Transition to Adulthood
In the United States, most school-based supports end at age 21 or 22. Federal law requires an Individualized Education Program (IEP) transition plan by age 16 — many states start earlier at 14 — and that plan is the anchor for everything that follows.
Start with a transition plan
A good transition plan covers three domains: postsecondary education or training, employment, and independent living. Goals should be measurable and reviewed every year. Autism Speaks' Transition Tool Kit walks families through each domain with worksheets.
The legal cliff at 18
At 18, your child is legally an adult even if they need daily support. Decide before the birthday which of these fits:
- Supported decision-making — the least restrictive; the young adult keeps rights and picks trusted people to help think through decisions.
- Power of attorney / healthcare proxy — the young adult signs authority over to a parent or trusted person, and can revoke it.
- Guardianship or conservatorship — court-appointed, removes legal rights; treat as a last resort.
The Arc and the National Council on Disability both recommend starting with the least restrictive option that meets the young person's needs.
Benefits and finances
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income) eligibility resets at 18 — parental income no longer counts. Many teens who were denied as minors qualify as adults.
- Medicaid waivers (called HCBS waivers) fund in-home supports, respite, and day programs. Waitlists are long — some states are 5–10 years. Apply the moment your child qualifies.
- ABLE accounts let a disabled person save up to $100,000 without losing SSI or Medicaid.
Healthcare transition
Move from a pediatrician to an adult primary care provider between ages 18–21. Got Transition, a federal program, has free checklists for teens, families, and clinicians.
The bottom line
Start at 14. Revisit annually. The families who feel least panicked at 21 are the ones who treated transition as a five-year project, not a senior-year scramble.