Living


Map of Iowa's Mental Health and Disability Service Regions

See which region you are closest to.

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Age of Majority FAQ for Parents and Students

This webpage focuses solely on the transition of youth with disabilities from high school to learning, living and working in the community.

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Transition Tips for Parents of Youth with Visual Impairments

College is an exciting time of life for both parents and youth, but it also can be stressful, especially when the student has a visual impairment. This guide can help you prepare your son or daughter with a vision impairment for success in postsecondary education.

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Transition Planning for Students who are Deaf-blind

Click below for information and resources for deafblind students and their parents as they plan for or participate in postsecondary education and training.

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Heartland AEA Transition Resource Guide

This Transition Resource Guide provides information and ideas to assist families and educators with critical transition planning during a student's high school years. Place it with your child's educational records or in another readily accessible location and refer to it frequently.

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Transition to Adult Healthcare

Got Transition/Center for Health Care Transition Improvement aims to improve transition from pediatric to adult health care through the use of new and innovative strategies for health professionals and youth and families. Click below to learn more about health care transition and the resources Got Transition provides.

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Transfer of Rights

The charts on this page help explain what rights transfer upon the age of majority.

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Path to Independence - Mobile Apps to Support Transition-Age Youth

Many free and low-cost mobile apps are available to support transition-age youth with disabilities as they embark on their journey towards post-secondary education, job training, employment, and independent living.

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Iowa IDEA Information

The i3 website is a one-stop-shop for procedures, guidance and resources on special education for parents, families, educators and partner agencies. The site can be easily translated into different languages, and includes many transition related resources.

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Life After High School Information Sheet

All students face the big transition from high school to the "real world," and students with disabilities may face that transition with even more factors to consider. See our information sheet to learn more about transition planning for students with IEPs.

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Guideposts for Success

The Guideposts for Success can help steer families, institutions and youth themselves through the youth to adulthood transition processes.

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Building Self Advocacy and Self Care Skills

It is important to discuss how your son or daughter's special education team and medical providers can incorporate specific health goals into the scope of education and health transition planning - including self-advocacy and decision-making skills. This page highlights what families can do at home to build self-care, self-management, and self-advocacy skills.

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Transition Terms Information Sheet

Special Education uses many acronyms or abbreviations, many of which families become familiar while their student is in school. As teens and their families prepare to exit school and begin life as an adult, they are faced with many new terms and acronyms. See our information sheet for definitions of some words and acronyms often used during this important time.

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National Technical Assistance Transition Center

NTACT assists State Education Agencies, Local Education Agencies, State VR agencies, and VR service providers in implementing evidence-based and promising practices ensuring students with disabilities, including those with significant disabilities, graduate prepared for success in postsecondary education and employment. Click below to learn more about how NTACT is improving postsecondary outcomes for all students with disabilities, and the resources they provide.

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National Resources for Advocacy, Independence, Self-determination and Employment Technical Assistance Center

(RAISE) Technical Assistance Center works with the seven Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA)-funded Parent Training & Information Centers to develop and disseminate information and resources that increase their capacity to serve youth and young adults with disabilities and their families.

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Easter Seals Iowa Assistive Technology Center

The Easterseals Iowa Assistive Technology (AT) Center holds a variety of resources to support Iowans. The Lending Library is a great way to make sure a product works before making a purchase, by allowing Iowans to borrow devices, free of charge for 30 days. Iowa Assistive Technology Exchange Program, a "classified ads" feature, connects people with available AT across the state. It is free of charge to create an account.

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Assistive Technology that Supports Independent Living

There is a wide range of Assistive Technology (AT) that can be used to support young adults with disabilities that want to gain independence and live on their own. Click below to learn about the many kinds of AT that can help teens and young adults to develop the skills needed to live more independently.

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Transition Planning for Students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Transition planning is essential for deaf students, who experience unique educational and life challenges as a result of their hearing loss, such as communication barriers, lack of effective accommodations, and intentional and unintentional discrimination.

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Age of Majority Information Sheet

Age of majority is the legal age established by state law at which a person is no longer a minor and has the right and the responsibility to make certain legal choices that adults make. See our information sheet to learn more about Age of Majority.

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