Understanding Your Needs as Parents/Guardians

Create a personal profile of your needs and capabilities as parent or guardian.

A useful approach to starting your transition plan would be to make two columns on a sheet of paper, with Where We are Now on one side, and Where We Want to Be on the other.

The following elements on your own profile may be helpful:

• Residence – does my family member require hospitalization, or want to own a home, rent, share with others, live in a group home;
• Leisure/Recreation—what type of recreation is appropriate and desired
• Transportation—what are his/her transportation needs
• Education—how are his/her educational needs being met?
• Medical Care—do we have a Medical Home physician, or are we the care coordinators?
• Social—what opportunities exist for interacting with peers?
• Finances—had an estate and/or financial plan been created?
• Vacations—what type of travel do you want (see section Travel)?
• Guardian/advocate—have plans for a Guardian, if needed, been made?
• Advance Directives—have end of life care decisions been discussed and made?

You could also describe your son or daughter and list all the relevant individuals in her/his life, where they can live, as well as your vision for their future care.