Secondary Transitions
Teens and young adults on the spectrum do not always mature at the same pace as their peers. They may be 18, but not ready for college or any other post high-school education.
Federal law provides them with services until they are 21, but many of our young adults need specialized services to help them transition into adulthood.
So how do they find those services?
There are some simple steps to take that can get them started.
1. Check with their local high school.
If they have been participating in special education or receiving any special services the school should have a list of programs in the area.
2. Check with therapists or doctors
If they have been participating in any type of therapies ask those providers what programs are available and what they recommend.
3. Ask other parents
It may seem that we are alone, but there are many parents and families struggling with the same issues. Check around with friends, family, local organizations or online organizations for recommendations.
4. Google It
There is a specific search method to use to find local transitional services. Open a Google search window and type in:
Secondary Transition Programs in (inter your state/city) :.gov
Note the colon and the dot gov at the end - this will bring up only government programs and information
You can type in the same search but use :.edu to find sites sponsored by educational organizations such as colleges
If you type :.org at the end you will get a search that brings up organizations.
Finally do the search using :.com to find commercial websites. Don't stop at the first page of the rankings - go at least 5 pages deep to find the most options. The organizations on the front page may not be the best, just the best advertised.
This type of search can be time consuming, but it is important to start early. Many of the best programs have waiting lists.
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