Directory of Transiton Websites

                 

















This has been a great month in our household as we raise awareness and acceptance of those on the ASD. I wanted to leave you with a little more information but also some links for Transitioning your child.

Transition Timeline for Families

Age 14

• Explore future independent living and vocational goals.
• Explore personal interests.
• Obtain Social Security card if not done previously.
• Understand transition and what that means for your child.
• Review transition planning at all IEP meetings.
• Explore public transportation options.
• Explore career options.
• Sample various job opportunities provided by the school.
• Determine recreation, leisure interests, strengths, and needs.
• Identify independent living and self-care needs on the IEP.

Age 15

• Begin indifying appropriate adult agencies in the community.
• Sign releases for the referral to suitable agencies at least annually at IEP meetings.
• Obtain driver permit or State ID as appropriate.
• Evaluate for vocational and related skills and interests.
• Review and update transition plan.

Age 16

• Obtain driver's license, if appropriate.
• Sign releases for the referral to appropriate agences at least annually at IEP meetings.
• Explore part-time and summer employment options, if appropriate.
• Begin job training in community sites or school vocational programs.
• Refer to Vocational Rehabilitation or other appropriate agencies.
• Check with an attorney about guardianship, estate planning or a special needs trust.
• Check progress toward credits necessary for graduation and determine appropriate services and graudation age.
• Review and update the transition plan.

Age 17

• Take college entrance exams and complete applications, if appropriate.
• Sign release for the referral to appropriate agencies at least annually at IEP meetings.
• Apply for SSI in their birth month and Medicaid two months prior to 18th birthday, if appropriate.
• Made graduation plans or certificate of completion and attendance if appropriate.
• Plan for transitiona vocational training after graduation through the school if appropriate.
• Prevent surprises by knowing when graduation is and what services will be in place at that time.
• Check progress towards credits necessary for graduation and determine appropriate services and graduation age.
• Check health insurance needs if leaving school and not entering an 18-21 program.
• Discuss employment options of additional education training options.
• Review and update the transition plan.

Age 18

• Sign releases for a referral to appropriate agencies at least annually at IEP meetings.
• Gather information, review, and identify necessary services, including transportation. 
• Arrange to meet or tour adult services agencies and select appropriate service providers, confirm status.
• Review and update the transition plan.

I have started a Page for Transition Resources and will be adding to it as I found great resources. Do you have a great resource? Just let me know in the comments. Thanks so much!

Transition Web Resources

Please pass this post along. I would greatly appreciate it.

Regards,
~ Holley Jacobs

                                     

Transitioning from an IEP to a 504 - Part 2

Here we are, half way through Autism Awareness Month. The time has flown by. I have decided to write a little on the schedule for transitioning. I talked about Autism in its early infliction on our children. This led us down the path of what we need to know for transitioning later in life. The transition from high school to adulthood is the most difficult transition, not because of the young adults inability to be somewhat flexible but because the laws DRASTICALLY change during this period. Your child will go from having many rights under both federal and state laws regarding their education to very few laws to assist them or their families. I want to break it down for you so you can see it side by side.

There is a really simple, easy reading paper regarding the transition stage that breaks down each step very well. Transitioning from an IEP to a 504 can be very difficult and confusing. You should prepare yourself and your child early. After you review the article on this kind of transitioning, please see the LiveBinder that I put together to aid in all aspects of transitioning into adulthood. You won't be disappointed. Remember -
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER FOR AUTISM AWARENESS


Regards,
~ Holley Jacobs                         

Click here to open this binder in a new window.

Transition Information Part 2 – The Legal System

High School versus College Education for Students with Special Needs

Many areas change during this time. I am going to go slowly and in depth with the different areas of change. Some of the areas that I will discuss in this and other blog posts include legal obligations, accommodations, the role of the parent, confidentiality, self-advocacy, and school areas regarding studying, tests, and how the time spent in school differs.

I thought before I get into the more complicated parts of transitioning that I would use this post series to show what the exact differences are in relation to high school and college when it pertains to the law. This is important information for any parent and young adult to have because many changes happen during this time that if not prepared for them, can cause serious undo stress. My motto is to be proactive and not reactive. Autism transitioning does not have to be a "bad" transition. With knowledge, resources, and a support system in place, helping your child through this transition of high school to college can be made less painful and confusing for all involved.

LEGAL PRINCIPLES

In high school, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA require public education schools to provide assistance with two programs put into place. The first is the section for children birth to two years old while the second program is for those ages 3 - 21 years old. Under IDEA, it is the schools' and parent's responsibility to help children with disabilities to receive an appropriate education with whatever accommodations needed for them to succeed. Each student is required to have an Individualized Education Plan or IEP that tracks their goals and successes throughout their education in public schools. The US Department of Education explain the IEP for you to familiarize yourself with the legal terminology but for a nonprofessional's understanding of the IEP, Understood for learning and attention issues is a better site. I suggest reviewing each site and then you will have a great base of understanding what an IEP is for, how it should be used, and what should be in the IEP.