Age 14 — 8th Grade

Education

• Parents and students attend and participate in every IEP meeting. Student should be learning how to lead their IEP meeting.
• Student should participate in program of study, self-advocacy, goal setting and planning coordinated student support activities.
• Parents, students and teachers should continue to discuss goals and how students should work toward achieving them.
• Parents facilitate communication with teachers to let them know how they can support your child's success.
• Include student in discussion regarding their accommodation needs and their current levels of performance. Student may start requesting his or her own accommodations.
• Find out about graduation requirements (specific courses needed, Career Pathways, etc.).
• Begin to have discussions around diploma or alternate achievement standards track for high school graduation.
• Student should attend Transition Conference and LIFE Conferences.
• Expand career exploration.
• Participate in age-appropriate transition assessments in the areas of employment, education/training, and independent living (vocational assessments, interest inventories, interviews).
• Develop post school goals in the areas of employment, education/training, and independent living.
• Develop your anticipated course of study (choose classes through graduation) to assist you in reaching your goals.
• Student should learn and read biographies of famous people with disabilities and how they set goals to reach their dreams.
• Begin working on your Student Success Plan.
• Choose a career pathway, if appropriate.
• Get agency representatives that are likely to pay for adult transition services to attend IEP meetings (DVR,DDDS,...).

Age 15 — 9th Grade

Education

• Continue with items mentioned for age 14.
• Student practices leadership skills.
• Continue to attend every IEP meeting. Be an active participant.
• Participate in age-appropriate transition assessments in the areas of employment, education/training, and independent living (vocational assessments, interest inventories, interviews).
• Review and revise (if needed) post school goals in the areas of employment, education/training, and independent living.
• Review and revise (if needed) your course of study to ensure it will assist you in reaching your post school goals.
• Explore/begin career and technical education programs (Career Pathway for graduation).
• Continue to maintain medical and updated school psychological testing records.
• Continue working on your Student Success Plan.
• Get agency representatives that are likely to pay for adult transition services to attend IEP meetings (DVR,DDDS,...).

Parent/Caregiver and Child Interaction

• Parents start teaching your child shopping skills.
• Incorporate problem-solving activities so they can learn decision-making and responsibility. This also gives them opportunities to learn from mistakes.
• Parents attend transition fairs or conferences with your child and other educational opportunities that offer information about future planning needs such as housing, guardianship, employment, and recreational activities.
• Student should be given chores at home to develop their life skills. Parents should guide them in housekeeping and lawn care if possible.
• Student should get an official picture ID.
• Help your child develop self-determination and self-advocacy skills.
• Discuss your teen's hopes and dreams for adult life.
• Teach money management and banking skills.
• Emphasize positive life style choices.
• Help teen identify their strengths and personality traits to build self-esteem.
• Parents promote appropriate behavior in social settings and at home.
• Help your child become a self-advocate.
• Investigate Drivers Education options and necessary accommodations.
• Teach positive grooming skills and how to be physically fit.
• Teach your teen to get around your community using public transportation.
• Get the Healthy Transitions Mobile App from the University of Delaware's Center for Disabilities Studies.  Download on iTunes or Google Play.
• Watch videos created by Nemours: Legal and Financial, After High School, Where to Live and Medical.
• Encourage hobbies and leisure activities that help them be a part of the community.

Eligibility Funding

• Medicaid — Youth should carry and use insurance card.
• SSI — Supplemental Security Income - Plan ahead if SSI is an option.  Check for eligibility the month before the person turns 18.
• CHIP — Children's Health Insurance Program State Insurance for Children for families with children under the age of 19 that don't qualify for Medicaid.
• Begin exploring adult options for healthcare coverage if current coverage will end and teach teen how it will work (Deductibles/co-pays/referrals).

Employment

• Discuss the value of work and begin working on employability skills.
• Students should take pre-vocational and career exploration classes to determine their likes and dislikes when looking towards the future.
• Volunteering in the community will give students experience they can put on their resume and references to use when they seek employment.
• Student may want to get a part-time job. Work with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), guidance counselors and transition coordinators to discuss job opportunities for after school or summer.
• Begin to participate in job shadowing experiences to see people working in different settings.

Health

• Teach young adults about proper nutrition and exercise.
• Help them establish a relationship with their primary care physician and start thinking about the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare.
• Parents, have a candid discussion with your child about sexuality and relationships and any affect their medical condition may or may not have.
• Assess your teen's basic knowledge of their special needs.  Help them understand their needs now and as they continue to age.