Clients & families
Serving individuals aged 14-22
For young adults planning for life after high school
As your adolescent approaches adulthood, it’s important to prepare for the life transition ahead. This is an exciting transition that requires early planning, ideally beginning around age 14. Gathering information, understanding choices, making decisions, and trying out options all take time and consideration.
The school has been responsible for providing most of your child’s services through the Individualized Education Program (IEP). This IEP has been guiding your child’s academic progress since he or she first began attending school.
Starting at age 14, a section of the IEP known as the Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) becomes the driving force of the IEP. The ITP addresses the knowledge and skills that your child will need once he or she leaves school. It is a written plan that summarizes what a student will need to live, work, and play as an adult. In other words, the ITP will help determine what your child wants when they leave high school and figure out how to get there.
Your SDRC Service Coordinator will work with you and your child, their school, and service providers in the community to help plan for the transition from school to adulthood; providing valuable information, guidance, and assistance in understanding available resources and benefits. Their expertise helps in making informed decisions that align with your child’s envisioned life path.
To begin planning, consider the five commonly asked questions by our parents:
- Who will help my child access services and supports when they leave school?
- Who will my child socialize with after leaving school?
- What type of work or volunteer activities does my child want to participate in when they leave school?
- Where will my child live?
- Who will help my child makes decisions about legal and benefits issues as they get older?
The first step in addressing these questions begins with your child.
Take a moment with them and find out what their likes and dislikes are, what they do well or need assistance with, what are their strengths, and what their preferences are for the future.
Services and supports to consider:
- Adult day activities
- Strengthening self-help and self-care skills
- Continuing education at a university, community college, trade school, or specialized training programs
- Employment (with special supports if needed)
- Volunteer work, if preferred
- supports as needed – or living in a group home, if preferred
- Learning new skills, such as how to manage money, how to navigate public transportation, how to cook, and how to take care of a home
- Socializing with friends and making new ones
- Community access