Transition is the period of change from children’s services to adult services, between age 14-22. We have numerous resources to help you navigate this important time in your child’s life.
- Transition from the Illinois State Board of Education – includes official materials from ISBE on transition, which begins at age 14.5 for all students enrolled in special education
- Transition Tools from DSCC
- DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services – Vocational Rehabilitation – programs and support for work and college
- STEP Program for transition services during high school
- Got Transition Website
- School-to-Work Transition Guide – The Guide was designed to help students, parents/guardians, teachers, school administrators, guidance and vocational rehabilitation counselors, and other school-based and adult-services providers – with clear, up-to-date information about the process of supporting Illinois students with disabilities in their transition from school to work.
Relevant Fact Sheets
- Adult Guardianship and Decision-Making Options [English and Spanish]
- Future Planning Information [English and Spanish]
- Connect the Dots Transition Tool [English and Spanish]
- Puberty & Adolescence Resources for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities [English and Spanish]
- PUNS, The Basics [English, Spanish, Arabic, Polish, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Tagalog, and Urdu]
- PUNS Pathway Flowchart [English and Spanish]
Before a family looks into any pre-designed program of transition for their child, it is important to have a vision of the child’s future. Create that vision with input from the child, keeping in mind gifts, talents and skills your child possesses. Where and what he/she wants to do is as important if not more important than programs offered by the state and agencies. Included in this Advocacy Toolbox section are some current models to use in transition and tools to help facilitate transition from high school to the world of adult services.
- Intro and Person-centered-planning: https://youtu.be/Np0n6XyMzx0
- Models of decision-making: https://youtu.be/LQW7RZnfsKc
- SSI: https://youtu.be/nZdfXIN9pDc
- SSDI & SNAP: https://youtu.be/NoVW-A4eZVc
- Health Insurance Options: https://youtu.be/qfisUfsR54s
- Medicaid Waiver: https://youtu.be/MXsAFvIF7Qk
- Employment 1: https://youtu.be/mEoCCh_EXds
- Employment 2: https://youtu.be/7hTfJRkAlbg
- Post-secondary Education: https://youtu.be/AKPMYeQkUTk
- Housing and technology: https://youtu.be/2K60mmle8hg
- Special Needs Trust SNT & ABLE accounts: https://youtu.be/LWh3-LOcgqY
- Advocacy: https://youtu.be/FoSD00KpLtw
- Secondary Transition Planning: https://youtu.be/KMBc59OJfDo
Culturally focused resources on Transition
ASSIST – “Proyecto ASISTIR”
ASSIST significa Defensa de Apoyos para Mejorar las Transiciones de Servicios y es un programa de capacitación de 12 sessiones para padres de jóvenes con autismo que cubre múltiples temas relacionados con la transición a la edad adulta. ASSIST se puso a prueba como un proyecto de investigación de múltiples sitios con la Universidad de Illinois, el Centro Vanderbilt Kennedy, el Centro Médico de la Universidad de Vanderbilt y el Centro Waisman de la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison.
- Programa del Seguro Social sobre Discapacidad de Empleo (SSDI) y programa de Nutrición SNAP): https://youtu.be/4KD2E_nFjVk
- Introducción al Proyecto ASISTIR: https://youtu.be/XZVpYTPrwTw
- Plan Centrada en la Persona (PCP): https://youtu.be/L4Fz8ZGncLQ
- Seguro de Ingresos Supplementarios (SSI): https://youtu.be/lyjL-ECxlfg
- Planes/Seguros de Salud: https://youtu.be/pq5oq8EXzJA
- Programas de Extención de Medicaid: https://youtu.be/2B-7NxuyZ6g
- Empleo (primera parte): https://youtu.be/O3TPr-1Jqis
- Empleo (secunda parte): https://youtu.be/ya4SsjzjZCk
- Opciones despues de la Secundaria: https://youtu.be/81H5S1FJHco
- Vivienda: https://youtu.be/WCJweguGij4
- Fideicomiso y Planificación Financiera para el Futuro: https://youtu.be/YA1X_IaBsjw
- Abogacia: https://youtu.be/wLVXm5HqO0A
- Transición Escolar: https://youtu.be/qfQ34z4aP7c
- Modelos de Toma de Decisiones: https://youtu.be/PaieHgpfVSI