High School Transition Referrals

What does the future hold for my high school son or daughter?

This is a question that many parents/guardians face as their son or daughter enters high school.   Addressing what the student wants for their future early on is an important piece in transitioning from the school setting into adulthood. 

Areas to begin planning for:  Where do I want to live?   Where do I want to work?  What do I want to do with my free time?  What are my goals for the future?  How will I get around to do the things I want?   How am I going to manage my money?    How will I stay healthy?   These are just a few of the questions that need to be considered.

How do I ensure that my son/daughter will continue to receive the services until 21?

With the passing of  "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act" (IDEA),  public school districts are responsible for providing "Free Appropriate Public Education" (FAPE) for children with disabilities through age 21.  Many students are ready to be done with the traditional classroom setting at age 19.  If the student graduates with a signed diploma before age 21, there is a 'gap' in the services which will be available.

If your son/daughter has a developmental disibility, a way to prevent this from happening is to contact the Disabilty Services Division of North Central Human Service Center to determine if he/she is eligible for services funded through Vocational Rehabilitation and/or Developmental Disabilities. Once it is determined that he/she meets the requirements for eligibility, they are assigned to a Developmental Disabilities Case Manager-DDCM.  This person will work closely with you while transitioning your son/daughter into adult services (KALIX). 

After getting qualified for services, it's important to include an Adult Service Provider, such as KALIX, in the IEP transition planning process.   The agency can get to know your son/daughter's goals and interests early on and become an active partner in his/her future success.  

For many years, our agency has successfully collaborated with schools and IEP teams with one goal in mind.  That goal is to make the transition from educational services to adult services, which includes living and working, as smooth as possible.  

Are there options for my son/daughter if he/she is not 21 yet, but the school setting isn't providing enough enhanced transition services to meet his/her needs?  

The Department of Public Instruction of Special Education and Department of Human Services has a program called Adult Education Transition Services (AETS) .  This program provides the opportunity for enhanced transitioning for students that need real life experiences which are more than the school environment can reasonably provide.   KALIX has collaborated with schools and successfully utilized this program with students in the past.  Visit with your Developmental Disabilities Case Manager and special education teacher to discuss this option in greater detail.