Education
Choices about education are an important part of the transition (change) to adulthood. Some young people may want to stay in high school, others may want to graduate and look at post-high school education. This page aims to help youth with special health care needs and their families navigate the options available and make choices to suit their needs.
Helping Youth Transition
Roles of the Medical Home in Transition
- Partner with the student, family, and school to empower independence from the time of diagnosis.
- Share health information with the school team.
- Help the student know their condition, self-care, medications and side effects.
- Work with the school to have self-care of the condition and medications be part of the transition IEP/504/transition plan. See School Types and Options.
- Look at modifications based on health considerations with the family, student, and transition team.
- Help the family to actively take part in in the IEP/transition planning.
- Focus on strengths, talents, and the student’s career goals.
- Talk about habits of good health.
- Talk about things that promote responsibility and self-reliance such as money management, laundry, transportation, and so on.
- Teach where and when to ask for help.
- Have details available on: vocational choices, schools, work, and independent living. See Services Directory.
- Have a list of college disability offices if needed. See To College.
Role of the Family in Transition
Timeline for Transition
The following is a general timeline for transition planning in education. Students who stay in the school system until age 22 will either leave at the end of the school term or on their birthday. Check with your local school district for their policy. Please School Districts (see NW providers [0]).
Ages 14-16
- Start thinking about graduation goals, and know the state and school district's graduation rules and diploma options. Special Education students should learn about staying in school after 18, if needed.
- Know what classes and credits are needed to graduate and plan classes and course of study for that reason.
- Keep in mind social issues, such as recreation and sexuality.
- Think over driver education. See Transportation Options for Young Adults.
- Find job interests and skills by trying career exploration, job sampling, and some job training. See After High School Options.
- Consider summer work or volunteering.
- Find community services that give job training and placement.
- Make a job placement file with references and skills that have been gained.
- Apply to adult services like State Services for People with Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation, and independent living services. Some may have long waiting lists.
- Ask the school team about examinations or competency tests needed for all students for graduation.
Ages 16-18
- Colleges, vocational or technical schools.
- Residential or independent living services (see Independent Living).
- Recreation and leisure groups (see Recreation Activities).
- Job training.
- Find out if family or friends could help provide job training.
Ages 17-18
- Start to consider and research guardianship, if it applies. Remember that your child becomes a legal adult at 18! See Guardianship/Estate Planning.
- Learn about Social Security benefits. See Health Insurance/Financial Aids.
- Take ACT or SAT tests and fill out college applications. See ACT College Entrance Exam Services for Disabilities and SAT College Entrance Exam.
- Visit colleges and sign up with the College Disability Center of your preferred college by the end of senior year. See To College.
High School Graduation Decisions
Graduation issues must be looked at by the IEP team on an individual basis as the student enters high school. This should involve the student's participation in state-wide assessments, earning course credits for graduation, and implications of earning either a diploma or certificate of completion. Contact your LEA or Special Education Department to find out what is available in your state.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation (also called voc. rehab. or VR) is a program which aids eligible people with disabilities to prepare for and find a job. This training may include:
- Counseling and guidance - working closely with the young person to give support and assistance as he/she works toward reaching the job goal.
- Medical/psychological care – young adults may be referred for services from a doctor or therapist to help with their disability so they can work.
- Training and education - choices could be on-the-job training, self-employment, supportive employment, short-term vocational training, and college.
- Assistive technology (AT) - young adults may receive special equipment that will help reach his/her job goal, as well as training on how to use the equipment.
- Job placement - may involve job coaching, on-the-job training, or referral to an employment service.
- Other services - may include help with transportation, tools or equipment, or readers or interpreters.
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
Center for Parent Information and Resources (DOE)
Parent Centers in every state provide training to parents of children with disabilities and provide information about special
education, transition to adulthood, health care, support groups, local conferences, and other federal, state, and local services.
See the "Find Your Parent Center Link" to find the parent center in your state.
State Education Contacts and Information
This page has contact information for state school resources, including the department of education, the higher education
agency, special education agency and adult education agency in any state, commonwealth, or territory; U.S. Department of Education.
National Center on Secondary Education and Transition
This easy-to-use website provides information about transition during high school and to opportunities after high school including
jobs, vocational education, and college. Provides links to contacts in each state for State Transition Contact, Regional Resource
Center Contact, State Director of Special Education, Part B Contact, and State Director or Vocational Rehabilitation.
ThinkCollege.net
This parent-friendly site provides information, a discussion board, a listserv, resources, student stories, and links to colleges
and programs that support youth with intellectual disabilities. Good site for young people with disabilities who are looking
into college—search for what’s happening in your state and how to apply.
Transition - Education (
119 KB)
This handout provides tips to help youth and young adults get the services they need from schools, and suggests things to
consider in transitioning to college and beginning to use adult health care services. From the Institute for Community Inclusion
at Children's Hospital, Boston.
Services for Patients & Families Nationwide (NW)
| Service Categories | # of providers* in: | NW | Partner states (4) (show) | | NM | NV | RI | UT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Districts | 90 | 4 | 64 | 44 | |||||
For services not listed above, browse our Services categories or search our database.
* number of provider listings may vary by how states categorize services, whether providers are listed by organization or individual, how services are organized in the state, and other factors; Nationwide (NW) providers are generally limited to web-based services, provider locator services, and organizations that serve children from across the nation.
Page Bibliography
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Children With Disabilities.
The role of the pediatrician in transitioning children and adolescents with developmental disabilities and chronic illnesses
from school to work or college. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Children With Disabilities.
Pediatrics.
2000;106(4):854-6.
PubMed abstract
A good overview of the process, the players and the physician's role.