🎒 Back-to-School with Confidence: Supporting People with Disabilities Through Fall Transitions
- Shared Horizons, Inc.
- Aug 26
- 4 min read
As summer winds down and August ushers in a season of change, Shared Horizons is here to support people with disabilities—and those who care for them—during the back-to-school transition. Whether it’s returning to elementary school, starting a new IEP cycle, or planning for post-secondary life, this time of year brings both opportunities and challenges.
Our mission is not just to manage pooled special needs trusts, but to empower beneficiaries and families through education, advocacy, and preparation—and that starts with understanding the unique needs of the back-to-school season.
Planning for Academic Success: IEPs, 504 Plans, and Beyond
If your child or loved one has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan, now is the time to revisit and revise it in collaboration with the school team. These plans are essential tools in ensuring equitable access to education and services.
Helpful tips:
Schedule early meetings with teachers and special education staff before the school year begins.
Review last year’s IEP goals—what worked, what didn’t, and what needs updating.
Communicate openly about medical needs, behavioral strategies, or assistive technologies.
Keep documentation organized, including medical updates, evaluations, and accommodations requests.
Pro tip: Many expenses related to educational supports—like specialized tutoring, communication devices, or therapeutic services—may be covered by a pooled special needs trust, helping reduce out-of-pocket costs for families.
👨🎓 From High School to Adulthood: Preparing for What’s Next
For beneficiaries transitioning out of high school, the future can feel uncertain—but it can also be full of possibilities.
Resources for young adults:
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs help individuals with disabilities gain job training and find employment.
Continuing education supports like community college disability services or inclusive higher education programs.
Independent living training: Programs that offer coaching on self-advocacy, budgeting, and transportation.
SSI/SSDI transition planning: Understanding how education, employment, or age may impact benefits.
Shared Horizons can help families structure trust disbursements in ways that enhance independence without jeopardizing eligibility for critical public benefits.
Support for Caregivers and School Staff
Back-to-school season affects more than just students—it also impacts the caregivers, aides, and teachers who guide them.
Suggestions for caregiver collaboration with school staff:
Provide a “Get to Know Me” one-pager about your child: Include communication preferences, behavioral strategies, and emergency contacts.
Partner on a transition plan for new routines, classes, or aides.
Offer insights on what’s worked at home over the summer to build consistency.
📎 Downloadable resources like caregiver-school checklists, daily communication logs, and accommodation templates can make this communication smoother. Consider adding them to your planning toolkit this August.
Supporting Emotional Well-being
For many people with disabilities, transitions can be emotionally overwhelming. New teachers, noisy classrooms, changes in schedule—all can cause stress or anxiety.
Ways to support mental wellness:
Create visual schedules and practice the upcoming routine.
Validate feelings and offer calming tools (fidgets, quiet spaces, or breaks).
Leverage school-based counseling or mental health services.
Check in regularly—what’s working, what needs adjusting?
Shared Horizons recognizes that whole-person support includes emotional resilience. That’s why we encourage beneficiaries and families to incorporate mental health tools and services into their care plans, especially during high-stress seasons.
💡 How Shared Horizons Can Help This Season
As a pooled special needs trust, Shared Horizons is designed to support long-term quality of life while protecting eligibility for public benefits. During back-to-school season, that can mean:
Funding educational tools and support services not covered elsewhere
Helping families plan for future transitions—whether academic, residential, or vocational
Providing continuity and peace of mind through personalized trust management
✅ Practical Resources for Families & Professionals
Here are some trusted resources to explore this August:
Wrightslaw: Advocacy tools and legal guidance for IEPs and 504 plans
Understood.org: Family-friendly resources for learning differences and school transitions
Think College: Postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities
Autism Speaks Transition Roadmap: Tools for life after high school
National Parent Center on Transition and Employment: Help navigating disability services across school, work, and life
Final Thoughts
Back-to-school is more than pencils and backpacks—it’s about confidence, preparation, and equitable access. At Shared Horizons, we’re proud to be a partner in helping people with disabilities and their families move into this new season with the tools they need to thrive.
Let’s make this year one of connection, growth, and inclusion—together.
Citations
Wrightslaw – Special Education Law and Advocacy
(Resource for understanding IEP and 504 Plan rights, legal updates, and school-based advocacy tips.)
Understood.org – For Learning and Thinking Differences
(Provides practical guidance for families navigating back-to-school transitions, IEPs, and learning accommodations.)
Think College – Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disability
(National resource for inclusive higher education programs and transition planning.)
Autism Speaks – Transition Roadmap to Adulthood
https://www.autismspeaks.org/transition-roadmap
(Tools and guides to help people with autism and their families prepare for life after high school.)
PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment
https://www.pacer.org/transition
(Offers comprehensive resources on education, employment, and independent living transitions for youth with disabilities.)
U.S. Department of Education – IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
(Outlines the federal guidelines governing IEPs and education rights for children with disabilities.)
Social Security Administration – SSI and Youth Who Work
https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/ssi.htm
(Information on how Supplemental Security Income (SSI) interacts with youth employment and postsecondary transitions.)
Comments