Transition Planning

By age 14, your child's IEP will contain a transition plan which begins to consider and reflect their post-high school plans regarding higher education, employment, military service, vocational training, and/or independent living. The IEP will include a statement of their transition service needs; including courses required for graduation and community based experiences, in addition to referrals to state agencies like the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and DVRS.

The student's special education programs end once the student fulfills the goals in their IEP or at the end of the school year when they turn 21.

Age 14:

• • • Before age 14, starting talking to your child about their interests and what they may see themselves doing as a career or job after they graduate. 

    • Begin to give your child an opportunity to interact with money, engage them in the surrounding community, do volunteer work together, and begin to encourage more independence. 

    • As your child gets closer to age 18, begin to think about whether or not applying for guardianship will be necessary. For more information regarding guardianship and alternatives to guardianship, please visit The Arc of NJ's Guardianship & Alternatives Options Go Bag or view their Guardianship Webinar. 

At Age 18:

• • • Apply for Social Security benefits. The Social Security Benefit Application can be found HERE.

    • Apply for Medicaid. Apply for Medicaid/NJ Family Care online. Information on Medicaid eligibility as it relates to DDD is available HERE. *Please note: individuals who qualify for SSI benefits, will automatically receive Medicaid benefits.   

    • Start the DDD application process. To determine eligibility, contact the Intake Unit at the DDD Community Services Office in Voorhees at (856) 770‐5900 or start the application process through the DDD website. *Please note: individuals seeking DDD services can begin the application process at the age of 18, but will continue to receive service from PerformCare and the school system until the age of 21.  

    • Complete a New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) referral. Take this step if your child does NOT plan to attend college, trade school, or participate in the Job Transition II program but may still need support to obtain or maintain employment after they graduate, complete the DVRS Confidential Referral Form is on this page or contact the Camden County DVRS office at 856-614-2500 to complete the form over the phone. For more information about the types of services available through DVRS, click HERE. 

During the School Year Your Child Turns 21:

Between September and January:

• • • Ensure you are eligible for DDD services. Follow the steps listed above to determine eligibility or apply for DDD services. If you started the DDD application process previously, eligibility must be confirmed regardless of past approval. 

    • Ensure you are eligible for Medicaid. Follow the steps listed above to determine eligibility for Medicaid and contact the Medicaid Eligibility Help Desk if you have any questions. If your Medicaid eligibility is denied or terminated, please complete DDD's Medicaid Eligibility Troubleshooting Form and submit it, along with a copy of the Medicaid denial letter, to the Help Desk. 

    • Complete the NJ Comprehensive Assessment Tool (NJ CAT). To complete this step, please contact the Intake Unit at the DDD Community Services Office in Voorhees at (856) 770‐5900 to request access to complete the NJ CAT through the online survey or by phone call. 

Between September and June:

• • • Participate in activities offered through the Planning for Adult Life project. This project was developed by The Arc of New Jersey and Community Access Unlimited with funding from the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities. Check out their website for details about training sessions, resource materials, webinars, student groups, and parent groups covering topics for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities between the ages of 16‐21 and their families. Topics covered through this project include but are not limited to transition planning, guardianship, employment/post‐secondary education, housing, self‐direction, self‐ advocacy/awareness, legal/financial planning, health/behavioral health, guardianship, building/maintaining community ties, and friendships.

    • Identify the student’s vision for work and life and supports he/she may need through Person‐Centered Planning. Use DDD’s Person‐Centered Planning Tool (PCPT) to help get you started. 

    • Research Service Providers and Support Coordination Agencies. Potential Support Coordination Agencies can be found through the Provider Search Database using the following three steps: 

      • • • 1. Under Filter, select “Service” and check Support Coordination

            2. Select “County Served” and select the county in which the individual resides

            3. Click the magnifying glass. If you do not have a preference, you can choose to have the Division auto‐assign one to you. 

Before March:

• • • Complete and submit the Support Coordination Agency (SCA) Selection Form. This form will be provided through the Intake Unit within your DDD Community Services Office and the completed SCA Selection Form should be submitted to DDD.SCAChoice@dhs.state.nj.us. DDD will process these forms to confirm DDD eligibility, Medicaid eligibility, and the completion of the NJCAT. The Support Coordination Agency will not be assigned until April. Review the Research Service Providers and Support Coordination Agencies section above for help identifying agencies. 

April to June:

• • • Develop the Individualized Service Plan (ISP). The Support Coordinator will be responsible for writing the ISP, with guidance from the planning team including, the individual, support coordinator, family, providers, etc., through the Person‐Centered Planning process and information gathered from the NJ CAT. *The ISP should be completed and approved prior to exiting the school system in order for services/supports to be available upon graduation.

For more Information:

• • • PACER's National Parent Center on Transition and Employment is especially helpful with more than 200 videos, an extensive resource library, and a learning center.

    • Guardianship & Alternatives to Guardianship information from the Arc of NJ.

    • Planning for Adult Life - includes training sessions, webinars, resource materials, and student groups. Topics include: transition planning, guardianship, employment & post-secondary education, housing, self-direction, self-advocacy, financial planning and more. 

    • Planning the Transition from School to Adult Life: Consideration for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, published by Autism NJ

    • Autism Speaks Transition Toolkit: A Guide to Assist Families on the Journey from Adolescence to Adulthood

    • Graduates Aging Out of the School System: Steps to Accessing Services, NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

    • Establishing a Special Needs Trust or ABLE account for your child. 

    • PLAN/NJ assists in the future care planning of individuals with various mental health and developmental disabilities in New Jersey by working directly with parents and family members to answer the question,  "Who will care for my loved one when I am gone?"   

Additional Contacts:

• • • Autism New Jersey Helpline: 800-4-Autism (800-428-8476)

    • The ARC of NJ, Planning for Adult Life: 732-246-2525

    • Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN): 973-642-8100

    • NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities: 800-832-9173

    • NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities Community Services Office, Voorhees: (856) 770‐5900

    • PerformCare: 877-652-7624