TRANSITION

This simply means moving on from one set of circumstances to another during a period of change. Usually the period when your child moves from childhood into young adulthood (between fourteen and nineteen years old) is referred to as the "Transition Years". It is this period that this information is about.
As your child turns fourteen, a Transition Plan must be drawn up by his/her school. This will include your child, yourself and others in order to start planning for the future beyond school. Each year after Year 9 (when your child turns fourteen), this plan must be updated by all those involved to include any new details – this is called a Review. It is vital that your child's views are listened to and acted upon at all stages.
Besides your child and yourself, other people involved in this ongoing process could include the school principal, teachers, Social Services representative, someone from careers, therapists, Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and indeed anyone who could significantly contribute towards your child's future.
The years pass quickly and with some young disabled people now leaving school at sixteen and not nineteen, it does not give much time for future planning. It has to be stressed that the future planning is not about school life, but every aspect of your child's life – social skills, money management, transport requirements, job/training/education plans, housing and transport requirements just to mention a few. It is about making informed choices and obtaining the relevant information to do this.
This may all seem very frightening but there are organisations that can help you or give you information and remember the interests of your child are protected by the law through the Transition Process. Contact a Family can give excellent support and information locally, as well as your local Education and Library Board.

Family Information Group is grateful to Derry City Council Community Services for supporting this project.