Transitioning to Independence

For all teens, the process of moving from childhood to adulthood is challenging. For young people with disabilities, transitioning to independence presents even more challenges. Barriers to successful transition for young people with disabilities include low expectations by parents and other significant people in the community, lack of knowledge of existing career and vocational education services, and lack of self-advocacy skills. This article provides an overview of issues related to transitioning to adult independence and offers suggestions for assessment, planning, and intervention that can help nurses be effective partners with families and other caregivers in transition efforts. Nurses caring for children with disabilities can help families see strengths in their children and develop realistic, developmentally-appropriate expectations for skill development, attitudes, and behaviors that will promote self-sufficiency in adulthood. Nurses can help families think about possibilities for independence and refer families to community resources that can help young people with disabilities pursue postsecondary education, obtain and maintain jobs, and live independently. The national CHOICES Project (Children's Healthcare Options Improved through Collaborative Efforts and Services) promotes collaboration among Shriners Hospitals, state Children with Special Health Care Needs (Title V), Early Intervention, and Vocational Rehabilitation programs with the goal of creating a seamless system of tertiary medical care and community health and social services for young people with disabilities. People in Shriners Hospitals and state agencies across the country have contributed ideas to this manuscript, and the authors sincerely thank them. Funding for the CHOICES Project comes from Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.