Transitioning to Living on Your Own
Meghan Just, M.Ed.
FALLING OFF THE CLIFF
PRE-TRANSISTION(from high school)
PRE-TRANSISTION(from high school): START EARLY!
It’s never too soon to start working on independent living skills!
PRE-TRANSISTION(from high school): Parent expectations – what
they are and how they change as adulthood approaches
PRE-TRANSISTION(from high school): Use teachable moments and
expect more
PRE-TRANSISTION(from high school): Use the IEP as a resource for
skill building throughout the day
PRE-TRANSISTION(from high school): Find volunteer and work
placements early to start practicing real life experiences
PRE-TRANSISTION(from high school): Accommodate your child, but
push the boundaries! Set the bar realistically high!
DIFFICULTIES OF LEAVING THE
NEST
DIFFICULTIES OF LEAVING THE NEST
Provide supports, but let them mess up. It’s how we all learn!
DIFFICULTIES OF LEAVING THE NEST
- Hygiene- Transportation- Cooking/
shopping/planning meals
- Social interaction- Budgets and bill
paying- First aid and safety- Online relationships
and dating
Some daily living skills that make adults successful:
DIFFICULTIES OF LEAVING THE NEST
- What’s appropriate and how to target for it
Hygiene…
DIFFICULTIES OF LEAVING THE NEST
- Is driving safe? What else should you consider?
Transportation…
DIFFICULTIES OF LEAVING THE NEST
- Using visual planning tools, lists, and cookbooks
Cooking/Shopping/Planning Meals…
DIFFICULTIES OF LEAVING THE NEST
- Interview skills- Appropriate
interactions with supervisors and peers
Social Interaction…
DIFFICULTIES OF LEAVING THE NEST
- Even if they aren’t directly paying bills, have them involved in the process!
Budgeting and Bill Paying…
DIFFICULTIES OF LEAVING THE NEST
- Do you have a plan in place?
- What happens when it all goes wrong?
First Aid and Safety…
DIFFICULTIES OF LEAVING THE NEST
- What to say and when to say it!
Online Relationships and Dating…
MAKING YOUR OWN MONEY
MAKING YOUR OWN MONEY
According to a study published in Pediatrics in June 2014, only 35 percent of young adults with autism attended college and only 55 percent had a job during the first six years after high school.
MAKING YOUR OWN MONEY
How to be competitive for employment, building a resume
MAKING YOUR OWN MONEY
SSI/SSDI- how to apply and who will qualify
MAKING YOUR OWN MONEY
Community resources that help with employment!
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Orange Grove Ticket to Work
IN THEIR SHOES
1. Ryan Lowery2. Kelly Boston3. Lucas Durham-Styles