Transition for Students with Developmental Disabilities

Community Services and Supports
Families can seek these services and funds for the child with the developmental/intellectual disability to promote healthy living and growth, such as therapeutic and recreation programs.

• Home and Community Services Guide (GA Department of Community Health)
• Full Listing of Medicaid Waiver and Applications (medicaid.georgia.gov)
• Family Supports Application (A service funded through DBHDD but serviced through AVITA)
• AVITA Services (Have your Family Support Application Ready to submit and call AVITA at 678-513-5799)
• Disability Resource Center (private, non-profit, non-residential independent living resource center)

NOW/COMP Waiver
Although many children do not qualify for NOW/COMP Waiver until after they leave the school system (due to the fact most children receive services already provided through the school system), each situation is different.  You do not have to have medicaid secured to apply for the NOW/COMP waiver, however medicaid is necessary before these waiver services can be issued.  Utilizing Family Supports while you wait for NOW/COMP Waiver services is recommended.  

• NOW/COMP Waiver Fact Sheet
• NOW/COMP Waiver Application and Information- (For guidance on how to apply, scroll down and click on "Process" to access the instructional video link).  There are 3 options to apply - online, in-person/phone with a DBHDD representative or by mail. We recommend you either apply on-line or in-person.

Katie Beckett and Medicaid
Many children (under the age of 18) will not qualify for medicaid, however the refusal letter is necessary for Katie Beckett services.  When an individual with a developmental disability turns 18, it's important to apply for medicaid services even if the child is covered under other health insurance. 

• How to Apply for Medicaid 
• Parent Summit 2021 Video:  Katie Beckett (Presented by Attorney, DJ Jeyaram)
• Link to the Applications and forms for Katie Beckett
• Katie Beckett and Medicaid Informational Materials (Parent to Parent of GA)

Day Programs and Supported Employment Providers
Many of these services are funded through the NOW/COMP Waiver and can be used in conjunction with the individual that chooses and is able to work part-time.  Day Programs provide enhancements in independence, social and healthy living as an adult.

• AVITA
  • AVITA Supported Employment Brochure
• PRISM
• LEAP
• Just People
• Goodwill Industries of NG 
• PIER Foundation
• Creative Enterprise
• InCommunity (Formally EnAble)
• Annandale Village
• Our Neighbor, Inc
• Randy and Friends
• New Directions of Georgia
• Stacey's Place (includes Respite)
• PPF Integrated Day Program
• Champions Place (Independent/Residential Living for Individuals with Physical Disabilities)

Leisure and Recreation
Be sure to get on the distribution lists for these  sites so that you receive the latest announcements for registration and future opporutunities.

• Special Olympics of Forsyth County
• Special Olympics Georgia               
• Miracle League
• Therapeutic Recreation
• Summer Camps for Special Needs in GA 

Transition Planning

• Guardianship and Estate Planning
  • Parent Summit 2021 Video:  Guardianship (presented by Attorney, DJ Jeyaram)
  • GCDD Guide When Thinking About Guardianship
  • Guardianship and Special Needs Resource Videos (Nadler Biernath LLC)
  • Thinking About Guardianship (Protection and Advocacy, KY)
  • Age of Majority: Parent's Guide
  • Stop Look and Listen-Planning for Independence (Collaboration with SC ARC and others)
    
• Healthcare and Transition
  • Healthcare and Age of Majority (parentcenterhub.org)
  • 18 and Incharge of My Health (2009, CMS Network)
  • Assessment for Healthcare Transition Readiness-Youth (Got Transition)
  • Assessment for Healthcare Transition Readiness -Parent/Guardian (Got Transition)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  
  • SSI Fact Sheet
  • The Supplemental Security Income Application Process (PACER)
  • SSI Red Book - (ssa.gov)
  • Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool
  • SSI and Student Earned Income Exclusion
  • SSI - Child and Adult Starter Kit (ssa.gov)
  • SSI Application Checklist 
  • Rental Agreement for SSI (sample from Benefits Navigator)
  • Reporting your Earnings to Social Security
  • Benefits Navigation Supports and Guidance (Bobby Dodd Services)
• Financial Planning 
  • Financial Planning Tool Kit (Autism Speaks)
  • Georgia Stable Brochure
  • State of Georgia STABLE Website
  • An Overview of ABLE Accounts (Video by ARC)
  • An Overview of Special Needs Trusts (Video by ARC)
• Life Skills
  • Enhancing Independent Lifeskills At Home (Center on Transition Inovations)
  • Life Skills Inventory and Independent Living Skills Assessment Tool (Washington State Division of Children and Family Services)
• Post-Secondary Inclusion
  • 20 Powerful Strategies to Prepare for the Inclusive College (Revised 11/2023 GAIPEC)
  • Foundation Skills for College and Career Planning (Think College)
  • Conducting the Inclusive College Search (Think College)
  • Frequently Asked Questions of FC Parents
  • Think College Website
  • IPSE Grant Process (GA Futures)
• Career Planning (See also Day Programs for their Supported Employment Services and )
  • Job Readiness and Career Planning
• Transportation
  • Ride Share
  • Access Transportation