Growing Up Gimp

I had a bunch of meetings today dealing with transition issues. Transition, in terms of disability policy, concerns issues that affect teens and young adults with disabilities. Things like finding a job, going to college, living independently. Adolescence is a tumultuous time in life, but kids with disabilities confront additional obstacles that their peers don’t have to deal with. And I’m not just talking about getting connected with appropriate services. That’s definitely an issue, but one that can be remedied with some good policy and coordinated efforts among various agencies. The real problems facing transition-age kids are much more difficult to address. A lot of kids suffer from a crisis of low expectations that is reinforced by the parents and professionals around them. I’ve encountered kids whose plans after high school consist of little more than staying home and watching television. They simply can’t imagine being employed or going on to school. With each passing generation, things get a little better for these kids, but progress moves at a glacial pace. I won’t be surprised if, fifteen years from now, I’m sitting in another meeting to discuss the same issues.