Transition to Adulthood

Oregon offers several graduation and completion options. Students who receive an Oregon (regular) diploma or the Modified Oregon Diploma are considered high school graduates.

The Oregon Extended Diploma and Certificate of Attendance are additional completion options. These may limit a student’s post-secondary opportunities.

Learn about what is needed to graduate with an Oregon Diploma, Modified Diploma, Extended Diploma, or Certificate of Attendance.

Knowing your child’s options can help direct conversations about the best pathway for them.

Check out this Student Rubric from I’m Determined as well as a video series to help you be more involved in decisions that impact your life!

Whether you're thinking about college, a career, independent living, or just wondering what adulting even looks like for YOU — there are people and programs out there ready to help.

Learn about your options now so you're ready to take on the world when you turn 18!

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires districts to consider the transition needs of students on IEPs, from the year in which they turn 16 on. Learn what to expect.

Think College helps students with intellectual disability know their options. Their one-of-a-kind directory features information on 379 postsecondary education programs across the U.S.

Discover how students with disabilities can succeed in college.

This guide explains key rights, laws, and resources that support accessibility in higher education.

This guide from Study.com is intended to help students with disabilities learn about their rights, the laws that protect them, and the resources available to help them see through their goal of obtaining higher education.

Yes, students with disabilities can go to college and even make it to the top of their class.

Financial aid can help you afford your education after high school

Learn about and apply for grants and scholarships, get help completing financial aid applications, and learn about preparing for college, training, and careers.

Many online colleges offer programs tailored to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities. Learn about some of the most affordable.

OCDD publishes a guide for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities focused on the transition from high school and/or transition programs to “integrated competitive employment.”

Everyone has talents. Explore your talents, interests, and abilities. Then think about what kind of job might be good for you!

Anyone can work - even if you have a disability.

In-depth Information for educators and families about all aspects of transition, from diploma options to employment and independent living.

Family members can play a key role in setting expectations and providing opportunities for their young adult with a disability to work.

This training gives tools and strategies for employment planning and how to identify opportunities for young adults.

If you haven’t already, apply for Department of Vocational Rehabilitation services for employment support

WIN is a FREE benefits counseling service for any Oregonian with a disability who is working or wants to work.

WIN can help you understand how work will affect benefits like SSI, Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance.

In Oregon, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) earn competitive wages and benefits alongside coworkers without disabilities.

This means that people have more opportunities to reach their potential and fully participate in their community.

Get tips to build your resume, as well as learn about anti-discrimination laws and other topics for disabled workers.

Learn about employment services that support individuals with I/DD to find and keep jobs in their communities.

The Road Map to Work is a personal planning tool you can use to plan your road to employment and understand the available services and supports.

Workability connects people seeking jobs who are neurodiverse and disabled with employers.

The journey to employment looks different for everyone. With the right tools and strategies, you can navigate it with confidence.

Work incentives are special rules that enable people receiving Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work AND receive monthly payments and Medicare or Medicaid. 

Ever consider nursing? For people with disabilities, there are opportunities and resources for those who want to enter healthcare, no matter how disability impacts them.

The National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making’s mission is to help people with disabilities lead amazing lives through supported decision making. 

Their robust resources include tools such as sample SDM agreements and guides to help you create a plan.

Supported decision making (SDM) is a tool that allows people with disabilities to retain their decision making capacity by choosing supporters to help them make choices.

Learn about SDM, rights for people with disabilities, and the role of supporters.

Everyone should be able to live with as much self-determination and independence as possible. Guardianship should be limited to meet the actual needs of someone with a disability. Learn about the options available to people with disabilities and their families.

Did you know that ALL Oregon districts MUST share information about SDM with transition-aged youth and their families?

Oregon Transition Education supports educators, families, and youth with resources about SDM.

The national ABLE Act was signed into law in 2014, providing a way for people with disabilities to save without losing government benefits.

Oregon ABLE Savings Plan helps people with disabilities and their families save for goals, invest for the future tax free, keep public benefits like SSI, and even get a state tax credit for contributions.

Get a safe, affordable, and convenient checking or savings account. Many Oregon banks and credit unions offer Bank On certified accounts that help you keep your money safe and are easy to use. Accounts are either free or very low cost.

The Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation’s Family Companion to Cents & Sensibility: A Guide to Money Management helps families talk about money with children and youth with disabilities. Explore “Teachable Moments” and “Conversation Starters” that families can incorporate into everyday life.

Get the Guide: English | Español

FACT Oregon’s 6-session virtual training series helps young people with disabilities, along with their families, learn how to manage and make smart choices about money.

The interactive StudyMoney.us website is designed to help people with disabilities and their families and advocates learn about managing money. They have online modules to support self-paced learning for many money management topics.

The Oregon Special Needs Trust (OSNT) is a pooled trust established to offer families a dependable, affordable way to provide financial security and an enhanced quality of life for their loved ones, while preserving the benefits that they depend on in their daily lives. Since its inception in 1999, the OSNT program has also become an effective means of safeguarding money for individuals whose own resources threaten their ongoing eligibility for public benefits.

The Academy of Special Needs Planners manages a website, Special Needs Answers, to help you find financial planners in your area with expertise in special needs planning.

This DFR publication helps you make important decisions and know steps you need to take as you start a new job.

These toolkits were developed by LifeCourse Nexus and the Center for Transition to Adulth Health Care for Youth with Disabiliites. They help you learn and get ready to move to adult health care and live a healthy adult life.

The UCEDD helps support the Lifespan Transition Clinic at the Institute on Development & Disability. This clinic is designed for transition-aged youth age 14-24. We work with patients who experience many different disabilities and mental health conditions. 

This national health care transition resource center empowers youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) ages 12-26 to direct their own transition from pediatric to adult care with no reduction in quality of care and no gaps in service.

OHSU UCEDD offers holistic sexual health education for everyone, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). When we provide young people with holistic sexual health education, we support their relationship, sexual, and reproductive rights. 

Got Transition aims to help youth and young adults move from pediatric to adult health care.