Roadmap to Transition A Handbook for Autistic Youth Transitioning to Adulthood Roadmap to Transition: A Handbook for Autistic Youth Transitioning to Adulthood 1 TABLE OF CONN TE TS Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................ 7 What is this? ....................................................................................................................................7 How can I use this? ...................................................................................................................... 8 Transition: What’s it all about? .............................................................................................10 Transition planning is for everyone ....................................................................................12 What now? ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 2: Self-Determination and Self-Advocacy ......................................................... 17 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 19 Self-determination ....................................................................................................................20 Self-advocacy ...............................................................................................................................24 How does this fit into my transition plan? .......................................................................28 Summary .......................................................................................................................................29 Chapter 3: Know Your Rights ....................................................................................................31 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 33 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ...................................................................... 34 The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act .............................................................. 37 Americans with Disabilities Act ............................................................................................ 43 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act .................................................................................48 Olmstead .......................................................................................................................................50 Fair Housing Act .......................................................................................................................... 55 Protection & Advocacy Agencies .......................................................................................... 58 How does this fit into my transition plan? .......................................................................59 Summary .......................................................................................................................................60 TABLE OF CONN TE TS 2 Chapter 4: Making Your Transition Plan ..............................................................................61 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 63 What is transition planning? ..................................................................................................64 IEPs and Transition Planning .................................................................................................66 What if I didn’t have an IEP? ................................................................................................... 70 Your Transition Planning Notebook .................................................................................... 71 Step 1: Transition Assessments ............................................................................................ 76 Step 2: Creating measurable postsecondary goals ...................................................... 87 Step 3: Identifying transition services ............................................................................... 93 Step 4: Write the course of study ......................................................................................... 97 Summary .......................................................................................................................................98 Chapter 5: Getting the Supports You Need ........................................................................99 Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 101 Support networks .................................................................................................................... 102 Supports and support needs .............................................................................................. 108 Before you start ....................................................................................................................... 110 Figuring out your support needs ........................................................................................114 How will I get supports? .........................................................................................................118 How does this fit into my transition plan? .....................................................................123 Summary .....................................................................................................................................124 3 TABLE OF CONN TE TS Chapter 6: Supported Decision-Making ............................................................................ 125 Overview ......................................................................................................................................127 During transition ..................................................................................................................... 128 Self-determination & self-advocacy .................................................................................131 Decision-making.......................................................................................................................132 What is supported decision-making? ...............................................................................134 Forming a support network..................................................................................................138 Making a decision with supports .......................................................................................142 What if... .......................................................................................................................................152 Supported decision-making & the law .............................................................................159 How does this fit into my transition plan? .................................................................... 160 Summary .....................................................................................................................................161 Chapter 7: Post-Secondary Education ............................................................................... 163 Overview .....................................................................................................................................165 During transition ..................................................................................................................... 166 Self-determination & self-advocacy ................................................................................ 169 Education pathways ................................................................................................................170 Choosing your educational path ........................................................................................178 Accommodations & supports ..............................................................................................191 Legal protections..................................................................................................................... 194 How does this fit into my transition plan? .....................................................................197 Summary .................................................................................................................................... 198 TABLE OF CONN TE TS 4 Chapter 8: Employment ........................................................................................................... 199 Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 201 During transition ..................................................................................................................... 202 Self-determination & self-advocacy ................................................................................ 205 Working with a disability ...................................................................................................... 206 Types of employment ............................................................................................................ 212 Supports & accommodation