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Health & Fitness

Parenting Children with Special Needs: Transitioning into Adulthood Part 2

When children with special needs reach middle school, it is a good idea to begin planning for the transition to adulthood. Don't let your child languish in a desert of low expectations.

When our children are young, their adulthood seems as far away as the moon. 
However, once they reach the middle school years, it is crucial to start planning for what happens after high school. This is the time to start planning on skill and academic development for employment or post-secondary education with your school district. Don’t wait until your child is about to graduate or a junior in high school.  Your distict will begin the process with you when your child turns fourteen.  However, it is a good idea to start doing research now.  At the very least ask yourself:  where do I want my child to be at age 21?  Where does he or she want to be?  Do they want college?  Do they want a job?  What skills do they need to learn now to get to that goal?

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ACDS Adult Residential Services:  http://acds.org/node/37

Autism Speaks (excellent) Timeline:
http://www.autismspeaks.org/docs/family_services_docs/transition/New_York.pdf

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National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education  http://www.napcse.org/transitionservices/

National Center for Learning Disabilities  http://www.ncld.org/parents-child-disabilities/teens

National Center on Secondary Education and Transition:   http://ncset.org/

National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center http://www.nsttac.org/transition-map/new-york

New York State Education Department:
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/transition/

NYSED requirements for school districts: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/transition/randg.htm

Office of Disability Employment Policy  http://www.dol.gov/odep/categories/youth/

Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Rights and Responsibilties http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html

The Down Syndrome Transition Handbook: Charting Your Child’s Course to Adulthood http://woodbinehouse.com/main.asp_Q_PRODUCT_ID_E_978-1-890627-87-4

Transition Planning Guide for Families of Youth with Emotional Disabilities Nassau County http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/MentalHealth/Docs/PDF/TransitionPlanningGuideforFamiliesofYouthwithEmotionalDisabilities.pdf

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