Navigating transitions: supporting disabled young people and those with sensory impairments to be prepared for adult life

Adolescence is a time for young people to develop skills, make choices, enjoy new experiences, and learn from mistakes they make along the way. Taking risks and developing coping strategies to deal with the consequences builds resilience that enables them to have fulfilling, independent adulthoods. However, for disabled young people and their families, the transition to adulthood can feel complicated and disjointed, particularly where there are several agencies involved in their care and support.

The role of social workers is vital in effectively preparing disabled young people for adulthood. Early, person-centred planning focused on young people’s aspirations is critical to ensuring the right support and coordination between services to enable young people to achieve their potential.

Learning outcomes:

• Navigating transition – what should happen and when.
• Supporting young people in decision making – building skills and navigating decisions with family.
• Opportunity for change: emerging recommendations from the SEND and AP green paper and the independent review of children’s social care.

Caroline Coady, National Children's Bureau and Council for Disabled Children