We all go through transitions in our life, from infancy to childhood, from preschool to primary school to high school, and from teens to adults. Planning ahead and preparing for the changes to come will help ease these transitions.

Planning for the transition from pediatric doctors to adult doctors, moving from school to work, and reaching your goals and dreams can be exciting and challenging. It is never too early to begin thinking about and preparing for your child's future. The materials listed below can help guide you and your child or youth as you experience life's transitions.

You will need the free Adobe Reader to view many of the documents available on this page - go to the Adobe website to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.

Setting Sail: Transition Advice From Those Who Know

This 5 minute video provides helpful transition tips from several youth, young adults and families. Personal insights are shared from those who have already transitioned or are just now going through transition to help others to make transitions to all aspects of adult life, including adult health care, work, and independence. We gratefully acknowledge the young adults and their families who shared their insights and lessons learned.

By accessing this video link you are leaving DSCC's website. The link will take you to YouTube which is independent from DSCC's website. We do not control YouTube's site and do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of content contained therein.

Transition Milestones and Supporting Skills Tips & Tools

The Milestones Skills Lists For Parents, Caregivers and Others working with Children and Teens include questions to help look at the skills the child or teen already has and what skills need to be worked on. Each list has a place for planning next steps. The supporting Skills Tips & Tools provide resources and information along with tips on what to do to gain new skills.

The Milestones Skills Lists Just for Teens, include questions to help the teen look at the skills she/he already has and what skills she/he needs to work on. Each list has a place for planning next steps. The supporting Skills Tips & Tools provide resources and information along with tips on what to do to gain new skills.

(Note: these web pages will open in a new browser window. Close the browser window to return to this web page.)

Transition Timeline

The Transition Timeline can be used to help children and youth with special health care needs, and their families, achieve independence in arranging and managing their own health care.

This transition resource has been provided and modified with permission by the Office of Children with Special Health Care Needs, Washington State Department of Health, and the Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of Washington, 1995.

-back to top-

Health Care Information

The Transition Information Sheet for Families explains what health care transition is and why it is important. This fact sheet also looks at the key issues to address as your child grows and matures and takes on more responsibility for their own health and well-being.

The Healthy & Ready to Work national center has develped a tip sheet Public & Private Insurance Plans to discuss the options available for youth with special health care needs as they move into adulthood. The tip sheet offers information on the benefits of both public health insurance and private health insurance.

Talking with your Doctor

This 18 minute video teaches teens how to communicate effectively with health care providers so that they understand teens’ concerns, answer teens’ questions and give the information and supports teens need to be more in charge of their own health. Teens will also learn how prepare and give health care providers the information they need to give teens the best possible medical care.

Bridging the Gap Between Pediatric and Adult Services is a guide created for youth and their families who are beginning the process of transitioning from pediatric to adult health care providers. This resource is a component of the Coordinated Care Record and includes topics on guardianship, adult medical services, Medicaid, SSI and adult work services.

-back to top-

Higher Education Information

Community College Initiative: Quest for Success

The Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) wants to help people with disabilities in their quest for success. DRS will make contributions for coursework leading to an associate's degree or to a technical certificate. Non-credit courses and adult education courses are not covered.

As part of the the Illinois Community College Initiative, DRS will contribute up to $2,500 per year toward the cost of tuition and fees at an Illinois community college for qualified individuals with disabilities. Financial assistance received from other sources will reduce the amount that DRS will contribute.

Higher Education Information for Youth
This document provides an extensive listing of web sites and web resources to assist youth and their families in preparing for transition to college.

The Healthy & Ready to Work National Center has developed a tip sheet Staying Healthy For Youth & Teachers that promotes health and wellness as critical factors to success in learning. The proactive approach to wellness includes attendance, appointments, personal needs, medications and more.

A Parent Brief from the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition, Age of Majority: Preparing Your Child for Making Good Choices, provides suggestions for parents for teaching children how to make decisions. Educational decision-making rights are transferred to the student at the age of majority (in Illinois, the age of majority is 18).

-back to top-

Employment Information

Great Expectations: Preparing Your Child with Developmental Disabilities for Employment Success -
The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities reaches out to families of children with developmental disabilities throughout the nation to discuss the challenges faced, the importance of having high expectations and benefits of working.

Family Manual: Transition to Employment and Adult Services for Youth with Developmental Disabilities in Illinois

This manual provides information on special education and transition planning; adult services/supports; and options and trends of services/supports for people with developmental disabilities. Developed by the Arc of Illinos Family to Family Health Information and Education Center and Family Voices in Illinois.

The Healthy & Ready to Work national center has developed a tip sheet Work & You: Your Special Health Care Needs in the Workplace that focuses on health care and work logistics. Topics include health routines, use of benefit time, insurance, schedules, work environments and emergency planning. The tip sheet also provides links to web resources on health issues & work.

A Parent Brief from the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition, Preparing for Employment: On the Home Front, provides many practical strategies on ways to assist youth with skill development and preparation for employment.

The Disabilities Resources Pathway on Illinois workNet includes information on the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program services,  how to contact the local Community Work Incentive Coordinators (interactive county map), information on federal and state work incentive programs, disability rights and advocacy, and youth in transition.

The Plan for Achieving Self Support, or PASS, for people with disabilities is a written plan of action for getting a particular kind of job or starting a business offered by the Social Security Administration. The PASS allows you to set aside income or resources to put towards a work goal, such as money for education, vocational training, or start-up funds for a business. You could also use a PASS to pay for other work related items, such as a personal attendant, a job coach, an electric wheelchair, a computer or other assistive technologies, occupational therapy, transportation expenses, or even a custom van. The PASS allows you to earn more money to apply towards a work goal, without reducing your SSI benefits.

-back to top-

Transportation

Transportation enables individuals with disabilities to access health care, work, school, and community activities. Getting from here to there opens the door of possibility. Driving in Illinois is a resource to explore if you are interested in learning to drive and learning what is required in Illinois.

-back to top-

Future Planning

Building Bridges to the Future Manual
This innovative and exciting program is for students with Developmental Disabilities and families who live in the greater Chicagoland area. The program supports and coaches families of special needs students in the transition process from the school system to adult services. The program assists with entry into the adult Developmental Disabilities programs, obtaining financial and medical benefits and provides assistance with linkages to legal resources. Six non-profit agencies have combined their expertise in serving adults with develomental disabilities to form a unique partnership: Seguin Services, Park Lawn Association, Clearbrook, Helping Hand Center, Elim Christian Services and PACTT Learning Center. This manual is an excellent resource on PUNS, PAS Agencies, Day Services, Rehabilitation Services, Residential Services, Transportation and Legal services.

Plan for the Future Brochure
This brochure talks about what health care transition is and lists activities to help youth and families plan as the youth moves into adulthood. It also outlines how DSCC care coordination can help. Begin using these tips at age 12, 14, and at any time a youth and his or her family are ready to work on transition from pediatric health care providers to adult health care systems.

Family Handbook on Future Planning

This handbook is a guide to help families develop a future plan for their son or daughter with cognitive, intellectual or developmental disabilities and provide personal, financial and legal protections for their family member after the parents either die or can no longer provide care or support. It is designed to help families review and inventory the needs and strengths of their family member, determine what should be in a plan and then locate qualified professionals and resources to finalize the plan.

The handbook was published by the Arc of the United States and the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities within the Department of Disability Human Development, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago.

Want more information?
Visit our Links page for additional Transition Resources.

-back to top-

comments to webmaster