Transition to Adulthood – Independent Living

As you move toward living on your own, here are some programs and resources that may help you with school, work, and finding a place to live.

Check out these resources and tips for supporting adult children!

Turning 18 is a big deal. Your child becomes an adult at 18 and all the privileges and responsibilities of adulthood transfer to them. This includes the authority to make decisions for themselves. This is a good thing. It is the gateway to adult life. But it can also be a scary time if you and/or your child believe they are not ready or able to make their own decisions. Thankfully, there are options available.

This worksheet will help youth craft a vision statement about what they want for their life after high school!

This report provides an in-depth examination of the unique challenges faced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD), and how the use of alternatives such as supported decision-making may enable some individuals with ID/DD to exercise greater self-determination, participate more fully in their communities, and achieve greater economic self-sufficiency.

Turning 18 is a big deal! When you turn 18, you are an adult in most states. This means you can make choices in your life about your education, where you live, what doctor you see, what to do with your money, and many other things. Here are some things you should think about as you become an adult.

The intention of this guide is to provide direction, advice, and information, and to present a collection of resources that you can use to help navigate your transition to adulthood as smoothly as possible. Our goal is to point you in some useful directions, but it is ultimately up to you to decide what will be helpful for you in your transition journey. In the sections that follow, you will find guidance on transition planning, person-centered planning, building a transition IEP, and exploring pre-employment services.

Self-advocacy means speaking up for yourself and taking an active role in decisions that affect your life. It’s about understanding your strengths and needs, asking questions, finding information, knowing your rights, and asking for help when needed. It’s also about learning how to solve problems, communicate clearly, and build supportive relationships.

Begin with the End in Mind It’s never too soon to start planning with your child for their future. When your child is in middle school, this may seem far away and you are focused on today. But those middle and high school years will pass quickly and soon your child will be an adult. While planning is important for all students, it is even more important for students with disabilities who may face more challenges than their peers without disabilities.

A Guide for Caregivers and Students on Transition to Adulthood

Everyone needs support making some of their decisions. Some people may need support at the doctor’s office. Some people may need help with their taxes. Some people may need help with money. When you receive help with decisions, that is called Supported-Decision-Making. This document can help you decide what you are able to do on your own and what you may need help with.

Transition is a journey, begin NOW to plan for the trip. The Student Dream Sheet can help students set goals and share their interests and preferences.

Person-Centered Planning is all about YOU and YOUR plans for YOUR future!

Person-Centered Planning is all about YOU! YOU are focus of person-centered planning, also called PCP. That means that you get to let your family, your teachers, and others know what you want to do when you leave high school or college and how you want to live your life. People that you trust and care about can help you make those choices but you voice is the most important. PCP can help you achieve your goals and dreams for life after high school

A Center for Independent Living or CIL is run by and for people with disabilities. North Carolina has 7 CILs that are located around the state. CILs can help people learn how to make decisions about their own lives. They also give people with disabilities advice when it is difficult to live, learn, and work in their communities. You don’t have to do everything yourself because we all need help and support!

Learning and practicing life skills is an important step for students as they plan for transitioning into adulthood. The Life Skills Checklist can help transition age students (14-22), their families, and IEP Team track independent living/life skills.

This guide is intended to provide resources for housing and independent living for people with IDD in North Carolina.

It’s great to want to do things on your own and take care of yourself. That is what independent living skills mean. And the more you practice, the better you will get. But it’s also important to remember that all of us need help with some things. Some people are better at cooking, some are better at laundry, and some are better at solving problems. While you strive to be independent, never worry about having to ask for help! For some things, you may always need help, and that’s okay

This tip sheet introduces and briefly defines age of majority. The age of majority is defined by state law and is the age at which the child is no longer a minor and assumes rights and responsibilities to make certain legal decisions. To learn more, review the additional resources and check with state law for specific information about age of majority in your state.

This guide is intended to provide parents with practical information about guardianship to help them make an informed decision.

In addition to helping families navigate the special education system, ECAC also specializes in helping families navigate health related systems in NC.

As an adult, there are a number of important items you should have close by so you know where they are when you need them. Look at the list below. Do you have it?

For youth with a documented disability, the Division of Services for the Blind (DSB) provides a variety of individualized services that help them prepare for and achieve goals for competitive integrated employment and more independent living.

When making choices or setting goals, it can be helpful to know whom you can count on. Different people maybe helpful in different situations. Use this worksheet to write down the names of people who you know that you can ask for support or help.

This document is part of the Charting the LifeCourse set of tools. Visit https://www.lifecoursetools.com/ for examples on how to use this tool, and explore other tools.

This document is part of the Charting the Life Course set of tools. Visit https://www.lifecoursetools.com/ for examples on how to use this tool, and explore other tools.

This document is part of the Charting the LifeCourse set of tools. Visit https://www.lifecoursetools.com/ for examples on how to use this tool, and explore other tools.

Centers for Independent Living (CILs) help people with disabilities of all ages be included in community life. North Carolina has 7 CILs. CILs are nonresidential and are run by and for people with disabilities. CILs work with people with disabilities, including students, to help them make their own decisions about their lives and to assist them achieve their independent living goals within their communities.

Creating a vision for the future helps provide a plan for youth with disabilities who are unclear and/or anxious about becoming an adult. Person-centered planning (PCP) is directed by the youth to help them plan their life and supports.

The Arc of North Carolina has created this guide to offer you helpful information and resources in the IDD sector of North Carolina. You will find links to the information mentioned in each section at the end of this guide.

Independent Living Skills for Adults - These are the essential skill areas an adult needs in order to live independently