From Middle School through High School
Planning for the Future
Planning for High School: Ages 10-14
- 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
Points to Address in the High School IEP Meeting
- 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
What Can You Expect from the Medical Home?
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.