Transition programs are generally considered a responsibility of schools, according to Rachelle Hole, a UBC Okanagan professor of social work and co-director of the Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship.
However, since they’re not mandated by every province or territory’s Ministry of Education, such efforts are often “left up to the individual school districts or perhaps inclusive education teachers,” she said.
Limited funding means some programs can only take on so many participants and, given what she calls “a patchwork approach” across regions, many families can face a “transition cliff” if they’re unable to access aid to bridge the gap.
Still, Hole praises the “pockets of excellence” across Canada, where different organizations, community groups and champions are successfully helping youth with disabilities tackle this milestone.