Wilmington ELS Adult Transition Program
Wilmington ELS Adult Transition program frequently explores the community to increase their social, vocational, and independence skills. The students participate in the following courses: Functional Academics, Vocation, Community, Life Skills, WILCO/JJC, and internships. These courses are geared towards supporting young adults to help them become active members in their communities.
- Functional academics: provides young adults with reading and math skills necessary to complete everyday tasks
- Vocational studies: provides young adults with the necessary “soft” and “hard” skills to gain competitive or supported employment.
- Community excursions: prepare young adults to be members of society and gain independent living skills.
- Life skills tasks focus on learning to become independent in everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, problem solving, and learning interpersonal skills.
- WILCO/ JJC’s vocational program provides young adults with basic job skills to begin and entry level job and the skills. Each program has specific requirements in order to participate.
- Internships: workplace exposure, determine strengths, areas of improvement, and preferences in the workplace.
Age of Majority
When an individual turns 18 in Illinois, they reach the “age of majority.” This means all decision-making shifts from the parents to the student in which gives the individual adult rights and responsibilities such as voting, making financial and medical decisions, and taking responsibility for their education. Students and families should plan ahead and discuss options before their child turns 18 years old. If no other plans are made in advance of an individual turning 18 years old, no matter the disability, the individual becomes their own full legal guardian.
- When an individual with and IEP turns 17, a one-year notice is sent home to the parents/guardians.
- When an individual with and IEP turns 18, a final notice is sent home stating all rights of have been transferred to the individual unless court appointed guardianship paperwork has been provided.
