Maria Mazzoni's website, www.LifeAfterIEPs.com, is loaded with resources for parents of teens with special needs to prepare them for, well, life after IEPs.

IEPs loom large in the lives of parents of kids with special needs. From birth to age 21, those individualized educational plans shape a child’s schooling, therapy, and care plans. But what happens after age 21? How can parents prepare ahead of time so they know where to find resources and support?

LifeAfterIEPs.com

One fine resource is Maria Mazzoni’s website www.LifeAfterIEPs.com. It is loaded with resources for parents of teens with special needs to prepare them for, well, life after IEPs. It is an amazing site, rich with resources, well-organized, and hopeful. I love hopeful. You can sign up for a free weekly newsletter to receive tips about IEPs and transition planning.

Parent Survey Results

In July, Mazzoni compiled the results of a parent survey she conducted about what parents see as their greatest needs after IEPs. She asked for feedback about the following topics:

  • Transition Assessment
  • Goals and Transition Activities in IEP
  • Financial Issues
  • Career and Employment Planning
  • Planning for Postsecondary Education or Training
  • Guardianship and Legal Issues
  • Healthcare
  • Navigating Adult Agencies
  • Safety
  • Developing a Support Network
  • Sexuality
  • Social and Recreation

 

And the results looked like this:

Read About the Life After IEPs Survey

The above list and the graph barely touch the surface of the information Mazzoni shared in her July 4 post, Parent Survey Results Are In! The number of links and survey analysis included in the post is astonishing, so be sure to stop by and give it a read. Also, she plans to blog further about each item in the survey, so check back often to see what she has to say. (When this DifferentDream.com post was written, the first post in the series You want to grow your personal networks had already gone up.)

What Resources for Adult Children Do You Know About?

The majority of Different Dream readers have younger children. But some of you, including guest blogger Kathy Guzzo, are parenting adults with a variety of special needs. What resources does your child tap into? What advice do you have for parents who are initiating the transition process for their teens? Leave a comment to share your wisdom.

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