Plan Your Transition
Moving On and Up: Your Move to Independence. This brochure helps youth and their transition teams think about many of the different steps in transitioning to adulthood and age guidelines to consider.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT…
1. Start Early— Start considering life after high school as early as possible, but definitely by age 16! In many cases, there are waiting lists to access some programs that assist with transition and youth need to start early when investigating who they want their transition partners to be.
Document: Personal Planning
~ here are some ideas of ways to start some personal planning of what you want your life to look like after highschool
Publication: Planning Workbook
~ The Rural Institute: Center for Excellence in Disability, Education, Research and Service developed this comprehensive workbook to help you decide what you want your life to look like after graduation.
2. Don’t wait for adults to do it for you! Self-advocacy is an important skill to practice. This is your life…take charge of it!
Document: Steps to Self-Advocacy
3. Transition isn’t just about leaving high school. Your transition into adulthood might include where to work, where to live, how to manage your money, what do you want to do for fun, what decisions you want to make and what decisions you need help with, if you want to go to college…..and much more!
4. Find some personal references you can use when applying for jobs and college. Think about the adults (not related to you) that can give you a GOOD reference.
Document: How to Keep Track of Your Contacts
5. Get work experience. This doesn’t always have to mean paid work. Sometimes volunteering in your community can also be a valuable way to gain work skills and build your resume!
Publication: How to Keep a Job: The Young Adults Guide
6. Learn how to manage your money. When you start earning money, one of the most difficult things to learn is how to keep track of it. Find people who can help you balance your checkbook, maintain good credit, save money, etc.