Independent Living Program - Florida's Center for Child Welfare

What Happens WhenA Person With ADisability Turns 18?An 18-year-old isan adult andpresumed to be ableto handle his or herown affairs unlessa legal proceedinggives someor all theresponsibilityfor him orher to a parent orguardian.22Parents & surrogate parentsare still notified of meetingsregarding their child’seducation, even after he orshe turns 18.• Under the federal FamilyEducational Rights andPrivacy Act, an 18-yearoldcan give his or her parentsor other adults accessto educational records bysigning a release.3 Young people whoreceived Supplemental SecurityIncome (SSI) benefits for adisability may lose them asadults, depending on thenature of their disabilities.An 18-year-old receivingSSI benefits should expectto have his or her eligibilityre-determined — usinga different, adult disabilitystandard — in the monthbefore the 18th birthday.See page 38 for more information.4 The health insurance may change.Adults whose health insurancecovers youth should check their policiesto determine whether the coveragewill continue after the youth turns 18and if it does, for how long.Some policies, but not all, havecontinued coverage as longas the youth is in school.Most youth in state care haveMedicaid as their health insurance.Former foster youth are eligible tostay on Medicaid, until age 21,so long as they live in Florida.5 An 18-year-old is old enough to vote.Americans may vote at age 18unless declared incompetentby a court of law.To register in Florida, onemust turn 18 by Election Dayand be a U.S. citizenand a legal resident of thecounty in which one plansto vote. As of 2009, youth willbe able to register tovote at age 16, or anytimethereafter. Voter registrationforms are available at manygovernment offices,and from county supervisorsof elections. Voting is animportant way to have a sayabout the laws and policiesthat affect you.See Voting in Florida: A Guide for Citizenswith Disabilities for more information aboutvoting rights at: http://www.advocacycenter.org/voting/Voting_in_Florida-A_Guide_for_Persons_with_Disabilities. PDF:http://www.advocacycenter.org/news/index.html6 Young men are required to register formilitary service.All males are required to register withthe Selective Service within 30 days of turning18 unless institutionalized or hospitalized.