By Majken Mechling, CEO at Arc of Cape May County
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. It is a time to recognize the value, dignity, and contributions of people with disabilities in every part of community life. It is also an important opportunity to talk about something many families do not fully understand until they are facing it themselves: what happens when a student with disabilities leaves the school system and enters the adult-service system.
A student may have had an IEP and strong support throughout the school years, but that does not mean adult services will begin on their own. Families usually need to apply, submit documentation, and show that the young adult meets the requirements for services through the adult system. The school system and the adult-service system are not built the same way, and many families do not realize that until they are close to the deadline. For many families, that transition can feel overwhelming.
The good news is that early planning can make a real difference. In New Jersey, students with disabilities can begin receiving transition support through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) at age 14. DVRS helps students begin thinking about life after high school through services that may include job readiness, work experiences, self-advocacy, training, college, or other educational options. Starting that process early gives students and families time to explore what adult life might look like before the pressure of graduation is right in front of them.
For some families, PerformCare may also be part of that path. PerformCare is part of New Jersey’s children’s system and can help connect children and young adults with developmental disability services through age 21. Families who are already working with PerformCare should understand that this is still part of the children’s system. As a young person approaches age 21, the focus begins to shift toward the adult system.
The adult system is centered on the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). Families must work through the DDD to access most publicly funded adult developmental disability services in New Jersey. If a family expects adult day services, employment supports, or other state-funded services after school ends, DDD eligibility is usually the key step.
Families can begin applying for DDD eligibility at age 18, even though many adult services do not begin until age 21. That gap is important. It means families should not wait until the final year of school to begin planning. Records may need to be collected. Evaluations may need to be updated. Medicaid may need to be established or maintained. These steps can take time, and delays can create unnecessary stress.
Once a young adult is approved for DDD, the next step may include the New Jersey Comprehensive Assessment Tool (NJCAT). The NJCAT is used to measure the level of support a person needs in adult life, and that information helps the state determine the budget for services.
In simple terms, the transition looks like this: connect with DVRS at age 14 or older, work with PerformCare through age 21 when needed, apply for SSI and Medicaid if appropriate, apply for DDD at age 18, and then complete NJCAT after DDD approval as part of planning for adult services. This may sound like a lot, but it becomes much more manageable when families understand the sequence ahead of time.
It is also important to remember that this transition is not just administrative. It is emotional. For many parents, school has been a central part of family life for years. There has been a routine, a calendar, and a team of people helping support their child’s growth. As that chapter comes to a close, families are learning a new system while trying to imagine what adult life will look like for someone they love deeply.
At The Arc of Cape May County, we know families need more than agency names and forms. They need guidance they can understand. They need someone to explain the process clearly, answer questions, and help them think through the next step. They need support, encouragement, and a place to turn when the system feels confusing.
When families understand the process, young adults can move into the next stage of life with stronger support and greater confidence. They can prepare for work, continued education, skill-building, community involvement, and greater independence. Families can move forward with a plan instead of fear..
Awareness is important. But a clear plan is even better.