“The days are long, but the years are short.” - Gretchen Rubin
Students begin preparing for the transition to adulthood in the 6th grade. Although this may sound young considering students can remain at Meadowood until age 22, the years fly by and it is important to help prepare students and parents for the changes to come. Beginning in their 6th grade year, a "Transition" section is added to students' IEPs that includes post school goals in the areas of employment, education/training, and independent living along with activities to help reach those post school goals. Each year, students participate in age-appropriate transition assessments, including vocational assessments, interest inventories, interviews, etc. As students' interests change, they have the opportunity to change their goals at their yearly IEP meetings. Goals and activities are designed to be student led and act as a guideline to help prepare families for when students exit the Meadowood Program at age 22. In addition to goals and supports, community agencies are also identified to assist families throughout the transition, including but not limited to: DDDS, DVR, LTSS case managers, Pathways to Employment, etc.
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, families will meet with an Intake Coordinator who will then assign them a Community Navigator through the Columbus Organization. The Community Navigator works with the family to create a Person Centered Plan (PCP) that captures the needs and goals of the individual and family unit, helps to identify community resources for unmet needs, assists families to learn about eligibility-based services, etc. The Community Navigator is the individual’s key contact with DDDS. Students and parents need to remain in contact with their Community Navigator on a regular basis to avoid gaps in services. Community Navigators should also be invited 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.
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. The 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, which provides Targeted Case Management with the goal of supporting individuals in the context of their families. A Community Navigator supports by working with the family in developing a Person-Centered Plans (PCP) that captures the needs and goals of the individual and family unit; helping to identify community resources for unmet needs; assisting families to learn about eligibility-based services. The Community Navigator is the individual’s key contact with the Division of Developmental Disabilities. Students and parents need to remain in contact with their Community Navigator on a regular basis to avoid gaps in services.
In 10th Grade, students should:
Complete Paratransit Application and interview. Students begin Paratransit 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.
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.
In 12th Grade, students should:
Develop a post-secondary plan:
If continuing to MTP, students and their families should attend a tour in the spring and have been found eligible for Paratransit.
Apply to Project Search or other internship/job skills programs.
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.
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.
Visit post-secondary vocational and/or day programs the Special Education Coordinator, DDDS, and/or Pathways 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.
