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 It may be hard for you to imagine your child out in the world, or what he or she will do once the school bus is no longer arriving each morning. Many families have spent years researching, negotiating and advocating for services and supports to maximize their...

 The most important place to start the transition process is with your child who is now or will soon be an adolescent or young adult. Their hopes, dreams and desires should drive the process. Some individuals with autism can verbally communicate their goals a...

 In addition to self-advocacy skills, teaching your child skills that will foster their independence on the journey to adulthood is also of utmost importance. As autism is a spectrum disorder, every individual is different, and as a result, the independent li...

 When thinking about the transition process, a great place to start is by consulting with your child’s school. Whether it is a school counselor, school psychologist, teacher, case manager or school administrator, a school professional with experience can be ve...

 You may have subconsciously avoided the topic of long-term planning for a long time. This is not unusual. You may suddenly feel that you are back to the beginning stages of accepting the diagnosis. It can help to remind yourself that with planning, you will b...

 As you plan for the transition to adulthood, it is important to remember that integration into the community is a key component of happiness and independence in the lives of autistic adults. You may want to think early on about introducing your child to membe...

For many of us, our job represents a big piece of who we are. As outlined in IDEA, one of the most important objectives of transition planning is to develop and implement a plan to secure employment. In order to do this, you and your young adult may want to co...

There are many opportunities for education when your child leaves the school system or graduates from high school, including traditional two- and four-year colleges. Each model offers different levels of supports and types of services. In addition, in some mod...

One of the most difficult parts of the transition process is finding the right residential option for your child’s future. Coordinating choices for the physical home, as well as the necessary support services can be complicated, often leaving families unsure o...

Ensuring and maintaining your child’s health as they become an adult will be critical. It is important to understand and be on top of the changes that are happening for your child – physically, mentally and emotionally – as well as the shifts in many health-re...

 In today’s day and age, it seems our whole world revolves around smart phones, tablets and the internet. The goals and uses of technology are very different for adolescents and young adults. These tools can be very empowering for adolescents transitioning int...

As you can see after reading this Tool Kit, there are many factors that go into making the transition to adulthood as effective and successful as possible for a young adult with autism. Be sure to check the timeline we have provided for the transition process ...

GENERAL TRANSITION RESOURCES  Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: A Parent’s Guide to the Cognitive, Social, Physical and Transition Needs of Teenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorders  by Chantal Sicile-Kira  Autism & the Transition to Adulthood: Success beyo...

Introduction Suicide and suicidal behavior are preventable. This fact has led communities across the Nation, including many American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities, to implement programs that successfully reduce factors known to contribute to su...

Introduction Just as suicide rates vary greatly by country, State, and region, they also vary between and within racial and ethnic groups. While some American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities have experienced suicide rates as much as 10 times the ...

Introduction The words of a First Nations Elder quoted above speak a powerful truth, particularly when applied to the silence surrounding the subject of suicide. Suicide, shrouded as it is in guilt, grief, anger, and the wrongful stigma of mental and substanc...

Introduction  The loss of a loved one by suicide is shocking, painful, and unexpected. Survivors, including whole communities, may experience a broad range of emotions including denial, anger, blame, guilt, helplessness, and confusion. One of the dangers of a...

Introduction Suicide prevention efforts often get their start as a response to a tragedy and from survivors of one or more suicides within their own family. The desire in their hearts is strong, their passions run deep, and their drive for action and results ...

Introduction Although suicide is an individual act, we cannot understand or prevent such acts simply by considering the behavior of the individual. Just as with another living, interdependent community, there can be no true understanding of the behavior of a ...

Introduction Suicide prevention programs that show promise for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities are those that have proven effective in reducing suicides and suicidal behaviors by enhancing protective factors, reducing risk factors, or bo...