Transition from School
In New Zealand, transition planning helps young people with disabilities move from school into adult life. This can include further education, work, independent living, and taking part in their community.
Good planning is important for a successful transition. It helps young people prepare for a balanced and enjoyable adult life, including a job, recreation, friendships, and building and maintaining relationships.
RICI's Person-centred Planning for Transition - Print out and fill in 'your dreams and aspirations'. Start to put supports in place to make those dreams a reality.
ADULTHOOD
The Enabling Good Lives report states that “all supports and services are led by the preferences, strengths, aspirations, and needs of disabled people and their families. An aspiration-based personal plan is the central document to design and measure paid supports. While the core components of plans may be similar, plans may take different forms.”
The EGL approach suggests people:
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Can make a plan based on their strengths and interests.
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Are in control of planning their support and they have help to make informed choices if needed and wanted.
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Have one plan that can be used by multiple services and supports.
Transitioning from School to Community
Your adult child may remain at school until their 21st year. Parents should start looking at Transition Services 18 months before they leave school. A funded Transition Coordinator will be asigned to support the planning process. During their last year at school, they will be working on their transition planning, with their school staff, whanua, and a transition coordinator. Once a student leaves school, all school-based therapy programmes & services will cease.
The student's ORS funding will be transferred from Education (MoE) to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to fund further studies, a day programme or a vocational service. This is important to factor in to your plans for the future.
Follow the EGL approach, when planning your young adult's life after school.
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Leaving school (IHC)
Transition Service Providers
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) provides a Transition Service for one year only. This usually happens during the student's last year of school. Funding is individualised to the person receiving the service.
Transition Service providers (MSD funded) can help you to:
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develop an individual plan for realising your goals for life after school
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consider options for post-school employment, education and community participation
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participate in activities, services and facilities that are part of the daily lives of New Zealanders
Criteria for students applying for the MSD funded Transition Programme:
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Students must have current High or Very High Needs ORRS funding
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Students must be in their last year of school
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Students must be under 21 years of age
Transition planning is a team process
The transition planning team includes the student at the centre (person-centred planning), their family and whānau, friends, transition staff, school staff, therapy and medical staff, adult service providers and other community support staff (as appropriate). They all work together to develop an Individual Transition Plan (ITP) that meets the student’s needs, goals and aspirations. The ITP is a “working document” that is flexible and develops over time.
See links below for more information about this process:
Transitioning Health Services
When a young person turns 18, they are legally an adult. They will be discharged from all Child Services and will need to access their health needs through Adult Services. This process is not always straightforward as different ministries and departments use different transition processes.
It is important to know that:
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In general, from 18yrs, the regular health monitoring of your child will cease
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All health matters will need to go through your GP
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Health matters will be treated only when/if they occur
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When necessary, the GP will then refer you back to the relevant specialists in the adult public system