- Nurture your child's interests through exploration
- Encourage your child's autonomy by making choices, identifying preferences / interests, and expressing opinions
- Develop competence through goal setting, taking on challenges
- Talk with your child's team and advocate for your child's meaningful participation in IEP meetings
- Help identify components of a Good Day Plan and the I'm Determined One Pager and share with your child's school team
- High expectations / dream big
- Talk to your child's team about factors to consider related to assessment and diploma options
- Build early executive functioning skills (focus, attention, task initiation, self-regulation)
- Model the decision-making process
- Explore skills and tasks related to various careers
- Listen for consistent career-related interests and explore those possibilities
- Encourage persistence
- Emphasize the importance of teamwork in working towards a common goal (in families, school, teams, etc.)
- Help your child use a daily schedule and mark off items as they are completed
- Categorize jobs that people have in the community (e.g., grocery store, bank, recreation facilities)
- If possible, take your child / children to work to shadow what you do
- Talk with your child's team about possible school / classroom jobs
- Discuss jobs in a way that makes them more accessible to your child
- Encourage and monitor positive relationships
- Develop a plan to seek help if they feel unsafe
- Help your child develop skills and confidence by building routines for completing home chores and activities independently
- Encourage your child to complete self-care tasks with increasing independence
- Encourage your child to make choices (e.g., clothing, lunch items)
- Visit community locations (e.g., stores, restaurants, parks)
- Support your child in using problem-solving strategies to encourage flexibility
- Differentiate between strangers and trusted adults
This product was created by the Family Engagement Network (FEN), through a grant provided by the Virginia Department of Education and managed by the Center for Family Involvement at the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Sign up for the CTI NewsBlast
Receive the latest news related to transition for youth with disabilities.