National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy for Young Disabled People - Easy Read

Priority 1: Choice, Control and Empowerment

What this means

Young disabled people should have a voice in making plans for their transition.

This means:

• having enough time for transitions planning
• supporting staff to put the young person at the centre of planning and decision making

• making sure young disabled people can talk about their hopes and dreams

• helping young disabled people to get support from other young people like them. This is called peer support.

Why this is important

Young disabled people say that sometimes they do not get enough time to plan for their future. They sometimes do not have a say when decisions are being made about them.

Young disabled people want to be listened to. They want to be taken seriously. They want the time and support they need to make their own choices.

What is already happening

We know that good transitions planning is important when supporting young disabled people for life after school.

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is an approach which helps everyone in Scotland to work together to support children and young people. This includes working together with young disabled people in their transition to adulthood.

Getting It Right For Everyone (GIRFE) is Scotland’s approach to designing and delivering public services. It focuses on people’s needs to improve health and social care support.

GIRFE was made with people who use health and social care services.

GIRFE focuses on the individual to make sure all staff involved in their care work together. This helps create a package of support that meets their needs.

The law already says education authorities must plan for young people’s transitions throughout school life, including when they leave school.

They should work with the young person and other organisations if needed to make a plan.

What else we will do

We have heard of good planning work being done in Scotland to help young disabled people making the transition to adulthood. We want to do more to support this.

For example this year we will:

• continue to work with ARC Scotland to promote Compass. This is a planning tool for young disabled people. You can find out more about this here.

• continue to invest in the Independent Living Fund Transitions Fund. The Transitions Fund can help young disabled people try new activities and experiences.

We will also find out more about how staff are involved in planning for young disabled peoples’ transitions. We will share what works well.

We will also support peer to peer learning to help young disabled people support each other in planning for their future.