Transition Planning for Students with Down Syndrome

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National Down Syndrome Societytransition planning17 Years Old• Have the student enroll in vocational education classes.• Establish a graduation date.• Write transition goals into the IEP.• Invite adult service providers to IEP meetings.• Investigate guardianship procedures and determine what is inthe best interest of the student.18 – 21 Years Old• Apply for Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid.• Apply for residential or case management assistance.• Research and apply to an adult service provider.• Schedule a vocational evaluation to help determine interestsand set vocational goals.• Write transition goals into the IEP. Discuss services needed totransition from high school to adult services.• Attend a job fair.• Establish legal guardianship if deemed necessary (based on thebest interest of your child and consultation with a lawyerspecializing in disabilities and guardianship).• Schedule vocational education.• Remain in close contact with the adult service agency chosen toserve the student after graduation.• Introduce budgeting and the real cost of living on your own.• Find suitable employment that offers the desired work hoursand salary.• Ensure that all necessary support services are ready to provideservices immediately following graduation.13Special thanks to Alan Goldberg, Ph.D., for permission to use theTransition Timeline.
National Down Syndrome Societytransition planningWhat are the components of a transition plan?The IEP's transition plan is the creative roadmap that a student willfollow to prepare for life after high school. It identifies theindividual's post-secondary education, employment and housinggoals, and outlines specific steps to achieve them.There are no hard and fast rules regarding transition plans, but ingeneral, the transition team should set out to achieve the following:• Assess, or identify thestudent's strengths,needs and preferences interms of post-secondaryeducation, employmentand housing;• Develop an awareness ofvarious options in theseareas and of the skillsneeded;• Match the student to a desired post-secondary educationalprogram, job and/or living arrangement;• Train and prepare the student for the planned course ofaction; and• Help the student achieve a successful placement and ensurethat appropriate support services are in place.To accomplish all of this, the transition plan needs to describespecific long-term goals and identify smaller, measurable steps thatwill help achieve each goal. A good plan will include strategies tolearn specialized skills such as operating a particular piece ofequipment or completing a certain course, as well as basic skillssuch as punctuality and working well with others. Transition plansalso identify who is responsible for each step and set target dates foreach objective.14
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Transition Planning for Students with Down Syndrome

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