Letter to The Editor

The best place to start might be a conversation (which doesn’t have to be verbal) with your daughter. Help her dream big! Even if the goals seem out of reach, you can work together to plan steps toward what she wants. We highly recommend the LifeCourse Framework to help. You can download tools to help you and your daughter think about what you want for this next phase of her life – and how to get there.

Transition Tennessee is a free, statewide website that helps students plan for life after high school. The Family Portal offers short lessons and ready-to-use tools on career exploration, college and training options, independent living, and self-advocacy. Many resources connect to Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), which are activities that help students build job and life skills before they graduate.

You can visit transitiontn.org, choose the Family Portal, and browse step-by-step guides, checklists, and videos. Educators and VR (Vocational Rehabilitation) counselors also use these materials, so everyone can stay on the same page.

Centers for Independent Living are community nonprofits run by and for people with disabilities. They serve all disabilities and focus on building real-life skills; like travel training, budgeting, self-advocacy, and navigating housing and employment. Your regional Center for Indepdeant Living offers five core services: information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, individual/system advocacy, and transition services (including youth transition). Tennessee has six CILs serving different regions across the state.

To get started, find your closest center through the Statewide Independent Living by visiting SILC’s site to see how they can support you and your daughter's goals.

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) at the TN Department of Human Services is the front door to job and life-skills support for your daughter. VR serves Tennesseans with disabilities (including middle and high schoolers) by building a plan for work and independence. A VR counselor can partner with your family to create an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) based on your daughter’s strengths and goals. Services may include career exploration, work-based learning, job coaching, assistive technology, and training through Tennessee Rehabilitation Centers or community providers.

To start or explore further, you can submit a VR referral online or call your local VR office.

Medicaid Alternative Pathways (MAPs) offered by the Department of Disability and Aging. MAPs a 3-year program that helps young adults with IDD build a life they choose; learning work skills, practicing independent living, exploring their communities, and finding hobbies that fit. Services can last up to three years and are a good fit for students graduating or recently graduated (including inclusive higher ed students) and people waiting for other long-term supports. MAPs is not for people already enrolled in HCBS or other long-term services.

To learn more about MAPs. click here to access this one pager about the program, or visit the webpage online to find out how to apply.

ECF CHOICES is Tennessee’s Medicaid program that provides long-term daily life support to people with IDD to help them build daily living skills, and stay active in their communities. It can fund supports like job coaching, community day services, personal assistance, and enabling technology; organized around your daughter’s goals. Visit the ECF CHOICES webpage for more information.