TRANSITION ROADMAP BEGINING IN ELEMENTARY

Elementary Roadmap

This was created to outline the essential skills for elementary students, preparing them for adulthood. You might wonder why it's necessary to consider this when your child is only in elementary school. The skills listed are foundational and play a crucial role in developing the abilities needed for a successful transition into adulthood when the time comes.

Print the Elementary Roadmap Checklist  

The Elementary Roadmap Checklist is a chart that lists essential skills elementary age students need to learn for future transition planning.  The chart also answers the following questions about those skills:

  • When (suggested timeframe) 
  • Who is involved—Who on the team supports the student in the particular area?
  • What/ Activity& Outcome - What is the activity and what outcome can be expected
  • Why/ Skills -  Why are these skills important for secondary transition?
  • Who to Consider -  What student should be considered when doing this activity 

✅ Understanding of Disability

Parents play a crucial role in helping their child learn about their disability for several reasons:

1. Understanding and Acceptance: Learning about disabilities helps kids accept themselves and feel less ashamed.

2. Empowerment: Kids can speak up for themselves and share what they need.

3. Social Interaction: When kids know about their disability, they can explain it to their friends, which helps build empathy and stronger friendships.

4. Emotional Support: Talking openly allows kids to share their feelings and concerns in a safe environment.

5. Role Modeling: Parents who talk about disabilities show their kids how to be strong and solve problems.

By supporting their child’s understanding of their disability, parents empower them to navigate the world with confidence and resilience.

 

When: Start in the elementary years - ongoing
Who is involved: Student, parents, and school staff
What/ Activity& Outcome:  Student learns about his or her disability.
Why/ Skills: So students can explain their disability and the supports they need to learn, work, and participate actively in their community. 
Who to Consider:   All students with disabilities.

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✅ Self-Advocacy: Student learns and builds self-advocacy skills.

An elementary school student learns about self-advocacy by expressing their needs and feelings in the classroom. They practice asking questions if they don’t understand something and learn to speak up for themselves.  Through role-playing activities, they build confidence in communicating with both classmates and teachers, which helps them feel empowered and responsible for their own learning.

When: Start in the elementary years - ongoing
Who is involved: Student, parents, and school staff
What/ Activity& Outcome:   Student learns and builds self-advocacy skills.
Why/ Skills: Self-advocacy skills will enable the student to  participate in the planning and decision-making aspects of their life.
Who to Consider: All students with disabilities

 

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✅ Extracurricular and Community Activities

Extracurricular and community activities give elementary students valuable chances to socialize and develop teamwork skills. By participating in groups, they learn to follow directions, lead, and make friends. These experiences are crucial for building confidence and responsibility, which are important as they grow into adulthood.

When: Start in the elementary years - ongoing
Who is involved: Student with parents and school staff support
What/ Activity& Outcome: Students join in school and community-sponsored activities
Why/ Skills: The student learns to work with others, follow directions, develop leadership skills, and make friends
Who to Consider: All students with disabilities

RESOURCES:

Need to find a new resource


✅ Safety:

Teaching safety skills in elementary school help children learn how to stay safe both in public places and online, getting them ready for adulthood. Students should know how to call 911 in emergencies, including when to do it and how to share their address. It's also crucial to teach them about "stranger danger"; kids need to recognize unsafe situations and know how to ask for help from trusted adults. To learn how to handle situations that could be dangerous to their safety.

When: Begin in elementary - ongoing
Who is involved: Student with parents and school staff support
What/ Activity & Outcome: Students learn and practice how to stay safe in the community, online, and during emergencies
Why/Skills: The student learns to work with others, follow directions, develop leadership skills, and make friends
Who to Consider: All students

Resources:

Need to find a new resource

✅ hhs/hcbs services (securing the funding):

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) support individuals with disabilities and older Iowans in staying in their homes and communities, rather than moving to institutions. Iowa offers seven HCBS waiver programs:

  • Health and Disability (HD) waiver
  • Brain Injury (BI) waiver
  • Intellectual Disability (ID) waiver
  • Children’s Mental Health (CMH) waiver
  • Physical Disability (PD) waiver
  • AIDS/HIV (AH) waiver
  • Elderly (E) waiver

Participants also have access to Medicaid-covered services, as these waivers are often called Medicaid waiver programs. Available services may include: 

  • Respite care (individualized, group, or specialized)
  • Supported Community Living (SCL)
  • Prevocational Services

Very Important Information to Consider:

Some individuals with disabilities may need funding for adult services, which can be accessed through programs like Medicaid and Home and Community-Based Waiver services. These programs assist with daily living, medical care, and employment services. Because waiting lists for these services can be lengthy—often taking five to six years—it is advisable for parents to apply for waiver services early, ideally when their child is in 5th or 6th grade. Delays in getting on the waitlist for adult services can hinder an individual's access to living and work opportunities until the Waiver is established.

  • Who is involved: Parents
  • What/ Activity & Outcome: Parents consider applying for waiver services.
  • Why/ Skills: Home and Community Based (HCBS) Medicaid waiver services provide respite, supported community living, and is the primary funding source for many adult service programs.  
  • Who to Consider: Students who will need long-term support for living and/or vocational services

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