Discover the right Curriculum subject & level for your learners — TAKE THE QUIZ!

  • Search
Shop Now

Thinking Ahead: Preparing for Life after Graduation

As busy parents and educators, it can be hard to think of anything else other than the present moment. I

Thinking Ahead: Preparing for Life after Graduation

As busy parents and educators, it can be hard to think of anything else other than the present moment. I

As busy parents and educators, it can be hard to think of anything else other than the present moment.  I spent many years of my career working with students in high school and transition programs, and it can be very overwhelming for families and students to plan for the future when school is done, whether that is after high school graduation or completion of a transition program. However, I have found that when we can start thinking ahead to plans for the future, we can collaboratively support the student to meet that goal.  While we don’t have a crystal ball to accurately predict what the future looks like for our students, there are a few actionable steps we can take as a team to prepare for the future.  

Start the Conversation Early

It can seem crazy to start thinking about the future when your child is young, but if there’s anything I have learned as a parent, it is that time truly does fly!  The sooner you are able to start thinking about your child’s future, the better.  Students will certainly make progress throughout their educational career, but by starting to think about a variety of possible scenarios, you can be prepared to work collaboratively to goals that will support your child’s future plans, even if it changes over time.  

Focus on Independence

No matter what a student’s plan is after high school/transition, any independence the team can foster from a young age will be helpful.  Encourage your team to monitor the amount of assistance provided to students, especially in the form of verbal prompting.  Verbal prompts are some of the hardest to fade away, and if students are continually prompted from a young age they become much more dependent.  It is important to allow students to try to problem solve situations on their own when able.  Try not to jump right in and anticipate their needs before they have a chance to attempt to figure it out themselves or self-advocate.  If your student has a 1:1 paraprofessional, it would be important for the team to continually revisit the need for a high level of adult support and problem solve any ways to pull back, if able.

IMG_9117

IMG_7387

Get Connected

In the state where I live and work, there are services and supports that are available to students after graduation/transition, but it can be a very complicated and overwhelming process to understand and navigate.  Get connected as soon as you can with agencies and resources that can help you understand and prepare for important decisions and conversations, which may include things like guardianship, financial considerations, medicaid, home supports, work supports, etc.  

 

IMG_8801

IMG_9954

While it can be difficult to think about what lies ahead for our students, the sooner we can gather information and have open conversations with each other, the better we can support students and families to meet their future goals.
Katie McKenna, MS, OTR/L
Latest posts by Katie McKenna, MS, OTR/L (see all)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Live & On-Demand Training

Picture of Katie McKenna, MS, OTR/L

Katie McKenna, MS, OTR/L

Related posts

OT Perspective
  • OT Perspective

5 Items I’m Adding to my OT Toolkit This School Year

Student engagement is essential for effective therapy sessions.  As the school year begins, I have found myself taking some time…
Sep 10, 2025
Learn More
OT Perspective
  • OT Perspective

5 OT Tips for Creating a Regulating Morning Routine

Author Recent Posts Katie McKenna, MS, OTR/L Latest posts by Katie McKenna, MS, OTR/L (see all) 5 Items I’m Adding…
Aug 13, 2025
Learn More
Academics
  • Academics
  • Basic Skills
  • Resources
  • Summer

Sweet Summertime Activities

I cannot believe it’s time to be writing a summertime post!  How is it already June (or maybe you’re thinking…finally)?…
Jun 4, 2025
Learn More

FAQ

Do you accept School Pos?

Yes! We are happy to work with school districts to complete orders from our store for individual or groups of teachers. We accept purchase orders, can provide formal estimates, or complete any vendor paperwork you may need to support your district’s purchasing process. Submit a PO to [email protected] or request our W9 to get started!

The Membership gives you continuous access to a growing library of professional development, monthly trainings, resources, and practical tools you can use right away. It’s designed for educators, clinicians, and teams who want consistent support, fresh ideas, and ready-to-use materials all year long.

Courses are focused, start-to-finish learning experiences. Each course dives deep into one specific topic with structured modules, step-by-step instruction, and a clear learning path. You move through the content intentionally to build mastery in that area.

Curriculum Access is a complete, standards-aligned curriculum platform with lessons, materials, data tracking, and implementation tools built for special education classrooms. It helps you actually teach the skills, not just learn about how to teach them.

The resources you purchase are delivered electronically. We will not be shipping any finished products to you – they are all electronically downloadable.

We offer a lot of free information on everything from behavior supports to academic instruction to communication skill building. Start off at our blog, check out our YouTube videos, listen to our weekly podcast, and go in-depth with our free webinars.

Contact us

Shop Now