Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Parenting Pointers: Life After High School for Children with Special Needs

Millions of American families of children with special needs, ages 5 to 17, will be going back to school this fall. For many of those families, their children will be taking one step closer to the critical transitional period from high school to adulthood. To assist those individuals and families with this stage in life, and to reduce the stress and impact on the household, AbilityPath.org created a comprehensive new report and guide “The Journey to Life After High School: A Road Map for Parents of Children with Special Needs.”  This report examines the laws that impact youth with special needs, the importance of the individualized education plan, and the different paths a young adult with special needs can take after graduating from high school. “The Journey to Life after High School” not only provides the steps that need to be taken prior to graduation but also the preparation required for the new adult’s legal and medical rights. All of this culminates in a national state-by-state directory of supporting agencies.

If you have a child with special needs of any age, but particularly older children who will be leaving high school soon, this report can provide a treasure trove of information for you.

I had a chance to interview Alexis Wineman, Miss Montana 2012, who was the first Miss American contestant with autism.
 
When should parents of children with special needs begin to think about the post-high school transition?
 
The sooner you can think about or prepare for this transition the better. The changes in the system once a person turns 18 can really impact how your lives run and what can be accomplished. For example, I my mom can no longer make calls to agencies on my behalf. Now that I am over 18, I have to be the one to call and be a self-advocate. So there needs to be a lot more coordination between my mom and I. If you can begin to think about what life will look like after high school during the middle school years you should be in good shape when the time comes.
 
Who are some of the people who can be involved in planning for after graduation?
 
There are many who can be involved in planning for life after graduation. It can be school counselors, family lawyers, even transition specialists. For us, thinking about this transition as a family was really important. It’s essential to remember to include family members in this thought process and transition because it really does impact everyone. I was lucky enough to be able to go to school with my sister; this made our transition as a whole family unit easier.
 
How can Ability Path help families?
 
This report is extremely helpful! I wish we had had something similar when we were dealing with these choices. Just the fact that there are checklists and a resource directory make it a huge asset to any family. Knowing the steps, what your options are, and where to begin make all the difference. Outside of the report, AbilityPath.org itself is also a wonderful online resource hub for finding vetted and trusted information and connecting to experts and other families that can be a support system that understands what you are going through. 

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