One of the biggest transitions your child will experience is the transition to life after school. It can be a challenging time for any young adult and their family, but it can feel even more overwhelming if your child is a person with disability who needs ongoing support.
As a parent or carer, you play an extremely important role in guiding and supporting your person through this period. Planning ahead and focusing on their unique strengths and needs can help create a smoother journey toward independence and a fulfilling life after school.
Here are some practical tips to help you and your child.
Tip 1: Begin planning early
It is never too early to start thinking about your child’s life after school – you could start as soon as year seven. Having the conversation when they’re young will give you plenty of time to explore options, set goals and talk about your child’s specific needs. It also allows you time to involve the right people. This will likely include:
- Your child
- Their Student Support Group
- Prospective community members and/or employers
- Allied Health practitioners
- Their support worker/s.
Many of these people have access to a wide range of resources that can make the process of transitioning to life after school much easier, such as planning tools and help with accessing additional government funds.
Tip 2: Talk about how the change makes your child feel
Your child may experience a range of emotions when they think about what their life might look like after school. Some children with disability can feel comforted by the structure of the school environment as they know what is expected of them. Life after school may seem overwhelming and scary with unknowns.
If your child is feeling anxious or scared about these conversations, try to frame them in a positive way by focusing on the benefits. For example, you could say:
“You’ll have the chance to try new things that you might really enjoy. Planning helps us make sure you have everything you need to feel safe and ready.”
Another way to help them feel more confident is to explain how they are already on the path to developing the skills they will need for life after school. For instance, maybe you are helping them learn about their self-care, managing their personal routines, or using public transport.
Tip 3: Explore all post-school options
There is no single path for life after school, and every person’s journey may look different.
Here is a list of popular pathways you can explore with your child. It’s helpful to know that that some organisations or services within these pathways may offer trial days to help families like yourself find the right fit:
Work
This can include open employment (jobs alongside people without disability) or supported employment (through Australian Disability Enterprises). There are also specific NDIS supports for eligible young adults who are getting ready to transition from school to the world of work.
Further education
Consider TAFE, university, vocational educational training (VET), or apprenticeships/traineeships. Some young people thrive in vocational education or apprenticeships that combine work and study, and there are specific supports for those with disability.
Day programs
These programs, often run by disability service providers, offer social, recreational and life skill development opportunities. Some include microbusinesses or a combination of work and social activities, designed for people with higher support needs.
volunteering and community participation
Volunteering can be a great way to learn job skills, build independence and make new friends. Many charities and community organisations offer roles for people with different support needs.
Tip 4: Set a vision focused on your child's strengths and interests
In a recent Mable webinar, two experts from the Resourcing Inclusive Communities ‘School to Work’ program shared how creating a vision statement with your child can be a useful tool to help them manage this life change.
This statement can be especially helpful in making decisions about your child’s life after school when there are multiple opportunities, like a specific work experience program, volunteering option, etc.
To create a vision statement, talk about what a ‘good life’ looks like to your child. It might be:
- Wanting to make connections with people
- Finding a purpose, or
- Contributing to their community
It also considers their:
- Interests
- Strengths
- Personal qualities
- Likes and dislikes
When discussing this vision, encourage your child to focus on what makes them happy, whether that’s work, study, being independent, or socialising.
Tip 5: Create goals together
Once you have a clear vision of where you and your child want to go, you can then set short and long term goals to get there.
It’s a good idea to involve your support team when doing this. You may like to include other family members, teachers or support workers. Together, you can also brainstorm a back-up plan for each post-school goal, just in case the first pathway doesn’t work out.
Extra support is close by
With thoughtful planning and support focused on your child’s strengths and goals, life after school can open up new chances for growth, happiness and independence.
A key part of this process is working with qualified, verified independent support workers found through the Mable platform. They can help you sort through the options available and develop a plan to access them, one that is specifically suited to your child and family.
For more information and guidance on navigating the changes that life after school brings, check out Leap In!’s Turning 18 eBook.
Get started and connect with independent support workers on Mable.