- Meadowood Program
- Timeline & Checklist
Transition to Adulthood
Page Navigation
-
Meadowood’s Transition to Adulthood
Timeline and Checklist
Middle School (HB Middle School):
Students and parents will begin preparing for the transition to adulthood starting in 6th grade. Each year, students participate in age-appropriate transition assessments in the areas of employment, education/training, and independent living (vocational assessments, interest inventories, interviews) with their teacher and create post-school goals in the areas of employment, education/training, and independent living. Students begin taking prevocational, career exploration classes and start planning their anticipated courses of study to assist in reaching their goals. As students' interests change, they have the opportunity to change their goals at their yearly IEP meetings.
To help ensure a successful middle school career, the following activities are recommended for students and their families to complete during the middle school years:
- Parents are encouraged to attend Back-to-School Open House to meet their student’s new teacher each year! Communication between parents and school staff is key! Please ensure the school knows the best way to contact you.
- Attend yearly IEP meeting(s) and be an active participant.
- Apply for DDDS (Division of Developmental Disability Services). Once found eligible for services, it can take 4-6 weeks to be assigned to a Community Navigator through the Columbus Organization. Once assigned, families should meet for an intake meeting. Students and parents should check-in with their assigned Community Navigator at least once a month to discuss any support or services that might be needed from outside agencies and what funding sources can benefit your student (respite, recreational activities, home health care, etc.). Special Education Coordinators will invite Community Navigators to attend the student’s yearly IEP meeting.
- Begin researching/discussing any possible supports or services that may be needed from outside agencies and what funding sources can benefit your student (SSI, Medicaid, DDDS, Para Transit, etc.).
- Parents are encouraged to attend Transition and Provider Fairs and other educational opportunities with your student that offer information about future planning needs (day programs, residential, guardianship, employment, recreational activities, etc.).
- Spring of 8th Grade Year – Parents and students should tour McKean HS.
High School (Thomas McKean HS) is an important time for students to continue their transition to adulthood – it goes by faster than you think! In high school, students continue to take prevocational, career exploration classes and participate in age-appropriate transition assessments in order to review and revise post-school goals in the areas of employment, education/training, and independent living. Students begin investigating post-secondary education and employment options based on their post-school goals. Students in the Meadowood Program have many options following high-school: they can attend the Meadowood Transition Program (MTP) until they are 22 years old, they can choose a job skills program (like Project Search), or they can do a combination of the two. Students can also exit the Meadowood Program following high school. No matter what the student decides, it is important for the student, parents, school staff, and community agencies to work together to prepare students to live as independently as possible in an ever-changing society. To help ensure a successful high school career and post high-school plans, the following activities are recommended for students and their families to complete during their high school years:
- Parents are encouraged to attend Back-to-School Open House to meet their student’s new teacher each year! Communication between parents and school staff is key! Please ensure the school knows the best way to contact you.
- Attend yearly IEP meeting(s) and be an active participant. Team will start discussions about what to expect when you student turns 18 yo (age of majority and transfer of rights to student). Special Education Coordinators will invite Community Navigators and any other community agencies to attend the student’s yearly IEP meeting.
- Parents are encouraged to attend Transition and Provider Fairs and other educational opportunities with your student that offer information about future planning needs (day programs, residential, guardianship, employment, recreational activities, etc.).
- Apply for DDDS (Division of Developmental Disability Services) if you have not already. Once found eligible for services, it can take 4-6 weeks to be assigned to a Community Navigator through the Columbus Organization. Once assigned, families should meet for an intake meeting. Students and parents should check-in with their assigned Community Navigator at least once a month to discuss any support or services that might be needed from outside agencies and what funding sources can benefit your student (respite, recreational activities, home health care, etc.).
- 10th Grade:
- Complete Para Transit Application and interview. Students begin Para Transit training in high school with their classes as they go out for work jobs or community activities. There is not a school bus that transports students planning on attending MTP after high school. Unless parents intend to transport their student every day, students will take Para Transit.
- Obtain a Delaware State ID (Male applicants are to understand that their signature on license or identification card applications constitutes consent to be registered with the Select Service System despite disability.) Students are strongly encouraged to get their ID before turning 18 years old since additional documents are required if the individual is 18 or older. To see a list of documents required, click here.
