16 TO 21 OVERVIEW

As challenging as it's been to navigate the educational system throughout the past several years, you've probably gotten used to the fact that your child has activities, supervision and services during the day.  As hard as it is to accept or acknowledge, this will not be the case when your child enters adulthood.

With the exception of some basic services, which your child may be entitled to receive based on his or her income after age 18, your child faces long waiting lists for adult services.  Do not delay in learning everything you can about the road ahead.

The main opportunities during these transition years point to employment; independent living skills; and advocacy.

EDUCATION AND TRANSITION PLANNING

Regardless of disability, there are opportunities and expectations for your child to work and participate fully in your community.  Your own advocacy, as well as your child's self-advocacy, will be essential to maximizing and developing these and other resources.

Like any successful journey, planning is everything.  Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, your child is entitled to receive special education services until age 21.  The advantages of taking this path of staying in school include additional training to be job ready and three additional years of education and support.  If your son or daughter leaves school at age 18, he or she is not eligible for any potential long term job support until age 21.

Transition planning should begin as early as possible, but at least by age 16.  At this time, parents should be asking to have employment goals integrated into your child’s individual educational program.  This would be a good time to become actively involved with your student's IEP transition plan.  You may want to contact your county DD office about resources available to connect you to your community now and in the future.  Look in the blue pages of your phone book under County Government.

Think of this time as a train to catch rather than a stop along the road.  There's a lot of territory to cover, so be ready to roll.  Don't stand on the tracks waiting for the next ride.  When special education services end, many parents feel as though they've been run over by a train they didn’t see coming. 

It's a sobering reality, for sure, but there are definite steps to take, resources available, and opportunities for you and your child to hone your advocacy skills.

As your child's transition plan is developed, be sure that he or she is an integral part of the process.  Learning how to speak up, plan and take risks will help your child become more independent and successful after high school.  

Identifying career interests and skills is the focus of your child's transition years, as well as learning independent living skills, such as shopping, cooking, budgeting and using the bus system.  Make the most of staff and educators during this time.

Additional services will be available to your child when he or she turns 18, but they are not easy to track down.  You should be contacted prior to your child’s 18^th birthday to review his or her eligibility.  The good news is that, as an adult, eligibility will be based on their income, not yours.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Before your child becomes an adult at age 18, contact the Social Security Administration about disability benefits.  Eligibility for financial assistance with supplemental security income, known as S.S.I., is the gateway to additional services, such as Medicaid.

Contact the Social Security Administration for more information and to apply for social security disability benefits once your son or daughter becomes an adult.  Call toll-free 1-800-772-1213 or visit online at http://www.ssa.gov/.  After applying, be sure to call the Social Security Administration monthly to follow up.  They will not call you if there are problems with the application.

Anyone eligible for S.S.I. is also entitled to receive Medicaid services. Medicaid provides health coverage, vision and some dental care.  It also entitles eligible individuals to in-home care known as Medicaid Personal Care.  It provides assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, meal preparation and housework.

WASHINGTON STATE DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

If your son or daughter is already receiving services through the Division of Developmental Disabilities, he or she may already be receiving Medicaid Personal Care, known as M.P.C.  If not, ask your case manager for a DDD assessment.  M.P.C. can be provided in your own home by individual or agency providers who are contracted with the state.  As a parent, you can also become an M.P.C. provider for your adult child.  Contact your child's case manager for more information about M.P.C.

If your child is not an eligible client of D.D.D., look in the state government blue pages of your phone book for a D.D.D. regional office near you, and ask to speak to someone about intake and eligibility.  If your child is not eligible for D.D.D., look in the state government blue pages for your local community services office to find out about eligibility for Medicaid and other Department of Social and Health Services.

Respite, therapies, home modifications and other services may be available to you through D.D.D.'s Family Support Program.  These services are provided to individuals who are living with their families, but there is a waiting list.

The division provides services for community-based supported living, companion home, group home and state operated living alternatives (or SOLAS).  They are offered through four different home and community-based waivers, but enrollment is limited.

There are thousands of people waiting for family support and waiver services such as employment and day programs.  A waiver is an agreemtn to receive services in your own community rather than a state institution.  Ask to have your child added to the “waiver enrollment database” and/or “family support waiting list“ as soon as possible.

