Age 17
By age 17, youth who have IEPs must be informed that their legal rights and responsibilities will change at age 18. They also must be informed in a way that they can understand. Families and IEP teams can help prepare youth in advance for their new rights and responsibilities.
- When a student reaches age 18 and legally becomes an adult, rights and responsibilities transfer from the parent to the student.
- All rights covered by state and federal legislation automatically transfer to the student when they reach the age of majority. Information regarding this transfer of rights at the age of majority must be given to students with an IEP on or before their 17th birthday. Students can choose to allow their parents or an advocate to continue to help them with their IEP and transition planning.
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) General Guidance for Students explains that all rights given to parents under FERPA transfer to the student at age 18. Students may give written permission for their parents to access information in their educational records.
- Identification cards are issued in Michigan by the Secretary of State. This can be done before age 18; there is no minimum age requirement to obtain a state ID card. Individuals who are deaf, hearing impaired or autistic can request a communication impediment designation be added to driver’s license or state ID to notify law enforcement about your specific communication needs.
- Youth and young adults with disabilities need to learn to get around their homes, schools, workplaces and communities as independently as possible. Learning to find transit where you live is an important part of the transition process. Many people with disabilities can drive, with the help of a specialized driver’s training program or adaptations to their vehicle.
- Individuals can register to vote when they turn 18. Voters with disabilities have rights, including the right to assistance when voting. Anyone in Michigan is able to vote by mail; no reason needs to be given.
- Male U.S. citizens ages 18 through 25 are required to register with Selective Service. This applies to all men regardless of disability; exemptions based on disability would be requested if the draft is reinstated.
More details are available at these links:
- Transition to Adulthood: Your Rights Due process resources for self-advocates and families of youth with disabilities
- Healthy Bodies: A Parent’s Guide on Puberty for Adolescents with Disabilities is a practical resource about puberty and disabilities. The toolkit is written for a broad range of disabilities and provides a wide variety of visual supports and social stories that are especially useful for youth with autism or youth who are nonverbal. The toolkit deals simply and directly with practical matters of puberty. Examples of topics and supports include hygiene, menstruation, nocturnal emissions and appropriate behavior in public vs. private settings.
- Transition: Age of Majority Considerations Fact Sheet Family Matters
- الانتقال: نشرة حقائق أوجه النظر عند بلوغ سن الرشد (العربية)
- Hoja informativa: Transición: Consideraciones para la mayoría de edad (español)
Community Mental Health and vocational rehabilitation agencies may request evaluations for transition-age youth to determine their abilities to work and live as independently as possible. As youth approach the age of majority, it’s important to consider what types of assessments could help with the transition to adult life for all levels of support. Some of these evaluations may focus on cognitive abilities. Cognitive assessments can help with job placement, disability determination for public benefits and finding everyday supports. If appropriate, families may discuss the need for cognitive assessments with their IEP team as part of the IEP transition planning process.
Some evaluations may focus on the need for assistive technology, which may include phone apps, mobility aids, adaptive equipment, sensory supports and speech recognition software. More information on assistive technology is available at the following websites:
- Michigan Alliance for Families — Assistive Technology page (Inferred link based on prior page's content)
- Michigan Disability Rights Coalition — Assistive Technology Lending Library page (Inferred link based on organization and topic)
- If you plan to apply for public benefits, pursue employment or apply for postsecondary education or training, you will need a state-issued photo ID card and a Social Security card.
Students in college and trade school are adults who make their own decisions about everything from classes to socializing. Students who have disabilities need to know how to ask for accommodations and manage their time before they start college. If you are considering college or trade school, the first stop will be with the IEP team, including your school guidance counselor. Michigan Alliance for Families has created a worksheet to explain the process of applying to college or trade school and requesting accommodations:
Michigan now offers tuition-free community college for eligible students. These programs are open for students with or without disabilities:
Think College is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding college programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Several of these non-degree life skills programs are in Michigan.
