School Transition for Students with Developmental Disabilities

The transition from school life to adulthood is a turning point in a young person's life. This is no different for a teenager with developmental disabilities.

Choices for the student moving from school to adult life can include continuing education, getting a job or taking part in other meaningful activities, such as volunteering and job or life-skills development.

Accessing these activities takes advance planning. OPWDD works with the New York State Education Department, school special education staff, the student’s family and Care Coordination Organization (CCO) staff to help students to plan for their transition from school and to identify the supports that they will need in adult life.

Schools help students connect to their futures.

Transition planning is the process schools use to help students with disabilities and their families as they plan for life after high school.

The sooner the process begins for the student, the better.  Schools need to inform students and families about the transition planning process and help them navigate through it.

Some facts about transition planning:

• School services are available to students with disabilities until they graduate with a Regents or local diploma, or their access to a free appropriate public education ends. However, schools are expected to work with each student with developmental disabilities to have a transition plan in place by age 15 or earlier (8NYCRR 200.4(d)(2)(ix)) to ensure that services will be available when they need them.
• Students interested in OPWDD adult supports should begin working with OPWDD at least three years prior to completing their educational program.
• Schools need to get signed consent forms from the student's family in order to tell OPWDD about students who may be eligible for OPWDD services, to share records with OWPDD or to work together with OPWDD staff on transition planning.
• Parents or guardians interested in allowing the school and OPWDD to share information must fill out a Consent to Release Information form.

View the consent form for transition planning in multiple languages.

If you need these documents in a language other than those listed below, please contact OPWDD's Statewide Language Access Coordinator at 1-866-946-9733.

Transition Planning Flyer: From School to Adult Life 

CCO Coverage Chart

To learn more about eligibility for OPWDD services, go to the Eligibility section of this website.

OPWDD's School Transition Toolkit is available for school administrators, school staff, and students and their families. OPWDD's School Transition Toolkit includes important materials and links that will be helpful for school administrators and school staff, as well as to students who are preparing to move from school life to adult life and their families.