SCHOOL-TO-ADULT TRANSITIONS
“Greet all people with a smile.” – Ethics of the Fathers 3:16
Formal transition planning for students with disabilities begins at the age 14. While this may seem early, it can take months or years to complete the transition process. The goal of transition is to help your teen understand their disability and choices to determine their future. Below are important questions for youth to consider with his/her team:
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- What kind of work do I want to do?
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- Will additional education or training be necessary?
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- Where do I want to live?
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- How could I live independently?
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- What transportation options do I have access to?
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- How will I obtain and transition to adult health care and what will that mean?
“She is a tree of life for those who hold fast to her, and happy are those who support her.”
State Identification Cards
As youth transition to adulthood, it is important to obtain a State Identification Card even if you are not planning to get a driver’s license. Without a photo identification card individuals may find it difficult to access services at banking institutions, government agencies, and transportation centers such as train stations and airports.
The Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services
Administers programs for students with disabilities. Additionally, the bureau coordinates student services throughout the state and participates in multiple inter-agency efforts designed to strengthen the quality and variety of services available to students with special needs. Offers transition services beginning at age 14 through age 22 for students with significant disabilities.
Project 10: Transition Education Network
Assists Florida school districts and relevant stakeholders in building capacity to provide secondary transition services to students with disabilities in order to improve their academic success and post-school outcomes.
The Dan Marino Foundation
The Dan Marino Foundation (DMF) is a results-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons with autism or other developmental disabilities. Using innovative approaches to problem solving and leveraging the latest computer technologies, the DMF is creating unprecedented opportunities for the disability community. At the core of the Foundation’s initiatives is Marino Campus, an intensive 10-month post-secondary educational program to help young adults with autism or other developmental disabilities bridge the gap between high school and employment.
Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel (HAAPE)
Provide adults with autism the opportunity to benefit from meaningful employment to become more independent and enhance their lives. HAAPE has established a technology center as a workplace for adults with autism that will provide training, employment, and a social environment conducive to their needs.
