Guiding Your Teenager with Special Needs through the Transition from School to Adult Life

Author's Note     12
Disclaimer     12
Preface     13
Family Expectations that Facilitate Growth
The Parents' Role     17
From the beginning     20
Preparing for life after high school     21
Further reading and useful resources     24
Developing Responsibility and a Work Ethic     25
That's why they call it work     27
Getting started     28
Reinforcers     35
Emotional concerns     41
Further reading     41
Learning Skills That Lead to Independence     43
The keys to the kingdom: planning, preparation, and practice     46
Safety     53
Moving on to larger community settings     53
Further reading     56
New Areas to Explore     57
Personal hygiene     57
Privacy     58
Further reading     59
Transition Planning     60
Assessment     63
Volunteer and paid employment     64
Independence in the community     66
Further reading and useful resources     68
Person Centered Planning - Putting the Student First!     70
Nuts and bolts of the process     71
The philosophy behind the tool     73
Further reading and useful resources     76
The School Bus Doesn't Stop Here Any More
High School Graduation, Then What...?     81
Self-determination and self-advocacy     83
College programs     84
Useful resources     88
Alphabet Soup - Programs and Services for Adults     89
Preparing for new opportunities     90
Government programs     93
Useful resources     93
Financial Support     95
Government funded support services     97
Supplemental Security Income     99
Social Security Disability Insurance     101
Other health coverage     101
Useful resources     102
Documentation and Legal Needs     103
Mandated services vs legal accommodations     104
Guardianship     107
Registration for Selective Service     108
Voter registration     109
Useful resources     109
Services and Programs for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities     111
Office of Developmental Disabilities     111
Service Coordination      112
Day Habilitation     113
Day Treatment     114
Moving out of the family home     114
Intermediate Care Facilities     117
Family Care (sometimes referred to as Adult Foster Care)     117
Community Residences/Group Homes and Individual Residential Alternatives     117
Supported Apartments     118
Home sharing     118
Rent or lease arrangements     118
Home ownership     119
Recreation programs     119
Useful resources     120
Services and Programs for Young Adults with Mental Health Issues     121
Office of Mental Health     121
Case managers/service coordinators     123
Day programs     123
Useful resources     125
Employment     126
Vocational Rehabilitation Services     127
Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped     128
Supported Employment     128
Reasonable accommodation     129
Further reading and useful resources     130
In Closing...     131
Notes     133
References     138
Index     140