Helping Your Autistic Teen In Transition

***Note from Ib: This was commissioned as a general tip sheet for an organization, but I also want to reprint it to here in case it will be of use to any of my readers.  It is about the transition of leaving school, and is a bit US-centric in parts.  Sorry about that; after I finish converging ideas for Dealing With Family Matters, I'll write an article about transition in general, not centered so much on US law.



Transitions of any kind are difficult for most people, and they’re even more of a challenge for Autistic people and teenagers, and now you are helping your Autistic teenager face Transition with a capital T.  This is the big one, and it is complex.

School Transition Services

Starting from the age of 14, transition planning must start in schools, by law.  Note that in some states, it must actually be implemented at this time, whereas in other states the schools have until age 16 to implement the planning that began at 14.  Unfortunately, schools do not always seem to be aware of this, and it can be left to parents to keep track.  (An Autistic person who is also a Special Education Professor and family advocate and has sadly seen this all too often is writing this tip sheet.)  So: the first thing to do is make sure the school is on top of the situation at the correct age.

Post-School Services

One of the things that are of paramount importance is to find out how, in your area, services are obtained once school is over.  In all likelihood there is a gigantic waiting list and a byzantine system.  Learn the system early and often; sign up for the waiting lists right now.

Now, What Are Some Specifics To Think About?  For living:

§  Where to live

§  Skills for living (practical)

o   Self-advocacy skills

o   Cooking

o   Communication using voice, sign, PECS or AAC as necessary

o   Transportation

o   Budgeting

o   Keeping safe

o   Laundry

o   Etc.

§  Skills for living (social/emotional/sensory)

o   Self-advocacy skills

o   Dealing with neighbors/roommates/landlord

o   Communication using voice, sign, PECS or AAC as necessary

o   Coping with potential noise pollution or aromatic overload, etc.

o   Making friends and relationships

o   Keeping safe

o   Etc.

For working or college:

§  What type of work to do or college to go to

§  Where to work or go to college

§  How to get a job or get into college

§  Supported employment/job coaching/training/other work/community college/university?

§  Skills for working/school (practical)

o   Self-advocacy skills

o   Work-dependent skills and the ability to learn them

o   Work-ethic and the ability to signal it

o   Communication using voice, sign, PECS or AAC as necessary

o   Etc.

§  Skills for working/school (social)

o   Self-advocacy skills

o   Knowing how to be a colleague or student

o   Communication using voice, sign, PECS or AAC as necessary

o   Learning where/how to access the hidden curriculum of a workplace or campus

o   Feeling confident choosing contexts for various activities

o   Ability to recognize and regulate needs

o   Keeping safe

o   Etc.

These are just a few of the things to keep in mind for transition planning in the formal sense, to get you started.  It’s not exhaustive and it’s also not mandatory.  Plenty of people don’t choose to do all or any of these things for cultural, personal or other reasons.  There are also informal aspects and arrangements to consider.

In one example, because the employment prospects were so unpromising and the wait-list for services so long and also unpromising, a father known to this writer positioned himself on his beautiful historic town’s Chamber of Commerce, giving himself ample time to make the connections needed to make sure his son had a well-fitting job opportunity despite being a person who does not necessarily adore job interviews or such like.  As you know, parents do what they must.

You also know that a lot of what you will be helping with in transition is the emotional and sensory turmoil that comes along with changes, and these changes are all big and important ones.  You may be feeling shaky yourself now, because this is not the easiest of times, but rest assured: you do not need a tip sheet to know how to be there to support your teenager as only a parent can.  You know how to listen and to love unconditionally, and that is the most important thing.