High School Transition
Supporting families with transition-aged youth with disabilities as they transition from high school into adulthood.
High School Transition and Occupational Therapy
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 identified four main areas of transition for transition-aged youth with disabilities (e.g., 16-24 years of age) including employment, post-secondary education, community participation, and independent living. Occupational therapists focus on promoting skills and independence with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living that directly relate to promoting successful transitions for this population.
These areas include, but are not limited to:
Community mobility (riding the bus)
Post-secondary education (e.g., applying for college
Gaining and maintaining employment (e.g., applying for jobs, interviews, resumes, social skills)
Basic activities of daily living (e.g., hygiene, grooming, dressing)
Cooking
Household management/chores
Time management
Money management
Appropriate social participation
Leisure exploration
Employment interest exploration
Job training and coaching through mock job training/internships
​
Client Story:
Rachel, a 16-year-old with Down Syndrome, expressed interest in gaining and maintaining employment and living independently after graduating from high school. Rachel enjoys cooking, cleaning/doing chores, sports activities, and watching movies with her friends. Rachel has received occupational therapy services at Dynamic OT since she was 5. As she has become a high school student, her therapy sessions have focused more on cooking, cleaning/chores, grocery shopping, hygiene, social participation, community navigation, and other related activities. Through local business partners, Rachel completed pre-employment training opportunities including cleaning a local office every week with support from her therapist to promote her pre-employment skills. Through these opportunities, Rachel is able to cook simple meals, complete increasingly complex chores, and complete simple job tasks with little to no support from her occupational therapist.
​
Courtney Gerken, OTR/L specializes in this area of occupational therapy and was published in this area. Click the link below to read more!
​
Want to learn more about this specialty area and what we can do for your family? Contact us today!
