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Transition Planning
Entitlement to Eligibility
In preparing for the transition from high school to the adult world it is first important to understand the difference between supports and services provided in high school and those provided by adult service providers. As many of you already know, students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) are entitled to a free appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. This means that the public school system where the family lives must identify students with disabilities who need special education services and make sure that services are provided in the student's home school with their classmates as much as possible.
When youth exit high school they are no longer entitled to special education services through an IEP or the local school system. At this time, youth enter a new system where they must be found eligible for services. This is often referred to as the transition from Entitlement to Eligibility. In most cases, this process involves youth and families completing applications, providing documentation of a disability and meeting certain income requirements. The provision of services to eligible young adults depends on the availability of funding. This process may take many months to complete and youth and families may be asked months or years ahead of time to apply for certain services.
For more information about the transition planning process, including what adult services are available and how to apply, there are several resources for youth and families including:
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Program Spotlight
Maryland Seamless Transition Collaborative
The Maryland Seamless Transition Collaborative (MSTC) is directed by the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) and supported by TransCen, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Maryland that works to improving educational and employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The program operates in nearly half of all Maryland's local school systems and works with high school students with disabilities to improve outcomes through the delivery of specific transition service components. This includes youth empowerment, early DORS case initiation, paid job experiences, and linkages between schools and postsecondary employment and education services. For more information about transition planning services and programs including MSTC, click here. |
Parent/Guardian Survey
If you are the parent or guardian of a yound adult with a disability who exited school in 2010 and had an IEP or 504 Plan in his/her last year of school, we want to hear from you. The survey should take no more than five minutes to complete.
For a copy of the survey in Spanish that can be returned by mail, email or fax, click here. |
