LIFE TRANSITIONS

NEXT STAGES: Jessica Jankus was born with multiple developmental delays. As her parents approached their seventies, they found an accessible group residence for her and she seems happy there.

BY JORDAN JANKUS

We all experience transitions from one stage of life to another – graduating high school, moving on to college and work, getting our own place, marriage, etc.

For people with disabilities and their families, transitions may require more planning and preparation and in fact, become a way of life. For “exceptional parents,” we transition from a more traditional growth track for our children as soon as the child is diagnosed with a disability, whether at birth or further along in their developmental stages. 

Once we realize that our child will need additional services, we experience another life transition as we advocate to get them enrolled in early intervention services. Later, when they enter the local school system, we transition with them to a system that can be challenging in its complexities. As involved parents, we advocate that they be included in the social life of the school, that they