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Adulthood - Questions to Consider

Explore services for adults with disabilities and families in this life stage.

Charting the Life Course is a tool, developed by the Supporting Families Community of Practice and the University of Missouri Kansas City, to assist you in creating a vision for the future. It is designed to help families think about the questions to ask as you “plot a course” to a full and meaningful life for a family member with a disability.  

Here's a few questions that the "Life Course approach" encourages families to consider, if they have an adult family member with a disability.

  1. What will I do during the day now that I am an adult? Will I have a full time job, part time job, volunteer, or go to some sort of program?
  2. Where can I learn or improve my employment skills? Can I turn an interest of mine into a way to earn income/start my own business?
  3. Do I know how, or is there someone to assist me with tasks such as meal planning, cooking, or grocery shopping?
  4. How am I exploring or developing my interests or finding new ones?
  5. How do I get around to places I need or want to go?
  6. Would a limited or joint bank account, automatic bill pay or a debit card help me with managing my own money?
  7. What can I do in the community for fun and friendship? Do I have friends with and without disabilities?

For a full list of questions families can consider for this stage of life, download the Charting the Life Course booklet and other resources at http://www.lifecoursetools.com/.

The questions in Charting the Life Course are written to reflect a “first person” perspective across the lifespan to represent the viewpoint of the person with a disability and the on-going transformation to an adult who is self-determined, autonomous and independent.