As a parent or family member of a child with disabilities, you play an extremely important role in preparing your children for adult life. You are the constant in their lives and you know them better than anyone else. Transition means change and change is sometimes difficult, but advanced planning can help. Transition also involves a partnership between parents and the school system.

REMEMBER: When your child turns 22, entitlement to special education services ends. Nothing automatically guarantees that services of any kind will be there after your child turns 22. Your preparation for this Transition can make the difference between a successful outcome or one that is not successful.

The Arc in Massachusetts (collaboration of all chapters of The Arc) is sponsoring a series of workshops that focus on life's changes for people with disabilities and their families.

Each workshop provides essential information to help prepare for a negotiate life's critical changes:

• "Financial Planning, Trusts & Legal Alternatives" provides participants with information on government benefits and how to effectively use family assets;

• "School Dayz" provides important information about the high school transition process which guides a student's emergence from high school to adulthood;

• "Sooner Than Later" explores thorny issues related to community services, entitlements and service plans;

• "Tools for Tomorrow" is designed to help families and individuals envision the kind of lives they desire and help them to gather information about the type of services and supports they need and want (click here to learn more); and

• "Who's in Charge" gives practical advice regarding self-directed community supports and services.  

 Transition Fact Sheet *

 Planning for a Good Life fact sheet *

____________________

* Note: Viewing these resources requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download this free software.