TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD
As children move to adulthood and advance through school, it is essential to help them identify and realize their hopes and dreams for the future. Some students go directly to work after high school while others choose postsecondary education as their path to personal growth and future employment. Planning early for the transition from home and high school to living and working in the community helps families to be better prepared for what lies ahead. This planning is driven by a young person’s dreams, desires and abilities, and builds independence and participation in school, home, and community living.
This Transition Toolkit is a guide for youth, their parents, and professionals in planning for the future and in helping students achieve a successful transition from high school. The Toolkit was funded by a grant from HireAbility VT , the Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living, and the Agency of Human Services. We sincerely appreciate all of the parents, students, and professionals who shared their ideas with us to develop this resource. The funding of this project reinforces the importance of family and youth involvement in creating meaningful transition plans.
Adult Services for People with Developmental Disabilities
Changing Role of Parents
Guardianship and Alternatives for Adults with Disabilities
Laws
Parents as Partners in Transition Planning Process
Pre-Employment Transition Services
Planning Tips for Transition Age Youth and Their Families
Regional (by County) Transition to Adulthood Resources
Self Advocacy, Awareness and Disclosure
In the Driver’s Seat: Transition Planning and Self-Advocacy
Supported Decision Making
Tips for Youth
In Vermont, we value full inclusion for all people, regardless of disability. Whether your young person lives at home or in another residential setting, they most likely want to have friends and participate in community life. As parents, we want these things for our children, but we probably worry more than most about issues of safety and vulnerability. Like all parents, we want our children to make safe and responsible choices. They will be the most successful doing so if they are given the appropriate information, training, and tools.
In this section, you will find information on ways your young adult can access and participate in their community. We include tips on how to prepare your child for more responsibility and independence in the home and community, from taking the bus to making friends. It is our belief that, no matter the challenges they may have, all people should have opportunities to be active members of their community.
Recreation
Staying active, as much as possible, is not only healthy but also provides a good way to foster social interactions. Check with your local recreation department or YMCA to see what programs they offer that might be appropriate and enjoyable for your young person. Vermont is home to several organizations that specialize in recreational and social opportunities for people with disabilities and special health needs, including horseback riding, skiing, and camps that offer sessions for adults. For a comprehensive list of recreation options in Vermont, visit the camp and recreation pages of the Vermont Family Network website (www.vermontfamilynetwork.org).
Friendship
Once your child leaves school, the peer group they have become accustomed to will likely disperse. Finding, making, and keeping new friends can be a challenge, but having opportunities for a satisfying social life is very important. Some organizations for people with disabilities or special health needs offer ways to socialize – for example, Special Olympics, Partners in Adventure, Green Mountain Self-Advocates, and other local self-advocacy groups. Adult service agencies may also include activities, classes and resources that provide ways for people with disabilities or special health needs to come together. As much as possible, encourage participation in the general community. Taking a class in a community education, arts or recreation program or having a job might also open some doors to creating new friendships.
Of major concern to us, as parents, is the vulnerability of certain of our young adults. We worry that our children could fall prey to opportunists who may take advantage of them financially, sexually or in other ways. This is particularly important if your young adult is more independent. The drive to be accepted and have friends can compromise a young person’s better judgment. You can help by steering your young adult toward appropriate venues for potential friends, with the understanding that your child will want to make their own decisions about whom to accept as a friend, just as we all do. Again, the best strategy is to help your child understand the potential pitfalls of hanging out with others who may be involved in unsafe or illegal activities such as drugs, graffiti, shoplifting, vandalism, etc. Keeping busy with positive activities (e.g., sports and recreation, classes, self-advocacy groups) is one way for your young adult to meet peers and make new friends.
Self-Advocacy
Many of the accommodations for people with disabilities or special health needs that we take for granted resulted from hard work and advocacy not so long ago. As they leave our homes and schools and go out into the world, our young adults’ ability to advocate for their wants and needs becomes especially critical. Learning to become a good self-advocate is a life-long process, so it is never too early to start helping your child develop the skills they will need to get necessary services and accommodations. Consider including self-advocacy skills as a goal in your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). When your child reaches transition age (16), try to connect them to a local self-advocacy group. Contact the Green Mountain Self-Advocates (GMSA) for more information and a list of self-advocacy groups.
Safety
Our young adults will have differing abilities to access the community. Some may always be in the company of another adult while others may be able to move about independently. Whatever your child’s level of independence, you can help them learn to make safe choices by practicing strategies through role-play, social stories, and watching and discussing TV shows or movies. Be open and honest with your child about your concerns, ask questions and be willing to listen to their point of view. One way to allay fears and concerns about safety is to create a safety plan.
Tips for safety:
- Keep up with your child’s interests, what they like to do and preferred places to go
- Develop a set of clear expectations for your young person so they know when to come home. Remember to check the bus schedules for last bus times
- Consider having a contingency fund for a taxi or car services
- Discuss places that are appropriate to go and places to avoid
- Help your young person create a “going out” checklist: remember key, make sure cell phone is charged, take wallet, leave names and phone numbers of people you will be with, etc.
