Preparing for Adulthood

Preparing for Adulthood

Overview

If you or your family member is an adolescent, an important life transition is ahead. The move to
adulthood is an exciting time that will provide new opportunities. We encourage you to start thinking about transition by the age of 14, long before it is time to leave school. Gathering information, understanding choices, making decisions and trying out options – all
these steps take time.

We hope the information in this booklet, as well as the help and support from your regional center Service Coordinator; will make this transition go smoothly.

Harbor Regional Center will work with you to ensure that services and supports will be available to meet your/your family member’s needs, interests and goals.

Services and supports may assist with:
• Continuing education
• Employment
• Adult Day Activities
• Living Arrangements
• Community Access
• Other services and supports to ensure your/your family member’s success as an adult.

The school will play a major role in helping you or your family member transition to adulthood. At the back of this booklet you will find more information about working with the schools during transition to adulthood.

What Opportunities Will Be Available After You or Your Family Member Leave School?

You or your family member will have opportunities for:
• strengthening self-help and self-care skills
• continuing education at a university, community
college, trade school or specialized training
programs
• paid work (with special supports if needed)
• volunteer work, if preferred
• living independently in a home or apartment,
with or without roommates, and with supports as
needed – or living in a group home, if preferred
• learning new skills, such as how to manage money,
how to navigate public transportation, how to
cook, and how to take care of a home
• socializing with friends and making new ones.

What Are The Community or Public Resources That May Be Available to You or Your Family Member?

  • Medical insurance through Medi-Cal
  • Personal care and protective supervision through In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
  • Financial assistance through Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Vocational training through the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
  • Educational supports through Disabled Student Services

This is not a complete list and we want to assure you that your HRC Service Coordinator is available to provide you with additional information and to answer your questions.

What Legal and Benefit Decisions Will Need To Be Made As You or Your Family Member Turns 18

We at Harbor Regional Center encourage you or your family member to direct your own decision-making to the fullest extent possible. Many adults routinely make decisions on their own behalf with guidance from their family, HRC service coordinator, advocate, or trusted
friends.

There are many options we can explore:

  • Supported decision-making
  • Alternatives to conservatorship
  • Power of attorney
  • Conservatorship
  • Special needs trusts and CalABLE accounts 

Where Can I Get More Information?

  • Your Service Coordinator
  • HRC Training and Events Catalog 
  • HRC Transition Events
  • HRC Family Resource Center
  • Parent Support Groups
  • HRC Publications
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Work Experience Programs in the Schools

WorkAbility and Project SEARCH

While students are enrolled in school transition programs, they may be referred to a work experience program, such as WorkAbility, where they can gain some on-the-job experience and learn about how to conduct themselves in a work environment.

Your HRC Service Coordinator can assist you to find out what transition programs are offered by your school district, during the school’s individual transition planning process.