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
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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.
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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.
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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.
- Learn and understand the laws that govern the rights of adults with disabilities.
- Understand the planning process so you can help your young adult make choices about his future.
- Gather the information and documentation your young adult will need when he applies for adult services.
- Explore the services and programs available to your young adult.
- Understand how the adult system of services works.
- Learn about the appeal process and legal requirements of the agencies your young adult may use.
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
Health Care Transition 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.
Adolescent Health Transition Project (University of Washington)
Resource for adolescents with special health care needs, chronic illnesses, and physical or developmental disabilities to
understand the transitioning of healthcare and education to adulthood systems; Center on Human Development and Disability
at the University of Washington.
Transition Screening Tool and Care Plan (
23 KB)
Sample screening tool that addresses various transition topics including health, transportation, psychosocial, legal rights,
employment, and more.
Sample action plan for youth and young adults; gives a way to keep track of tasks that need to be done for transition.
Typically used together but can be used alone. From the Collaborative Medical Home Project.
Youth Leadership Toolkit
Guidebook to go with videos by and for youth and young adults to help them learn about employment and related topics in an
easy access online format. Developed by the Center for Persons with Disabilities and the Becoming Leaders for Tomorrow Project
in collaboration with the Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU). Videos available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp3WC9HvngxfKsG-YdS0LwzNTHcnnlW5Q.