From Middle School through High School
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Going from middle school to high school might be an exciting or
challenging experience. Planning for the changes can help the child and family be
prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. This page will talk
about planning for different stages of high school: preparing to enter high school,
planning in the early years to prepare for graduation, and planning in the late
years for life beyond high school. This page will also give tips on what you can
expect from your medical home.
Planning for the Future
For many teens, high school starts their transition to adulthood. It is a time full
of changes, and it is often the time when young people (with and without special
needs) start planning for their futures. For teens with special needs, high school
might come with added challenges. It is a great time to keep taking part in
activities or hobbies they have been into, and to try new things, like volunteering,
working for the school paper or yearbook, joining the student council, social
groups, and advocating for themselves and other students with special needs in their
school. All teens can get involved with school and community activities. Finding
ways for those teens who may have physical, developmental, medical, social and/or
sensory issues to be involved (aided or with accommodations) will help them in the
future.
No matter your child’s skills or challenges, high school is a big step toward the
future, full of new responsibilities and choices, and for many it is the time to
start taking a more active role in self-care and thinking about one’s future. As
with past transitions, you and your child will want to plan ahead, meeting with your
student’s school team* before your child goes to high school. Education issues
during teen years should be addressed on a regular basis, and the IEP/504/Health
Care Plan should be changed as your student’s health, goals, or competencies
change.
*"School team" may refer to the IEP, 504, Health plan, or school
accommodation team.
Planning for High School: Ages 10-14
The transition to high school starts long before your child enters high school.
Many children are involved in their own IEP or Health Care meetings from the time
they are quite young.
- By age 10 it is recommended that children start coming to their meetings to gain familiarity with topics and questions about their health and education.
- By age 14 your child should be part of most of these meetings. He’s likely to have key input and ideas about plans and discussions about his future. Before your child starts high school, meetings should look at assessments of social skills, academic skills, self-help and self-advocacy skills, recreation choices, and the topic of sexuality if appropriate (see Social Opportunities, Recreation Activities, and Healthy Relationships). Your child can help make a plan to grow his independence at home and at school.
- When your child is 13 or 14, it’s good to start thinking about high school graduation requirements and diploma options (see below). You can form a plan based on your child’s individual needs that has the necessary services and supports that will help him reach his high school goals.
Early High School: Ages 14-16
When your child gets to high school, it is time to look at graduation options with
the IEP team. With your student’s school team, you’ll want to think over whether
your student can take part in in statewide assessments, earn course credits towards
graduation, and the differences of earning a diploma or a certificate of
completion.
Each state has its own graduation requirements and diploma options.
Different diploma choices are offered across the country. To read more about diploma
options in each state and find transition contacts for your state, go to: Diploma Options for Students with Disabilities (NCSET).
Points to Address in the High School IEP Meeting
By the time your student is 16, a plan for transitioning out of school and into
adult life must be started as part of the IEP process. Whether adult life means
college, vocational school, employment, or some other choice, this plan should focus
on your student’s goals for after high school.
- Determine classes and credits needed to complete graduation and plan classes and course of study in line with this.
- Think about driver education. See Transportation Options for Young Adults.
- Look at job interests and skills using career exploration, job sampling, and some job training. See After High School Options.
- Find community services that offer job training and placement.
- Think about summer employment or volunteer experience.
- Put together a job placement file with references and skills the student has gained.
- Apply to adult service agencies like State Services for People with Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Independent Living Centers. Some agencies may have long waiting lists.
- Ask the school team about required tests for graduation, if it applies.
Late High School: Ages 16-22
As your student looks toward life beyond high school, together, you will want to
look into adult services programs. If he is planning to go to college, vocational,
or technical school, it’s time to start looking at the school he is thinking about,
and talking with the disability services and programs at that school. If he is not
planning on college, but is planning to live outside your home, you may want to
research and talk to residential or independent living services (see
Independent Living).
Many high school students will leave behind social and recreational groups when
they leave the school setting, so it’s good to research new recreation choices;
research ahead of time can ease the transition into a new part of the community.