Other out-of-home services include adult family homes and state-run residential habilitation centers.  Adult family homes provide personal care and supervision in a licensed setting, but no habilitation or support to access the community.  Residential habilitation centers are state-operated institutions founded before community alternatives were developed.

GUARDIANSHIP

When your son or daughter reaches 18, you will need to consider what decision-making supports are needed.  If your young adult needs more support in making independent choices, sometimes guardianship is an option.  There are different kinds of guardianship, and some can be too restrictive.  Be sure to weigh the options and consider the implications. 

You can contact Washington Protection and Advocacy System, or WPAS for more information on supported decision making, guardianship, and protection your young adult's rights in a guardianship  You can reach WPAS (wa-pus) by calling 1-800-562-6702 or visit http://www.wpas-rights.org.  Your local Parent to Parent or Arc chapter may also be able to point you in the right direction for guardianship needs.

SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS

Because life is so uncertain, and the needs of your child may not all be met, you may also want to think about creating a special needs trust.  The Life Opportunities Trust, administered by the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, is a public/private partnership that creates a stable resource to enhance the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities.  Outreach, enrollment and disbursements are coordinated by the Arc of Washington State.  Oversight and management is provided by the Developmental Disabilities Council.  For more information, call toll-free 1-888-754-8798 or visit http://www.ddlot.org/.

EDUCATION RESOURCES

Support from other parents and professionals is available to you during these educational years.  Organizations such as Parent to Parent, Parents are Vital in Education (known as PAVE), and the Family Educator Partnership Project offer valuable information and assistance.

Parent to Parent provides support and information to families of children with special needs and/or disabilities.  Local offices are located in every area of the state and can be found in your phone book or by visiting the Arc of Washington State’s website at http://www.arcwa.org/.

Parents are Vital in Education, known as PAVE, is a parent directed organization that works with families, individuals with disabilities, professionals and community members in all walks of life and with all types of disabilities.  For more information call toll-free 1-800-5-parent.

ADVOCACY

Because the waiting lists for services are so long, it’s important to get involved with advocacy efforts to meet the needs of the unserved.  Parent coalitions help improve the service system by advocating with a unified voice. Contact the Arc of Washington State to find out if there’s a parent coalition near you.  Call toll-free 1-888-754-8798 or visit http://www.arcwa.org/.

Until now, you have been the only person speaking for your child.  Now that he or she is either reaching or has already entered adulthood, it's especially important for his or her voice to be heard.

SELF-ADVOCACY

People First of Washington and Self Advocates of Washington promote self-advocacy in all areas of a person's life.  In many parts of the state, they are creating self-advocacy chapters in high schools.  For more information, call People First toll-free at 1-800-758-1123.  In Pierce and Kitsap counties, contact Self Advocates of Washington at 1-253-597-3709.

Self Advocates in Leadership, known as SAIL, also offers many opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to shape the services and policies that affect their lives.  For more information about SAIL, contact the Arc of Washington State at 1-888-754-8798 or visit http://www.sailcoalition.org/.

OTHER SERVICES AND RESOURCES

Other local resources to look for include local Arc chapters or activities and services available through the local parks and recreation department.

Local Arc chapters are active throughout the state.  They provide information and referral, as well as advocacy.  To find out if there’s an Arc near you, look in your local phone book or visit the Arc of Washington State website at http://www.arcwa.org/ for a listing of local Arcs.

Local parks and recreation departments administered by the county or city you live in offer many activities, such as Special Olympics or other community opportunities from bus tours to ballgames and classes.  Look in the blue pages of your phone book for more details or call your local city or county information line.  A local community college is another great resource to explore for personal enrichment and education.

Try not to worry too much and have some fun.  A lot of parents worry about high school, but the kids usually love it.  Encourage your son or daughter to begin advocating for him or herself and work toward realizing personal goals.  Trust and know that their dreams can come true.

RESOURCE LINKS

Another great source for information can be found on the Developmental Disabilities Council’s website at http://www.ddc.wa.gov/.

You can find links to all of these organizational resources and more on the Informing Families, Building Trust website at http://www.informingfamilies.org/.