Transition is an ongoing process th

Transition is an ongoing process that will take months or even years to complete. Expect your role in the process to be both rewarding and demanding. You may at times find yourself surrounded by experts who are focusing on your teen's disability and the challenges that go along with it. One of the hardest and most important tasks you face is to maintain a positive attitude and high expectations for, and of, your teen. How you view your teen can have a profound influence on how others view your teen.
Throughout the transition process, you may feel the strong pull of your teen towards independence, which is a perfectly normal part of growing up. Your teen's disability may make it hard for you to decide how to react. On one hand, you may want to support your teen's move toward independence but on the other, you will likely be concerned about your teen's particular health and safety needs.

The following suggestions may help with some of these concerns:

• Accept that transition can be a challenging and confusing time.
• Take an active role on your teen's transition planning team. Find out all you can about transition planning.
• Find support inside the school system. Develop strong relationships with teachers, administrators and other professionals who you feel understand and support your teen.
• Join (or create) a support