What Happens When Kids Age Out of Special Education?

posted on Feb 22 by Stacy in the Cerebral Palsy, Disability News category

If you are a special needs student, when you reach the age of 21 your education and therapy services run out. It is known as “aging out.” The Individual Disability Education Act guarantees free appropriate education, including any therapies needed, from ages 3 to 21. The federal government provides the funding to the states.

It is over at the age of 21 and the young adults as well as their families are on their own. What happens to these young adults? Where do they go after they “age out?”

Ellen D’Ascenzo is the mother of one such child. Speaking of her daughter Nicole, Mrs. D’Ascenzo says: “There has to be a way that Nicole can continue to be among her peers with disabilities, in an appropriate day treatment program,” she said. “Currently, there is no such place in the area. STAR (Society for the Advancement of the Retarded) in Norwalk does a wonderful job, but their program is designed for more functional individuals with special needs.”

Cerebral Palsy Center of Westchester (CPW) is interested in setting up a program in Norwalk, however CPW requires a minimum of 15 young adults before they can begin a Connecticut program. A 7,000-square-foot handicap-accessible site has been found. Mrs. D’Ascenzo has reached 10 families who are also affected by the “aging out” of their special needs children. Mrs. D’Ascenzo is sure that there are many more in the Norwalk area that would benefit from this program, and is meeting and networking with other families.

Have you been affected by the “aging out” process? If so, what has your family done?

Source: http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/wiltonbulletin/news/localnews/50026-special-needs-students-face-aging-out-dilemma.htm