Barriers to Successful Transition for Young Adults Who Receive SSI and Their Families

This study examined barriers to transition faced by young adults with disabilities receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and their families. Interviews were conducted with 12 transition-age students and 10 of their parents/guardians. Obstacles to transition planning that were unrelated to the receipt of SSI included: (a) poor match between students' interests and current jobs; (b) perceived lack of partnership between families and schools; (c) impact of disability on employment, social supports, and continuing education; (d) preoccupation with the present and uncertainty about the future; and (e) financial constraints. Additional barriers associated specifically with receiving Social Security included (a) difficulty managing the receipt of SSI; (b) limited understanding of the relationship between work and SSI; and (c) unawareness of the supports available through the SSI system. The article concludes with a discussion of strategies to ease the transition planning process.