The purpose of transition planning for youth with special needs is to identify opportunities and experiences during their school years that will help them better prepare for life as an adult. Transition planning can assist youth in securing employment, pursuing post-secondary education and fully participating in community life.

It is critical that the transition planning process begins as soon as possible - in some cases the youth may be as young as 14 years of age. Starting early allows time to prepare a Transition Plan and put it into action.

A person-centered planning approach is a best practice. It places the individual with special needs or their family in a leadership role during transition planning and service delivery. The ultimate goal of person-centered planning is to create supports and opportunities that enable a person with special needs to experience a self-directed life.

Transition Planning Guides

To assist in developing person-centered transition plans for youth with special needs the ministry has produced two guides:

• Your Future Now: A Transition Planning and Resource Guide for Youth with Special Needs and Their Families includes a workbook and resource guide to assist youth and their families with the development of an individualized transition plan. Version française: Ton Avenir t'Appartient
  
  
• Transition Planning for Youth with Special Needs: A Community Support Guide provides additional information based on best practices to assist teachers, social workers and other community partners in supporting successful transition planning for youth with special needs. Version française: Planification de Transition

Transition Planning Best Practices

There are 6 best practices associated with transition planning for youth with special needs. These include:

1. Person-centered Planning
2. Youth Involvement
3. Family Involvement
4. Community Involvement
5. Identification and Use of a Transition Coordinator
6. Inter-agency Collaboration.

Six Steps to Person-centered Transition Planning

Government Services

The transition from services for children and youth to adult services ideally involves the youth, family, service providers, school professionals and ministry staff in the planning process. Key ministries that assist in the transition to adult services include:

• Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance - education and support payments, work programs, bus passes and health and dental benefits for persons with disabilities. Click here for information on transitioning from At Home Medical Benefits to Adult Disability Assistance.
• Ministry of Advanced Education - education services to adults with disabilities. Education Planner also provides comprehensive information about post-secondary education in BC.
• Community Living British Columbia - range of services to assist adults with developmental disabilities to live as fully and independently as possible in the community.
• Ministry of Health - home and community care for adults who have acute, chronic, palliative or rehabilitative health care needs.

To find out more about transition planning resources, go to the Resource Guide section of Your Future Now or visit the contacts page on this site.