If your child is old enough to start thinking about transition, they should also learn how to speak up for their own needs.
This is called self-advocacy.
It will be helpful for teens to learn as much as they can about the road ahead, the resources available to them, and the decisions that they will have to make. They should be part of the transition process as much as their disability allows.
Involve your child as much as possible in the process.
-
Talk to them about their future goals, their challenges, and what kind of support they need to reach these goals.
-
Help them learn to articulate their needs and ask for support. (If they have communication challenges, they can use the devices and techniques that work for them.)
-
Include them in all IEP and transition meetings.
-
Encourage them to find activities to do outside of school that fit with their interests and can help them learn useful skills. Let them research work or volunteer opportunities.
Share online transition tools with your child.
Encourage your child to explore some of these tools that were made for teens with disabilities.
Click on the links to open these online resources in a new tab:
-
Youth Transition Toolkit: A guide for young people with disabilities transitioning into adulthood - Created for California but has lots of useful info for youth from any state.
-
Got Transition? - Has activities, quizzes and checklists to help young adults prepare to take charge of their own health care.
-
Dude, Where's My Transition Plan? - Written for students to help understand transition and plan for their future. Includes interactive checklists, quizzes and places to write their own notes. 27 pages.
-
Self-Advocacy Tip Sheet - This sheet comes from a Massachusetts organization but the tips are helpful to anyone!
-
Smooth Moves Youth Health Transition This interactive website helps young adults learn to manage their own health care.
-
Getting Ready for Youth Health Transition (HYT) - This short checklist from helps teens get ready to take on more responsibility in managing their own care.
-
Health Transition Planning Fact Sheet - 2-page handout and checklist from Children's Special Health Services