Transition to Adulthood

Did you know?

Parent Training and Information Centers are found in every state. In fact, they are mandated in IDEA - Part D - Section 671. Family to Family Health Information Centers are also found in every state through the Health Resources Services Administration. VSA affiliates are only found in some states under contracts with the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

IPUL is the only organization in the nation to house all three programs.

We are your trusted source for information, resources, and supports when navigating complex systems in raising a child with a disability or special health care need in Idaho.

You can make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities by supporting Idaho Parents Unlimited - Contribute today!

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Transition To Adulthood videos from Family Voices Indiana

Here are ten excellent videos from Family Voices Indiana about making the transition into adulthood. The topics are widespread, and the videos are all under seven minutes long and packed with good information.

The ABLE act

With ABLE account programs located through the United States, eligible Idahoans now have a way to save money for education, housing, transportation and more.

What ABLE account savings may be used for?

The Social Security Administration does not allow people with disabilities who qualify for SSI to have more than $2,000 in cash resources. In 2014, Congress passed the ABLE act (529A account) to give people with disabilities the ability to save for:

Housing: Make a deposit on a house or apartment.

Education: Pay for tuition, textbooks, etc.

Employment: Pay for employment supports, such as assistive technology.

Transportation: Purchase a vehicle or pay for transportation to get to work or school.

How do ABLE accounts work?

SSI/SSDI recipients have the ability to establish 529A savings accounts in excess of the $2,000 resource cap.
People with disabilities may save up to $14,000 annually (may not have more than $100,000 total.)
Any eligible individual may open an account in any state that maintains an ABLE account program.

In the 2017 legislature:

The State Independent Living Council will request funding for a position to provide information about ABLE accounts to people with disabilities and families in Idaho. The position will also provide financial literacy education to people with disabilities.
Legislation will also be introduced to protect people with disabilities from being ineligible for any state benefit program due to savings within their ABLE account.

For more information, contact:
Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities
208-334-2178; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Click here for a PDF infographic of this information

Moving on Idaho Transition Binder

A tool for students and families to plan and get organized as youth prepare to leave high school and move into the adult world. It is our hope that the binder will provide resources which will be useful as you prepare to leave high school and move into the adult world.

The Journey to Life After High School: A Road Map for Parents of Children with Special Needs

Whether you have a middle schooler (11-14), a high schooler (14-18), or even a young adult (18-26), this is a tool for you to use as you begin planning your child’s transition into adulthood. While it can’t cover every detail or every situation, it will give you an overview of what lies ahead and a list of resources for where to go next.

The report has four goals:

To inform families about the components of the transition to adulthood
To encourage families about the components of the transition to adulthood
To explain the choices and changes that makeup the transition process
To connect families with the many resources available for helping them transition

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law Release Three New Fact Sheets on Supported Employment

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health is pleased to announce the publication of three fact sheets following up on our report, Getting to Work: Promoting Employment of People with Mental Illness. Getting to Work discusses the reasons why states should expand supported employment services to increase employment opportunities for people with mental illness. These fact sheets highlight three key reasons to increase the availability of supported employment that are discussed in more detail in the report.

The first fact sheet, Supported Employment Works!, highlights the effectiveness of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment.

The second fact sheet, Supported Employment Saves Money, summarizes the cost and funding mechanisms for supported employment services.

The third fact sheet, Supported Employment and Olmstead, explains how expanding access to supported employment services helps states comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Olmstead decision.

View our additional employment resources here.

A Guide to Visual Disabilities

How Colleges Help Visually Impaired Students Succeed

Autism at-a-Glance

The two links below are new resources from the Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism (CSESA). The resources are the first two in an anticipated series from the center and are designed for students with conversational speech and for those supporting students with more significant communication needs:

Supporting Communication in the High School Setting

Supporting Functional Communication in the High School Setting

Building a Bridge From School to Adult Life for Young Adults with Disabilities in Idaho

A manual developed by Idaho Parents Unlimited to help develop post school goals and transition activities.