- Go over what to do in an emergency. If you have a child who may have difficulty communicating in an emergency the Enhanced 9-1-1 system database for use by emergency response or Public Safety call-taking personnel has a form you can fill out. It will not be disclosed to any other governmental agency a family can fill out this confidential form.
- Agree on a phone check-in time
- Have a backup person to call should you be unavailable
- Review the importance of making good choices and staying safe
Independent Living Skills
Many of us worry about how our adult children will live if we are no longer able to provide a home for them. Some of our young people will have independent living goals in their transition plans. There are a number of organizations that support people with disabilities with equipment, resources and other assistance to help them live to their full potential:
Vermont Center for Independent Living
Center on Disability and Community Inclusion
Housing Options
Housing for our young adults is a major concern for us. As we age, we are less able to care for them in our homes. That issue aside, young adults with disabilities or special health needs should have the same opportunities to experience other living options as their siblings and friends. The reality is that our young folks will probably need accommodations and supports, which can limit choice.
Some housing models found around the state include:
Shared Living -Living with a family or sharing an apartment with a paid roommate along with varying degrees of support and supervision depending on need.
Supported Living – Independent living with minimal supervision for adults for whom few supports are needed.
Some new initiatives may include:
Neighborhood Model: Adults live in their own apartments but in proximity to other adults with disabilities to share support and resources
Transitional Model: Adults transitioning from their homes can learn independent living skills in preparation for a more independent housing situation.
Transportation
Does your child know how to take the bus? Is there a possibility that they might become a driver? What are the transportation options for people who can do neither of the above?
Depending on where you live, there may be para/transit services available to people who cannot use the regular bus system because of a disability or special health need. For example, in Chittenden County, the Special Services Transportation Agency or SSTA provides pre-arranged transportation on an accessible bus at a cost per ride. Call 2-1-1 to locate services near you. You can also contact GoVermont at the Vermont Agency of Transportation to learn about programs that are available.
Buses can be very user-friendly for people with mobility issues. All transit busses in Vermont are accessible, with special space to accommodate wheelchairs. Drivers are trained to help with getting on and off the bus.
Driver’s Ed: The New and Potential Driver Program (Fletcher Allen and UVM) can evaluate your young person and design a training program specific to their needs. They can also suggest adaptive equipment and automobile modifications.
Tips for transportation:
- Learning to use transportation or to drive can be an important goal in your youth’s transition plan.
- If it is unlikely your child will be able to drive, it is a good idea to help them come to terms with this eventuality before their friends are signing up for driver’s ed.
Long Distance Travel: If your child will be traveling on a long-distance bus, train, or airplane, make plans well in advance for a safe and trouble-free journey. Call the bus, train, or airline company to find out about accommodations they offer to travelers with disabilities. Even if you are accompanying your child, accessibility may be a concern for a person in a wheelchair or using a walker. Always have your child carry identification and contact information and make a contingency plan in case you are separated.
Bus: Greyhound has accommodations for people with disabilities and special health needs if given proper notice. Accessible seating and assistance getting on and off the bus are available. Transportation personnel are not allowed to provide personal care assistance. Check with Greyhound or the bus company you plan to use about other services for customers with disabilities or special health needs.
Train: Amtrak offers several services for people with disabilities or special health needs, but you must book your trip early by phone or in person and can offer assistance in making a reservation. They offer a 10% fare discount for customers with disabilities and one traveling companion. Those designated as a companion must be capable of providing the necessary assistance to the passenger with a disability or special health need. In order to receive the discount, written documentation of your disability or special health need is required at the ticket counter or when boarding the train. Accessible space can be booked ahead of time, even on open seating trains. You can also request assistance boarding and disembarking. Please allow plenty of time before departure to negotiate the station. As always, let the train personnel know your child’s needs well in advance to have a safe and comfortable trip.
Air Travel: Travel by air may present challenges for people with some disabilities or special health needs, in particular mobility issues. If your child uses a walker or wheelchair, you will need to consider accessibility of the airplane. Boarding and de-planing may require special equipment if the plane is parked on the tarmac away from jet ways. While larger planes are equipped with accessible lavatories, smaller or older planes may not be. Check your airline’s website for more information about accessibility.
Tips for travel from experienced parents
- Prepare your child in advance for the hustle and bustle of the airport. If your child has a problem with noise, consider earphones.
- Check ahead with your airline to learn about accommodations for travelers with disabilities or special health needs. You may be able to bypass lines.
- Alert Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and flight personnel to any problems, such as communication problems, your young person may have during screening. Check their website for more tips.
- Take extra meds and snacks in case your flight is delayed or canceled. Pack meds, insurance information and extra clothing in your carry on.
- Create an ID and medical information sheet for your child in case you become separated. Put ID information on any equipment that your child uses, such as a walker or wheelchair.
- Take advantage of the invitation for early boarding.
- If traveling for medical reasons, reimbursement for meals, lodging and mileage is possible. This must be arranged ahead of time.
If your child is traveling alone, you may be able to hire an airline escort for gate transfers. Each airline has its own policies, restrictions and fees for escorts so be sure to check around. Paying a bit more for peace of mind is worth it. In any case, be sure your child has all the identification and contact information they will need as well as a plan for what to do if flights are delayed or cancelled.