Written by Daniela Fazzio, PhD, BCBA-D,
St. Amant and University of Manitoba
Parents and caregivers of children with autism often worry about the services that will be available to their children as they reach adolescence and adulthood. The common reaction for many parents is to feel lost in the “service gap.” While there are a number of provisions for funding and accommodations up to the high school level, once an individual reaches adulthood, services are more difficult to learn about and access, and can vary across the states. Funding and services that are available through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are no longer available once a student graduates with a high school diploma or turns 21 years old. This article serves to summarize resources and tools that are available to parents planning for their child’s transition to adolescence and adulthood.
Autism Speaks offers a series of documents within the Transition Tool Kit, an online guide for families preparing for transition from IDEA services to adult services. Transition from services is a formal process, outlined in IDEA, and includes a coordinated set of activities to be started no later than when the student turns 16 years- old. The transition plan [...]