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W hat is transition planning?
Transition planning is determining the path a student will choose from high school to adult life. Determining a lifestyle for the student requires him/her to make many decisions about:
Beginning at age 14 or during 8th grade, an Individual Transition Plan (ITP) will be developed at the Annual Case Review (ACR). An ITP is a plan that maps out the way students can reach their goals for life after high school. It will help them determine what supports or training they will need to live and work. The “team” that develops the ITP can include:
Student Responsibilities:
Parent Responsibilities:
School Responsibilities:
W hat are adult services?
Adult services are provided by many different agencies in our community. Often people do not pay directly for these services because they are funded by various government programs, such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Medicaid waivers… etc. Adult service providers can help you understand what types of services they provide, explain what makes a person eligible for their services and who pays for the services, give students ideas to help them reach their goals, assist students in finding the support the need, and help students understand what to expect after high school.
There are eligibility requirements for all adult services and waiting lists (usually long) for many of these services.
What opportunities are available in high school?
What classes should a student take in high school?
At the Annual Case Review before they begin high school, the case conference members will develop the ITP. Students will decide whether working towards earning a diploma or a certificate is best for them.
What about college?
If your child is thinking about college, he/she should discuss his/her plans with his/her school counselor and Teacher of Record. Certain classes may be required for entrance into the college of his/her choice. Students will also need to take the SAT and/or ACT exams. Students usually register for these college entrance examinations during junior and senior years of high school. Many colleges and universities will require you to submit results from one of these tests along with your college application. Make plans to attend college fairs to collect information about colleges and universities. College visits are an extremely important part of the selection process. Timing is everything! Be aware of timelines and meet all deadlines for college and financial aid applications.
Are you interested in other educational options after high school?
There are many opportunities for continued training and education after high school. Check with your school counselor for information about trade schools, technical programs, apprenticeship programs and other options. A visit to Ivy Tech could be a good place to start your search for the right educational facility.
Getting a job?
There are a few things to keep in mind as a student begins to look for a job:
Consider a volunteer job to gain experience and references
If your child does not have a driver’s license, he/she can get photo identification card at your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch. Bring his/her birth certificate, Social Security card, and school ID or another picture that identifies him/her (such as your school yearbook). If the parent goes with the student and shows a valid license, he/she will only need his/her birth certificate and Social Security Card.
How to get around?
If your child has a driver’s license and a car, getting around is easy. If they don’t, how will they get to work or the other places they need or want to go? Sometimes it is tough to find the right transportation at the time they need it. A student’s ITP should include transportation considerations. Will he/she want to take a driver’s education class? Will he/she need help with learning to ride the CATs bus? How do you get a taxi when you need a ride? Planning ahead is important!
Talk to your teacher, VRS counselor, or adult service provider for more information. Here are some places to call for help:
Where to live?
Your child may dream of living on his/her own someday, living with a roommate or two, or continuing to live with his/her family. In any case, he/she may need some type of assistance with his/her personal care or daily living needs. There are several ways to obtain these services but all of the avenues involve application processes and long waiting lists. It is important to make contacts and submit applications as early as possible. There is no need to wait until the end of high school.
One agency to contact to obtain information and apply for living services is the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities (BDDS), phone (765) 288-6516 or 1-877-218-3531.
Various plans for community living may be developed to meet your student’s individual needs and desires. The plan may require more than one funding program. Some options that might be considered are:
Group Homes
Group homes are homes where four to eight people live together and have staff present to help them, often 24 hours per day. Group homes are usually funded by Medicaid. The funding is provided to the residential service agency that owns or rents the house. If a resident moves out of the house, the funding stays with the agency to provide service for another individual in that house. There is little to no growth in group home services because funding is being directed toward more personalized supported living arrangements. Therefore, waiting lists are possible. A person usually must wait for someone to leave a group home in order to be offered their place. There is no age requirement to apply for services. To apply for a group home placement, you must contact the BDDS office in Muncie , phone — (765) 288-6516.
Medicaid Waivers
There are four Medicaid waivers which make Medicaid funds available for in-home and community services. Each waiver has its own eligibility criteria and application procedure. A Medicaid waiver provides funding to a person (rather than an agency) for the purpose of purchasing services needed for personal support. This funding does not pay for rent, food, utilities … etc. It pays for the support services required by a person. The person can live in their family home or move out of their family home into their own apartment or home. One advantage of the waivers is the opportunity for individuals to choose their providers, as long as the provider is approved by the state. You may change providers if you wish. The funding follows you wherever you live within the state of Indiana , as long as it is not in an institution, hospital, or group home. There is no age requirement to apply for services, but there are long waiting lists.
To apply for a Medicaid waiver, contact Bureau of Developmental Disabilities in Muncie , phone (765) 288-6516 or 1-877-218-33531.
What about selective service registration?
Federal law requires all males, regardless of disability, to sign up with the Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Students can sign up at any post office. If he does not declare himself as a “conscientious objector ” or does not sign up with the Selective Service, a student may be arrested and lose his disability benefits.
Does your child need a guardian?
A guardian is someone who makes important decisions for you about such things as money, health, or where to live. When a student turns 18, the state of Indiana says a student is his/her own guardian. This means he/she has reached the “age of majority”; he/she is an “emancipated adult.”
If a student is not able to be his/her own guardian, he/she or a family member can ask a judge to appoint someone to be his/her guardian. The guardian may be parents, a relative, or someone else approved by court. You will need an attorney to help you do this.
If the student does not want o r need a guardian to manage all of his/her business, it is possible to have a limited guardianship. This will allow him/her to have the freedom of decision-making in some areas of his/her life, while limiting the guardian to those areas where help is required, such as medical and health issues.
If a student lives in a group home or a supported living situation, the people who support him/her may assist in making some decisions, but it is still a good idea to carefully consider the guardianship issue for the student’s safety and well-being.
Talk this over with your child. There are also other alternatives to guardianship that are less expensive and do not involve attorneys. For more information and assistance, contact ARC-Indiana at (800)382-9100 or Bridges of Madison County (765)643-6609.
Who to contact first?
Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) is a federally funded state agency that helps adults with disabilities get the services they need to get and keep jobs. The first step is to contact your child’s Teacher of Record and ask for information on how to apply for VRS. If your child qualifies, he/she will be assigned a VRS counselor who will provide him/her with the services he/she wants and needs to support his/her goals. VRS may be able to help with education expenses or other services that you may need to work.
Can Social Security help me?
Possibly... There are two kinds of Social Security benefits:
You may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if you answer “yes” when the Social Security Administration asks you each of the following questions:
You may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) i lf your answer is “yes” to one question when the Social Security Administration asks the following questions:
For more information about how to apply for these benefits, contact the U.S. Social Security Administration.
How can I help myself?
Advocacy is about helping you receive the services that you need. If you feel that you are not being treated fairly or are unsure about how to work through the red tape of service systems, there are agencies, which are prepared to help you. They can:
For more information and assistance, see our Contacts List in this web site.