The Family Page

...For Successful Transition From The School System

These guidelines are intended for those who are planning for students who may require supports after leaving school.  For the young adult leaving school there are many unknowns.  For the young adult with an extra need for supports those unknowns increase.  This web site should help to anticipate those unknowns and smooth the way in which they are addressed.

The Manitoba Departments of Family Services and Housing; Health; and Education, Citizenship and Youth have mandated collaborative planning for students requiring support. The service system for adults is complex, and often more specific in terms of eligibility, availability, and funding.  Planning for this change to adult supports is called transition planning.

Lifestyles and responsibilities change as youth approach adulthood.  They become more independent of family support and may move out of the family home, move on to work, or post secondary education.  They have increased rights, and are expected to take on increased responsibilities.

Some students may need support with some of these lifestyle changes.  During adulthood they may need:

• Income assistance to meet their basic financial needs
  
• A home that includes supports to carry out everyday activities
• Short-term or long-term supports to find and hold a job or alternative occupation
• Support with social relationships and participation in the community
• Support with decision making

The school system is required to work with students and parents/guardians to meet those needs.  They do so by starting an individualized transition plan, which should start at age 16.  This planning may involve several government departments and adult agencies, depending on the young adult's needs.

Roles and Responsibilities for Transition Planning

Student and Family or Support Network:

• Become aware of support options available for adults, express preferences and opinions, and make decisions about school curriculum and the future.
•  Parents, siblings, friends, relatives, support staff, foster parents (referred to as the support network) may contribute to the student’s dreams, needs, values, decisions and preferences, and expressing these.
• Advocate for new or enhanced services to better meet a preferred future lifestyle, or involve other agencies to do so. 

School Division:

• Provide initial information to the student about service options available for adults and the transitional planning process.
• Explore potential graduation dates with the student and team participants at transitional meetings.
•  Develop a curriculum for the transitional period in accordance with the student's strengths, needs, and desires for the future, which focuses on career and community awareness, developing work, community, daily living, social and functional academic skills.
• Maintain and update necessary information on student which will support eligibility for specific adult services and for identifying the type and level of supports which the student will needs as an adult.

School Division Contacts

Services for Adults

These  programs may be involved to assist a student with successful transition to adult employment and living situations.  Each program determines the student's eligibility for services, and assigns a worker to become involved in transitional planning, making appropriate referrals, funding requests, etc.

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services:  Services for adults with a learning disability, psychiatric disability, intellectual disability (including borderline intellectual functioning), visual or hearing impairment, or physical disability who require assistance to achieve their goal of competitive employment.  These services are also provided by Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, and Canadian Paraplegic Association.
• Supported Living & Day Service Programs:  services for adults with an intellectual disability who require residential and day services, and related supports in the community.
• Community Mental Health: services for adults with a mental health disability or mental disorder who require psychiatric treatment and residential, vocational, and personal supports in the community.
• Employment and Income Assistance: financial supports for individuals who require this assistance to meet their basic needs while they become self sufficient in employment.