Transition Planning For Teenagers with Special Needs

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Transition Planning For Teenagers with Special
Needs

• Ala Costa

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• Transition planning helps your child move from
  high school to living, learning, and working as
  an adult. This is a coordinated set of activities
  (services) written into your student's IEP and
  considers their needs, abilities, preferences,
  and interests.
• The process begins with age-appropriate
  transition assessments that help identify your
  student's strengths, needs, and interests related
  to post-secondary goals. It also includes
  collaboration with your school and community
  agencies and services.

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Children with Special Needs

• The transition from school to adulthood is a very
  important time for every child, but it can be
  even more so for teenagers with special needs.
  This is because they may need more support than a
  typical student to get a job, continue their
  education or take part in activities that are
  meaningful to them. This program helps the Adult
  Transition Program Special Needs.
• These programs are not always offered in schools
  but can be offered through a variety of other
  resources and providers that specialize in
  helping students transition to adulthood. You can
  also check with your local OPWDD offices or
  community organizations to find out about these
  options.
• One of the best ways to ensure your child
  receives the assistance they need is to talk with
  them early and frequently about their plans. This
  will give them a sense of their independence and
  allow you to discuss things with them that you
  think are important.

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• Another way to help your child is to become
  involved with their special education program.
  This will allow you to see how they are being
  helped and what services you can provide. You can
  also attend school meetings or events that are
  designed for parents of children with special
  needs.
• These students learn independence, choice-making,
  individualized work experience, communication
  skills, money skills, and integration with the
  college population and their community. The goal
  is to assist them in their transition to
  competitive integrated employment and to a
  successful independent life.

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Youth with Special Needs

• Students with special needs, whether they are in
  an individualized education program (IEP) or not,
  often need additional assistance to prepare for
  the transition from school to adulthood. They may
  need help to access employment, postsecondary
  education, housing, health care, financial aid,
  and other services.
• Career pathways are an effective approach to
  preparing low-skilled youth with disabilities for
  marketable jobs. These pathways integrate
  educational instruction, workforce development,
  and human and social services and support to meet
  labor market demands and employer needs. They
  also offer stackable credentials.

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• Several federal agencies are involved in the
  planning and implementation of transition
  programs for youth with disabilities. These
  agencies are referred to as FPT or Federal
  Partners in Transition. They are working to
  promote inclusive service delivery for
  transitioning youth from school into
  postsecondary education, the workforce, and
  independent living.
• This toolkit provides information about
  self-advocacy and self-management, how to use
  self-advocacy tools, how to create a personal
  advocacy plan, and how to work with families and
  other stakeholders to advocate for youth with
  disabilities and other individuals. It is an
  essential resource for CILs and other agencies
  that support independent living.

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• Students with disabilities in the foster care
  system have special challenges as they age out of
  care. They may need more assistance than their
  peers who have been in the foster care system for
  only a short time.
• During their transition years, these youth are
  focused on developing life skills, such as
  learning to budget, finding and keeping
  employment, and managing chronic health
  conditions. They are also planning for adulthood
  and acquiring social skills, such as navigating
  community resources, housing options, and medical
  health care systems.

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THANK YOU

• Address 1300 Rose Street Berkeley, CA 94702
• Email info_at_alacostacenters.org
• Website https//www.alacostacenters.org/
• Phone Number [phone]