How Students with Special Needs and Disabilities Can Get Involved with Peers
What do we want? Ideal situations for all of our students. When do we want them? Years ago! For change to happen, better ideas have to present themselves. Sure, some school systems are catching on – but sometimes they need a nudge. How do we effectively..

- Posted by Hilary Smith
- Posted in Blog,Transition to Adulthood
Transitioning to employment
Helping special-needs young adults transition from school to work takes commitment, communication High-school and college graduations are exciting milestones for parents of neurotypical young adults. For parents of young adults with disabilities and speci..

- Posted by Matt Villano
- Posted in Employment
The High School Years: IEP Meeting Planning
In the Beginning The High School Years Now that your child is in high school, you will need to start meeting annually with the school to create your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). You may have already begun the IEP process earlier i..
- Posted by AbilityPath
- Posted in Life After High School
Getting Started
Preparation for the Journey Looking ahead, it might seem overwhelming to already begin thinking about your child’s transition from high school to adulthood. After all, he or she just started middle school. It is important to remember, though, tha..
- Posted by AbilityPath
- Posted in Life After High School
After Graduation: Employment or College?
Employment or College? After Graduation Whether your child goes on to a postsecondary education or not, he or she will need to transition into the “real world.” Depending on the level of their abilities, this may mean finding employment, enrolling the..
- Posted by AbilityPath
- Posted in Life After High School
A Fair Shot for Workers with Disabilities
Disability can be both a cause and consequence of economic insecurity. It is a cause because disability or illness can lead to job loss and reduced earnings, barriers to education and skills development, significant additional expenses, and many other cha..
- Posted by Rebecca Vallas, Shawn Fremstad, Lisa Ekman
- Posted in Employment
Securing Benefits
Medical care and Financial benefits Securing Benefits Of all the things that parents worry about as their child approaches transition, the future of their child’s financial and medical benefits may be the most nerve racking. While you can think about ho..
- Posted by AbilityPath
- Posted in Life After High School
Life After High School: Report
Life after High School “The Journey to Life After High School: A Road Map for Parents of Children with Special Needs” This comprehensive guide examines the laws that impact a child with special needs, the importance of the individualized education pla..
- Posted by AbilityPath
- Posted in Life After High School
Planning Guide: Year-by-year
Appendices – Planning Guide: Year-by-year WHAT TO DO AND WHEN TO DO IT Before Age 14: • Begin transition planning through the IEP process. An IEP must include transition-planning services starting at age 16, but the process should ideally begin at..
- Posted by AbilityPath
- Posted in Life After High School
Supporting Organizations
Visit our partner organization websites to find more resources and services that are available to you. Best Buddies Special Olympics National Down Syndrome Society CA Department of Special Education
- Posted by AbilityPath
- Posted in Life After High School