by Kerry Bonney, health information specialist A successful transition to adulthood begins early. If you have a young child with special healthcare needs, it may seem a bit preposterous to discuss transition to adulthood while he or she is so young. Regardless of the age of your child, however, it is never too early to start preparing for this transition. Our hope for all of our children is for them to be able to live as independently as possible and for them to have a good quality of life. To that end, there are baby steps in a few key areas that we can take along the way that can help ease our child into adulthood. 1) Education - Beginning as early as age 3, you may find yourself seated in a meeting with the school, discussing a 504 plan or Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for your child. When appropriate your child should attend these case conference meetings. In most cases, by age 10-12, a child will be able to participate and his input should be sought. Ask questions
Family Voices Indiana is a family-led organization that provides information, education, training, outreach, and peer support to families of children and youth with special health care needs and the professionals who serve them.