Also, many young adults will need to find adult medical services, and it’s a good
idea to research and contact medical services, physicians, therapists, or counselors
that you are considering (see Finding Adult Health Care and Healthy Relationships).
If your student is curious about a certain career or job, he might look at
talking with family or friends who work in that field who might be able to set him
up with job training opportunities, or at least answer questions about that
job.
Depending on the extent of disability, some students who are receiving special
education services may stay in school and not graduate until their 22nd birthday to
develop skills, carry out their transition goals, and research needed services.
Special education and related services in accordance with the Disabilities
Improvement Education Act (IDEA) are available through post high school. Post High
School programs are usually specific to each school district. See Transition Planning for Students.
Remember that your child, no matter what their abilities, becomes a legal adult at
age 18. Before the age of 18, some parents will need to think about and research how
to become their child’s legal guardian (see Guardianship/Estate Planning). Age 18 is also the age when your child
may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on her own income and
assets. If they already receive SSI, it’s helpful to learn about the changes that
will happen with before your child’s eighteenth birthday. See Health Insurance/Financial Aids.
College-bound students will need to take the ACT College Entrance Exam or SAT College Entrance Exam during their junior year. Both of these
tests have accommodations for students who need them, but you will have to research
and set these things up well ahead of time. Then, these students will need to fill
out college applications. Once a student has narrowed down her choices, it is a good
plan to visit her chosen school and sign up with the college disability center
before the end of senior year (see To College). Your student’s school counselor might be helpful during
the application process.
What Can You Expect from the Medical Home?
Your child’s primary care doctor can be helpful as your child builds independence
and learns self-advocacy skills. The medical home will teach your youth about her
health care needs, medications and, based on your child’s needs and abilities, might
encourage her to take a role in setting up her own appointments or ordering her own
supplies. See the following:
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110 KB)The medical home will help your youth update her medical history and
immunizations records, and guide her on the transition into adult health care
services, along with recommending adult care providers. They will still answer
questions for you and your youth about health and wellness, treatments, medications,
and therapies. They can also talk about sexuality with your youth and refer her to
proper resources based on her development and disabilities.
Some medical homes will be more involved, looking at your youth’s strengths,
interests and goals, and referring her to vocational trainings or other activities.
If you have not talked about these things with your clinician or medical home
coordinator and would like to, let them know you would like help with this part of
transition.
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
Transition Planning for Students
Outlines transition planning as a results-oriented process designed to facilitate the successful movement of high school-aged
youth with disabilities from school to adult life; includes information about special education law. Source: Autism Now.
Center for Parent Information and Resources (DOE)
Parent Centers in every state provide training to parents of children with disabilities and provide information about special
education, transition to adulthood, health care, support groups, local conferences, and other federal, state, and local services.
See the "Find Your Parent Center Link" to find the parent center in your state; Department of Education, Office of Special
Education.
State Education Contacts and Information
This page has contact information for state school resources, including the department of education, the higher education
agency, special education agency and adult education agency in any state, commonwealth, or territory; U.S. Department of Education.
Services for Patients & Families in New Mexico (NM)
| Service Categories | # of providers* in: | NM | NW | Other states (4) (show) | | NV | OH | RI | UT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adolescent Health Transition Programs | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |||
| Disability Related Employment Programs | 22 | 4 | 20 | 4 | 16 | 80 | |||
| Medical Care Expense Assistance | 40 | 35 | 61 | 35 | 39 | 52 | |||
| Services for People with Disabilities | 19 | 6 | 31 | 7 | 18 | 18 | |||
| Vocational Education | 9 | 1 | 45 | 1 | 10 | 79 | |||
For services not listed above, browse our Services categories or search our database.
* number of provider listings may vary by how states categorize services, whether providers are listed by organization or individual, how services are organized in the state, and other factors; Nationwide (NW) providers are generally limited to web-based services, provider locator services, and organizations that serve children from across the nation.