felt isolated and in a perpetual state of transition .
The promise of ‘ choice and control ’ Transition-from-school policies and guidelines exist in all states of Australia .
Shared characteristics between these guidelines include early planning , being person-centred , and ensuring collaboration between the family , school and services .
A decade ago , Australia changed from a social welfare model of disability support to a consumer-focused , marketbased system . The NDIS promised to be the cornerstone of this , offering participants increased “ choice and control ” over new skills , jobs , greater independence , quality of life and improved social participation .
We wanted to understand the lived experiences of today ’ s young Australians with intellectual disability in planning to leave school and transition into adult life .
Through individual and group interviews , 27 young people with intellectual disability ( 15 female and 12 male participants , aged 19 to 33 ) told us their views and experiences of leaving school in New South Wales , Queensland and Victoria .
Their stories highlight how much more work should be done to empower young people with intellectual disability .
What they told us Firstly , many young people told us they felt left out of transition planning at school , with most decisions being made for them . There were limited , if any , opportunities for them to explore post-school options . As one participant said ,
I don ’ t want people that are , like , like , you know , just making choices for me .
Secondly , all participants found accessing NDIS funding complicated . They relied on parents or other advocates to navigate the process , to ask the right questions , and help with difficult jargon – or , as stated by one young person , knowing how to “ bark the right way ”. After leaving school , many felt lonely , lost and uncertain about their adult role and identity . Some felt “ left behind ” by friends and siblings without disability who had jobs and life partners , intimate relationships and were raising families of their own .
It ’ s hard to find a partner […] or to know someone and be with someone .
There was a shared sense among participants that most disability services did not prioritise activities to support reaching their goals . A young woman explained how finding a service with a good fit had been very difficult . She talked about how her first service provider had “ tried to like take us for money ” without providing a service .
Accessibilty for All 27