Disability Transition Resources for Parents

So you have a son, daughter, or family member edging into or toward young adulthood. Because disability presents its own special challenges and can complicate moving from high school to the unknown world beyond, there's a great deal of common sense in planning ahead, preparing, and doing what you can to make that transition a straightforward and positive one. This collection of transition materials written especially for parents and other concerned family members is intended to help you do just that.

This page of resources begins where another resource on our site leaves off: Transition 101. Transition 101 kicks off NICHCY's suite of transition pages and is provided to lay a critical foundation of understanding on transition in law and in practice. Very valuable resources are listed therein, so we strongly recommend that, if you haven't taken a look at what we've listed there, you do. There, you'll find information organized into the following sections: Students in the viewfinder, What does IDEA require?, Other laws impacting transition, Transition planning in action, Organizations that can help, Transition in your state, and Spanish materials.

The transition suite has other stand-alone pages as well. The suite consists of:

• Transition 101
• Transition Resources for Parents (you're here!)
• Transition Resources for Students
• Transition Resources for Professionals
• Transition for Students with Specific Disabilities

The ABCs of Transition

• Wondering what path your child will take after high school?
  www.transitioncoalition.org/~tcacs/new/files/brochure2.pdf
  This brochure was created to help families understand the basics of transition planning, including its purpose, who is involved, and the process as a whole.
• You have homework.
  www.wrightslaw.com/heath/transition.work.htm
  Doing Your Homework: Making the Transition from School to Work, a Wrightslaw information page, covers information for parents about transition planning in the IEP process. It also provides a brief discussion of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and many links to other sources of information.
• Supporting the dynamic development of youth with disabilities during transition: A guide for families.
  www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=1432
  The title says it all.
• Parent briefs on transition.
  www.ncset.org/publications/default.asp#parent
  NCSET offers an entire transition series for parents. At the link above, you'll find such titles as: Age of Majority: Preparing Your Child for Making Good Choices; Preparing for Employment: On the Home Front; and several issues on Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• More information for parents from TATRA (A technical assistance project on the Rehabilitation Act).
  www.pacer.org/tatra/tatra.htm
  The TATRA project at the Pacer Center and other Parent Information and Training projects help families learn how they can help young people with disabilities prepare for independent adult life in the community.
• Want to be a full participant in developing your child's IEP?
  www.nichcy.org/pubs/parent/pa12txt.htm
  Take a look at NICHCY's Developing Your Child's IEP and learn how to effectively work with schools to meet the needs of your evolving child. While this document was written based on regulations for IDEA 1997 (and, thus, does not incorporate changes made by IDEA 2004), it will nonetheless be helpful in framing your participation as a parent. For the same information in Spanish, read Desarrollando el IEP de su Hijo, at: www.nichcy.org/pubs/spanish/pa12stxt.htm
• Want your near-adult to be an active player in planning his or her own life?
  www.nichcy.org/stuguid.asp
  NICHCY's Student Guide to the IEP set will tell you how. The set includes two audio programs (one for students themselves, one for parents and professionals), a student's guide to the IEP, and a guide for parents and school personnel called Helping Students Develop Their IEPs.
• What's self-determination, and why is it important?
  www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=962
  This brief outlines research on self-determination, suggesting that youth with disabilities who actively direct their own lives are more likely to successfully transition into adult life. In addition, the brief addresses development of self-determination skills and student-led Individualized Education Program meetings. Also included are descriptions and contact information for several self-determination curricula and helpful Web links.
• One family's journey into self-determination.
  http://thechp.syr.edu/Sheri.pdf
  Read Sheri's story and take the journey with her family. They learned so much about what self-determination means and the practical consequences of different ways of understanding the "self" in self-determination.
• Fanning the flame.
  www.nichcy.org/stuguid.asp
  What can parents do to fan the flame of individuality, interest, and talent in their child? How does that flame contribute to finding one's personal path in life? This set from NICHCY, called Relish is for More Than Hot Dogs, revolves around an audio program for young people about how to make your own sweet success. Accompanying workbooks are designed for the students themselves and for the many folks who support them in this question.

Looking at Specific Aspects of Transition

The components of transition planning mirror the areas of life an adult might potentially pursue: employment, more education or training, independent living, community experiences, and recreation. Each of these areas is full of choices and possibilities to consider. To help you do just that...here's a selection of resources that focus in on one or more aspects of transition. Not all will be relevant to you and your son or daughter, but those that are can help shape your quest. And don't forget to look at the resources listed in Transition 101. They may not be written expressly for parents, but they still offer very relevant connections on the various aspects of transition.