Students With Special Needs: Transitioning to Adulthood
Exploring options, building a support network and self-advocating are steps students with special needs should take to prepare for their transition to adulthood.
No matter where you serve or live, free and confidential help is available.
Call 988 and press 1 or 800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838255.
Speak with a responder by using the chat service.
Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800−799−7233.
Find an advocate by using our Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator.
Call 988 or 800-273-8255 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Speak with a responder by using Lifeline Chat.
Use your preferred relay service, or dial 711 then 988.
Call the DOD Safe Helpline at 877-995-5247.
Speak with a responder by using the DOD Safe Helpline chat.
For those outside the United States, call your local emergency number.
Contact Military OneSource
Information and support for service members and their families. About the Call Center.
Exploring options, building a support network and self-advocating are steps students with special needs should take to prepare for their transition to adulthood.
With the many available scholarships, grants and other options for financial aid, paying for college doesn’t have to be intimidating.
Military dependents who are college students may have to consider international travel to get to their families during breaks. And travel can be expensive, especially during the holidays.
The certification process has gotten easier for students age 18 and older covered as a child annuitant under the military Survivor Benefit Plan. SBP students now have more time to file their certifications each semester and can file school certification forms online.
Learn how school liaisons can help with a wide variety of child and youth education issues.
Both individualized education programs and 504 plans document how children with special needs will reach their education goals. Learn about the differences between IEPs and 504 plans.
You can help your child’s school get more funding through the Department of Defense’s Impact Aid for Military Connected School Districts. Just fill out and turn in the Impact Aid form or survey, and the Department of Education provides extra money for schools with a large number of military students.
Relocation is part of military life. Every few years your family may be required to move, possibly across the county or to another country. Relocating a school-aged child includes its own unique challenges and responsibilities. Military OneSource provides practical information on enrollment, placement and attendance, as well as other helpful intel you’ll need to successfully help your children navigate these transitions and build lifelong resiliency.
Don’t think you can afford college? Think again. In addition to military tuition assistance and Department of Veterans Affairs education programs, numerous loans and opportunities are available to help you fund the next step in your education.
Military OneSource stands by your side with information and resources so you can support your child’s education. Military families have several options when it comes to financing your youth’s college or trade school education, including scholarships, Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits, education grants, loans and college savings programs. Your children’s goals are as important as your own, and Military OneSource has your back as you plan for this milestone.
When it’s time to relocate, you need to know what education opportunities are available for your children at the new installation. The Defense Department is committed to making sure all military children have the opportunity for a quality education that prepares them for success.
The Principles of Excellence are designed to ensure a fulfilling educational experience, providing you with personal and professional development opportunities to assist in your military career and your transition to the civilian workforce. Furthermore, the principles protect service members from predatory and misleading behavior from educational institutions.
So, your child is ready for college — and you’re ready to support their education goals. Now you just need to figure out how to pay for it. Luckily, you’ll find lots of resources to help military families finance their children’s college, from saving plans to scholarships.
Take advantage of tax savings if you are pursuing higher education. If you are a student or parent with an eye toward maximizing your tax deductions, make sure to connect with MilTax , Military OneSource tax services.
Whether it’s your first move or your fifth, even the most organized military parents need help navigating a new school district’s standardized testing system.
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