Transition to Adulthood
Topic Menu
Preparing For Transition
- Shifting from pediatric to adult healthcare with health insurance;
- Leaving school for work, college, or other choices;
- Moving from home to a supportive place to live; and
- Becoming less dependent on family as one builds skills and gains more abilities.
From Entitlement to Eligibility
-
Education: As a student, your child was entitled to an
education and may have received services from special education and/or a 504
plan. However, students who plan to stay in school beyond the 12th grade
need to be determined eligible for services. Students who meet eligibility
requirements may receive student services until the age of 22.
- Whether your young adult plans to leave high school after the 12th grade or at the age of 22, at age 18 she will need to be determined eligible for services. Because this involves many programs with different funding sources and eligibility rules, it can be unclear and time consuming. It often involves filling out many forms, but if you and your child start this ahead of time, you’ll learn what you need to know to make this change as easy as possible.
-
Health care: One type of change your child may face once
he is an adult (age 18) is that he will now need to apply for Medicaid and
SSI based on his own income and assets, instead of based on yours.
- As soon as a young adult has his 18th birthday, he should apply for adult Medicaid to make sure he has continuing care.
- Adult Medicaid may not have all the same services that your child received when younger.
- The federal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides medically necessary services to eligible children on Medicaid through the age of 21; after that, young adults are no longer protected by EPSDT federal law.
-
Other services: Because each state has its own rules on
eligibility for state and federal aid, it is key that as a parent you get
guidance from your state Family to Family Health Information Center (F2F
HIC), Parent Training and Information Centers (PTI), State Human
Service Agencies, and Social Security Administration.
- While Social Security is available to adults with disabilities, it is a safety net, Social Security income is moderate and fixed.
Help with Transition Planning
- All possible efforts should be made to include people with disabilities in the same age endeavors as their peers without disabilities, such as college, vocational training, recreation, and work.
- Parents, with their expertise and knowledge of their children, are vital partners in the planning of transition programs. Teachers, aides, counselors, and others who know your child may also be helpful in transition planning.
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
Health Care Transition Resources for Youth & Young Adults (Got Transition)
A 6-step approach to help individuals gain independent health care skills, prepare for an adult model of care, and transfer
to new providers; provided by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health.
Parent Training and Information Centers (PTI)
Provide training and information to parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and to people who
work with parents to enable them to participate more fully and effectively with professionals in meeting the educational needs
of their children with disabilities. See the link for Download a List of Parent Centers across the USA to find the parent
center in your state; U.S. Department of Education.
Family Voices (FVAO) or Health Information(F2F) Center
Family-to-Family Health Information Centers are nonprofit, family-staffed organizations that assist families of children and
youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Locate state-based F2F HICs, providing support, information, resources, and
training.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources;
this link provides information on applying for SSI.