Developmental Disabilities Guide for Young Adults after High School
What Happens After Graduation?
Graduation is a milestone every family looks forward to — and for families of a young adult with a developmental disability, it can also bring a wave of new questions. School-based services and the structure of an IEP don't carry over into adulthood automatically. The good news: Ohio has a network of programs designed to help young adults keep building skills, find work, and stay connected to their communities. Here's a plain-language overview to help you start planning.
Start Early — Ideally by Age 14
Ohio schools are required to begin transition planning for students with disabilities no later than age 14, with federal law (IDEA) requiring it by 16. This planning happens through the IEP and should cover goals for employment, further education or training, and independent living. If your student is younger than 14 and you're already thinking about "what's next," it's not too early to raise it with the school's transition coordinator.
Families can also stay enrolled in school-based services through age 21 if they choose not to graduate with a diploma right away — an option worth discussing with your IEP team if more time would help your student build skills before moving on.
Getting Connected to County Boards of DD
Ohio's 88 counties each have a County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CBDD). If your young adult isn't already connected to their county board, this is usually the first call to make. Once enrolled, they'll typically be assigned a Service and Support Administrator (SSA) — a caseworker who helps identify eligibility for Medicaid waivers, connects families to providers, and coordinates the move from school-based supports to adult services.
Key Services to Know About
Employment support through Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). OOD offers vocational rehabilitation services, job coaching, and job development for people seeking competitive, integrated employment. Ohio's Employment First policy makes competitive employment the priority option for adults with developmental disabilities, before other alternatives are considered.
Adult day supports. For individuals for whom competitive employment isn't the right fit yet — or at all — county boards can connect families to adult day programs that build skills, offer community engagement, and provide structured daytime support.
Medicaid HCBS waivers. Programs like the Individual Options, Level One, and SELF waivers (administered by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, or DODD) can fund services such as homemaker/personal care, transportation, and day supports. Waiver waitlists exist in many counties, so it's worth applying as early as possible — even years before graduation.
Guardianship and decision-making alternatives. As your young adult turns 18, it's worth discussing whether full guardianship, a supported decision-making arrangement, or power of attorney best fits their needs and independence goals. This is a conversation worth having with an attorney or your county board's family resource staff.
Social Security and benefits planning. Many young adults with developmental disabilities are eligible for SSI or SSDI. A benefits planner can help your family understand how work income interacts with benefits, so employment doesn't accidentally jeopardize healthcare coverage.
Social and recreational programs. Groups like Special Olympics, Aktion Club, and local recreation programs run through county boards or nonprofit partners help young adults build friendships and stay active in their communities after the school-based social calendar ends.
A Few Practical Tips
Apply for waiver services early. Waitlists can be long, and eligibility conversations are easier to have before a crisis forces the issue.
Bring your SSA into IEP transition meetings during the last couple years of high school, so school and adult-service planning are working from the same page.
Ask about Project SEARCH or similar internship-to-employment programs, which some Ohio school districts and hospital systems offer to help students transition directly into paid work.
Keep documentation organized — psychological evaluations, IEPs, and medical records will be needed again for adult-service eligibility, so a well-organized folder saves time later.
Where to Start
Your local County Board of Developmental Disabilities (search "[your county] board of DD" online)
Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD):dodd.ohio.gov
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities:ood.ohio.gov
Disability Rights Ohio, for questions about transition planning and legal rights: disabilityrightsohio.org
Every family's path looks different, and the system can feel like a maze at first. But starting the conversation early — with your school, your county board, and your young adult — makes the transition to adulthood a lot less overwhelming, and gives your family time to build a plan that actually fits.
This post is meant as a general starting point, not a substitute for guidance from your school's transition coordinator, your county board of DD, or a benefits planning specialist — program details and eligibility rules can vary by county and change over time.
