Adult Services and Adult Service Agencies

Part B regulations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) identifies transition services as a “results-oriented process,” designed to prepare students with disabilities for life after high school by supporting their “movement from school to post-school activities.” Among these activities are the receipt of “adult services,” which may include support with job training, independent living skills, housing, and personal care.

Organizations that provide services to help adults with disabilities achieve independence, improve their quality of life, and participate in community activities are referred to as “adult service agencies” or “adult agencies.”

In the context of transition, the terms “adult services,” “adult service agencies,” and “adult agencies” are used to distinguish these services and providers from school-based services, signaling the transition to postsecondary life. It is possible that some adult service agencies also provide supports to students while they’re still in school.

School districts can provide students and families with resources and opportunities to connect with adult service agencies, so those connections remain as they move to the adult world. Individual student needs drive the decision of which agency personnel to invite to IEPs meetings, and when.

Requirements and Recommendations for Adult Service Agency Connections

Requirements:

Representatives from adult service agencies must be invited to IEP meetings if committing the agency to provide funds or services.
Permission must be obtained from parents/guardians/adult students before inviting agency representatives.
- You may wish to use OSPI’s Invitation to Attend a Meeting (Word Document) form when inviting parents/guardians/adult students to IEP meetings. The form includes a parent consent section for inviting adult service agency representatives.

Recommendations:

Invite adult service agency representatives 3-4 weeks in advance of the meeting date.
Indicate what their role will be in the meeting (informational, activity-based, eligibility application, etc.).
Include adult service agency representatives in conversations, especially when discussing post-school goals.

Consent Form to Share Student Information with State Transition Agencies

It is required to obtain consent from parents/guardians/adult students before inviting adult service agency representatives to IEP meetings.

It is optional for parents/guardians/adult students to give consent to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to share student information with adult service agencies that provide disability supports, including transition supports and post-school employment services.

The Consent to Share Information with State Transition Agencies Form is designed to help connect students to adult services they may be eligible for as during and after high school.

It’s important to note that although the consent form allows OSPI to share student information with state-level adult service agencies, it is not a guarantee that services will be provided.

For more information, review and OSPI's Transition Consent Form One Pager for Schools and One Pager for Students and Families.

Next – Adult Service Agency Resources