Transitions, including from school to college or work in the community and from pediatric to adult health care providers, can present unique challenges for people with Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). One significant challenge is that the transition services and supports currently offered to youth and adults with IDD by school and health systems are often fragmented and difficult to navigate.
To address these barriers to community living and competitive integrated employment, ACL is awarding a total of $1 million in grants to 10 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs). UCEDDs will use the one-year planning grants to establish “community based transition pilots” for youth and adults with IDD.
UCEDDs will lead partnerships that include community-based service providers, local businesses and/or government, self-advocacy organizations, and youth and adults with IDD. Each partnership will conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of the transition services in their state and will deliver by the end of the project year an actionable plan with ready-to-implement solutions.
Grants are being awarded to UCEDDs at:
- Georgetown University
- Northern Arizona University
- University of Georgia
- University of Iowa
- University of Kansas
- University of Rochester
- University of South Carolina
- University of Southern Mississippi
- University of Wisconsin
- Vanderbilt University
Supporting transitions for people with disabilities is a priority across ACL's disability networks. For example, Centers for Independent Living support youth with disabilities transitioning to postsecondary life and support people with disabilities of all ages transitioning from nursing homes and other institutions back into the community. The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) also funds a variety of transition-related projects including projects focused on supporting youth and adults with IDD.