The transition into adulthood is becoming exponentially more difficult for young people with disabilities in the United States. Unemployment and the rising cost of college and vocational school present significant barriers to meaningful independence.
For families of children with disabilities, support through the transition process is essential. Although the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates that school districts provide transition services, lack of funding or lack of implementation leave these services few and far between.
The high school dropout rate for students with disabilities is double the statewide average. In New York City, only around 30 percent of students with disabilities graduate in four years. Less than 35 percent of youth with disabilities are employed statewide, and less than 27 percent in the city. Over one-third live in poverty.
New York State actually provides a robust rehabilitation, employment, and independent living infrastructure. However, services, eligibility and access are complex and ever-changing. Many families have difficulty navigating, or even discovering, the appropriate services.
“Adult Systems can be overwhelming and confusing for your adults with disabilities and their families. Providing information about the adult systems is crucial in the transition process,” Parent Network of WNY’s Transition Coordinator Tonia Weichmann said. “Knowledge, guidance and support during those final high school years, provide an opportunity for these young adults and families to make informed decisions. Informed decision making will lead to more young adults with disabilities leading full and productive lives in their community.”
As a result, three state and federally funded Parent Centers have joined together to create a solution. Resources for Children with Special Needs, the Parent Network of Western New York, and The Advocacy Center will work together to enable people with disabilities and their families to receive the transition support they need in order to live productive, independent and meaningful lives. The collective project, NYS Transition Partners, begins this month.
Thanks to a federal grant from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, over the next five years, NYS Transition Partners will serve as a guide for individuals with disabilities transitioning into adulthood. They will help families create a vision for the future that includes employment. The partnership will reach out to communities in greatest need and provide person-centered resources that will help people better understand rehabilitation problems, issues, and strategies.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to reach out to a largely underserved community,” said RCSN’s Executive Director Rachel Howard. “We believe that families need these connections and they aren’t easy to make. This partnership is going to change lives.”