- Begin researching guardianship, power of attorney, and supported decision-making options and consider the best interests of the student.
- 11th Grade:
- If a student is planning on working after high-school and does not wish to continue to MTP, it is recommended that they apply to Pathways to Employment
- Investigate post-secondary education and employment options based on post-school goals.
- 12th Grade:
- Develop a post-secondary plan:
- If attending MTP, take a tour in the spring
- If not attending MTP:
- Apply to Project Search or other internship/job skills programs
- Apply to DVR
- Develop a post-secondary plan:
Turning 18 years old:
- Register to vote!
- Males must register for the Select Service despite disability (males are automatically registered when they apply for a state ID or license).
- Determine if guardianship, power of attorney or supported decision-making is necessary.
- Reapply for SSI and Medicaid. Students should have their own SSI and Medicaid accounts based off their disability, not parents’ income – this will determine eligibility for future services. Learn more about SSDI.
- Begin the process of transferring pediatric medical services to adult services. Center for Special Health Care Needs at Christiana is the only center in the greater Delaware area dedicated to providing primary care for adults ages 18 and older with complex medical and social conditions that originated in childhood.
Meadowood Transition Program - Now that your student is an ADULT, it is time to set them up for a great future! Students will continue to work with their teachers in participating in age-appropriate transition assessments, as well as, review and revise post-school goals in the areas of employment, education/training, and independent living. Students will explore a variety of work jobs. In addition, students and parents are encouraged to take the following steps to help ensure a smooth transition post MTP:
- Parents are encouraged to attend Back-to-School Open House to meet their student’s new teacher each year! Communication between parents and school staff is key! Please ensure the school knows the best way to contact you.
- Attend yearly IEP meeting(s) and be an active participant. The team will discuss post MTP options, explain the difference between Lifespan Waiver or the LTSS (Long Term Services & Supports) Waiver - without one of these waivers, there is no funding for post-school placement! Special Education Coordinators will invite Community Navigators (DDDS), Employment Navigators (Pathways) and any other supportive agencies involved with transition.
- Parents are encouraged to attend Transition and Provider Fairs and other educational opportunities with your student that offer information about future planning needs (day programs, residential, guardianship, employment, recreational activities, etc.). Students should establish a connection with their Employment Navigator through Pathways to Employment and participate in work-based assessments to determine skills and areas of support that might be needed.
- Participate in community internships and work job experiences. CIS (Community Integrated Services) provides information sessions for students and parents throughout the school year.
- Visit post-secondary vocational and/or day programs (Pathways and DDDS can provide assistance in setting up tours and financial assistance in paying for the programs).
- Begin the process of transferring pediatric medical services to adult services. Center for Special Health Care Needs at Christiana is the only center in the greater Delaware area dedicated to providing primary care for adults ages 18 and older with complex medical and social conditions that originated in childhood.
- Exit Year - Apply for vocational and/or day programs. Students should begin transitioning to their preferred providers and ensure all necessary support services are ready to be provided immediately after graduation.
- Participate in adult social activities outside of the school setting:
-
Special Olympics – provides sports programs at no cost to individuals ages 2 and older (no upper age limit) all throughout the state
-
Best Buddies – friendship program for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities
-
Expanding Options: www.expandingoptions.org Is a parent led non-profit organization that was founded to help create social opportunities for their adult children on the Autism Spectrum. The Organization recognizes themselves as two groups, Caregivers and Adult Members, and try to coordinate meaningful content and speakers for each group at routine monthly meetings. The group welcomes anyone, 18 or older, to participate in monthly meetings and routine social outings. It is important to know that parent involvement may be necessary as they do not provide supervision/paid staff.
- Community Fitness Fridays at the HAC
- Down Syndrome Association of Delaware
- Autism Delaware
- The Arc of Delaware
-
Federal Park Pass is a free, lifetime pass available to United States citizens or permanent residents, regardless of age, that have a permanent disability that can be used at over 2,000 Federal recreation sites across the nation, including National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and many National Forest lands.
-
Totally Awesome Players – theater group
-
Night to Shine – fun prom-like night out yearly, locations throughout the state
-
Mary Campbell Center- adult programming, events, etc.
-
Planned Parenthood – offers disability programs and workshops for caregivers and self-advocates.
-