Federal law requires that a transition plan be in place by the time a child reaches age 16; Bruey and Urban believe starting at age 12 to 14 is even better because goals are more likely to be met. The following are key areas they advise parents to plan for:
Residential choices
Postsecondary education
Employment
Recreation and leisure activities
Additional considerations include:
Who should be on the transition team
Getting transition goals into the IEP
Evaluating and assessing your child's skills
Involving your child in the process
Sequence of changes (e.g., should he get a job before moving out of the house?)
When your child no longer qualifies for IDEA assistance
The Transition Portfolio Planning Tool, a detailed template, is designed to help put plans into action and keep everyone moving forward. Use this form to track what needs to be done to reach transition goals in a variety of areas, including employment, education, and communication, social, and daily living skills.
The Autism Transition Guide is a must-have resource for families and professionals, providing ideas and strategies that can be applied to a broad range of individuals on the autism spectrum--from the college-bound student to the student who requires 24-hour supervision to succeed. No matter what the particular destination may be for your child or student, this guide can help make sure he or she reaches it.