Download a pdf of Building a Bridge here

Download a Spanish Text only version here

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Transition Website

Kits are available for youth with special health care needs ages 12-15, 16-18, and 18 and up, along with Parent Companion Guides. These kits assist youth in ensuring their health needs are focused on as part of transitioning to adulthood.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's Transition Website can be accessed here: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Transition to Adulthood

Employment Information from the State Independent Living Council's Able to Work Program:

Growing Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities - Able to Work

Youth Transition Resource :

Got Transition? - a website with a great amount of information about transitioning from youth to adult care

The Youth's Corner

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's "Road to Transition - A Guided Tour for Accessing Adult Services" (pdf)

View IPUL's Planning a Healthy Transition to Adulthood webinar
(Updated in 2017)

View IPUL's Building A Legacy For Youth webinar

Transition into Managing Your own Healthcare!

This is for all you teens out there who are ready to be independent! Those of you who are looking forward to handling your own business! We have to become adults eventually, right? Why not start now by learning how to manage your own healthcare?

Even if you have a developmental disability, a chronic illness, or other disabilities, you can still take the steps toward independence. You just have to do it in a way that works for you and your needs. By reading this, you are already taking the first step!

The management of your healthcare care gradually shifts from your parents to you as your skills and responsibility increase even as your parents continue to have a supporting, consultative role. Your parents or caregiver can guide you through this process with ease by using some of the tools below provided by the University of WA Adolescent Health Transition Project, with funding from the WA State Dept of Health, Children with Special Health Care Needs Program :

Shared Management Overview diagram showing role of parent and how it intersects with the role of the youth

In regard to Shared Management and working towards independence, youth and parents should remember:

It is never too early and never too late to begin!
No youth is too limited to participate - but age and developmental level both need to be considered.
Shared management supports movement up the stairway to maximal independence, taking the next small step, but allows for temporary regression.
Shared management requires of parents: Parenting skills for typical challenges of growing up Special skills related to the youth's disorder and its management Aspirations for maintaining family life Dedication to support current and future overall health outcomes

How to Start Taking the Next Small Step towards Independence

Identify areas in which progress needs to be made. Look at recent IEPs, the Health skills transition checklist, Bright Futures steps, etc. Consider youth and family needs, concerns, goals.
Select a few specific goals to work toward, which are important to the youth and parents.
Break these goals into small steps considering current skills and limitations and the tasks to be learned. Teachers and therapists may be helpful in doing this.
Prepare a plan to learn/teach these skills with youth taking as much responsibility as possible. Parents may act as consultant, supervisor or manager. Review/re-evaluate periodically.

An image showing a doctor and people in surgical scrubs

We can always answer questions as you and your parent or caregiver goes through the steps to gaining independence. Good luck!

(Source) http://depts.washington.edu/

Additional Transition Resource:
Got Transition? - a website with a great amount of information about transitioning from youth to adult care
-6/1/17

Developing Financial Capability Among Youth: How Families Can Help

This is a great paper from the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability on how families can help to foster good financial habits and capability amongst youth.

5/24/17

Hello!

Are you or do you know a young person, age 13-26, with a disability interested in self advocacy and self-determination? We are currently seeking young people who are connected to an advocacy or youth group in their community, state or another national organization and/or who are willing to make a commitment to do so. If interested, please consider submitting an application to join the KASA Advisory Board.

KASA is a youth run disability rights organization that hopes to change the systems we as young people with disabilities live in. We do this by sharing materials and information aimed at educating others about the rights that people with disabilities have, and encouraging youth to become involved in their communities. KASA has materials covering a variety of topics including how to save for college, living on one’s own, voting, volunteer service, disability pride and more. These materials were written by KASA board members. KASA Board members represent diversity in race and ethnicity, skills, experience, and geographic location. Some KASA members have provided training on different aspects of disability all across the country. Please consider joining us!

The KASA Board

Click Here for Board Application (pdf)

Click Here for Board Information (pdf)

Click below to see videos created by and for youth with disabilities and special health care needs in transition to adulthood.

Self-Advocacy: Find the Captain in You! Produced by the PACER Center

Youth in Transition Discuss Hiring a Personal Assistant

Tools for Life - What do Idaho Youth with Disabilities Think About it? Burn Brighter Tools for Life Voice II Hailey, Idaho

Amanda's story of her traumatic brain injury.

Boise Students Star in Video - Student First Language!

Interview Part 1 (transition to adulthood)

Interview Part 2 (transition to adulthood)

Setting up a care plan for teens to better manage their transition

You can find more information about this topic at this link.

From the Idaho Department of Labor, the Idaho Employment First Consortium, and the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilites:

What is Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) & Youth Who Work:

4/28/17

8/10/2018