities. Evaluations are done to personalize the program to better one’s skills, such as meal prepping, housekeeping, social skills, employment training, and many more.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Once out of school, all states have vocational rehabilitation agencies that can help to plan and set in motion gaining employment, getting training for jobs, finding support services, and finding diagnostic services for medical, psychological, and audiological examinations. This is a great resource provided to those with disabilities to enter the workforce efficiently. Find your state's vocational rehabilitation agency information here.
Jobs
During high school, there is the opportunity to enter the workforce. On our website, we have tips for applying to jobs to assist in the process of acquiring a job. In applying for jobs, it is also important to consider if you want to disclose your diagnosis with your employer. We have an information kit that goes over disclosing your autism with your employer to provide guidance in how to best approach the conversation should you choose to disclose your diagnosis.
Utilizing the points listed above, it would be advised to make a personal plan of which of the points you wish to complete after high school. Not all the listed tasks are necessary but are commonly done after high school. In providing this list, we hope there would be less stress directly after graduation. Be sure to ask for support and assistance from those in your support system when making your list.
If you have any more questions don’t hesitate to contact us and go to our website for more information.