2018 Gatlinburg Conference Symposium Submission

Overview: Transition from school to adulthood is not always easy for youth. For individuals with a disability, such as intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), the challenges in transition become exacerbated. In this symposium, we discuss four studies which aim to identify challenges in the transition process from both macroand micro-system perspectives, determine who involved and most likely to struggle is during this process, and propose and test interventions to facilitate the transitions of individuals with IDD to improve post-school outcomes. Notably, this symposium is unique given the differing perspectives, methods, and proposed variables which influence post-school outcomes. Reflecting a range of research methodologies (from experimental design, mixed-method design to national secondary data analysis) to inform both intervention and descriptive research, this symposium identifies individual, family, and environmental factors that impact the transition process and outcomes. Presentations will proceed from preparing for transition in high school, to identifying the challenges of obtaining and maintaining employment, to identifying the support needs of adults with IDD and their families after high school. Implications for future research, practices, and policy will be discussed by Dr. Paul Shattuck, an expert in systems change.