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Charting the LifeCourse Resource
When you are between the ages of 14 and 21 years, you are “in transition" from school-based resources to adult services. This is a time to think about what services you need to help you live as independently as possible.
The Nebraska Department of Education has many resources to help with this process. A good place to start is the Transition Timeline Checklist.
Transition Resources
Along the Way Resources - Developed by Fritz and O'Hare Associates with funding from the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities.
- Available Services - A look at how the school, DHHS, and your vocational rehabilitation provider work together.
- Transitioning from Educational Services - Graduate process to transition to the DD Adult Day Waiver.
- Transition Timeline Checklist - Created by the Nebraska Department of Education.
- Ready, Set, Go! - Information about developmental disabilities services to help you make decisions about what support you need.
- Tips for Teachers - Information about eligibility, services, and assessments the school can complete.
- Transition Video from PTI Nebraska. Explains what parents, students and Service Coordinators need to know about the transition period.
Medicaid – You must apply for Medicaid and accept if qualified. When you apply for Medicaid at age 19, parental income does not count.
- Available Services - A look at how the school, DHHS, and your vocational rehabilitation provider work together.
- Nebraska VR - Helping people with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment.
Resource for families of children with disabilities or special health needs. Empowers parents and provides knowledge to improve education and healthcare for children.
- Social Security - Apply! You may be eligible for Social Security (SSA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
- Financial assistance - You may be eligible for financial assistance from Children & Family Services (CFS) programs, such as:
- Local resources - You may be able to get assistance from:
- Local housing assistance
- Food banks or food nets
At the age of 19 years, you are considered an adult in Nebraska. This means that your parents are no longer your natural guardian. You do not have to have a guardian in order to receive waiver services. The following resources may help you and your parents decide how you can best be supported.
- Supported Decision-Making and Guardianship - Video from UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute.
- State of Nebraska Judicial Branch, Office of The Public Guardian resources:
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln Extension "NebFact" resources:
HCBS Waiver Services
Nebraska has waivers available to people of all ages, including those still in school. There is no reason to wait until you are transition age to apply for a waiver.
Once you are determined eligible, your Service Coordinator will help you choose services to meet your needs.
- While you are in high school, you can use a variety of home and community-based services. Day services are not available because they cannot replace what is available through school.
- After you graduate from school and are 21 years old, you can begin to use day services.
There are many decisions young adults must make to plan for life after high school. Ready Set Go! helps young you make decisions about supports.
Ready Set Go! BrochureReady, Set, Go! was developed through grant project DD-11-2006, funded by the Nebraska Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities. Grant project coordinators were Lloya Fritz and Mary O'Hare. The Division of Developmental Disabilities was given ownership of the information fall 2016. The Division of Disability and Aging updated in 2026.