 Introduction
Children and families experience many transitions, large and small, over the
years. Three predictable transitions occur when children reach school age, when they
approach adolescence, and when they move from adolescence to adulthood. Other transitions
include moving into new programs, working with new agencies and care providers, and making
new friends. Transitions involve changes: adding new expectations, responsibilities, or
resources, and letting go of others.
As a parent of a child with special health care needs you may be caught up in
day to day survival. You may ask, "How can I think about tomorrow when I'm just
trying to make it through today?" But when those moments come when you can
catch your breath it may be helpful to be aware of those transitions and allow yourself to
think about the future.
The Transition Timeline for Children and Adolescents with Special Health Care
Needs may help you think about the future. We hope it will give you ideas to help your
child achieve independence in his or her own health care, and in other areas of life as he
or she grows.
The timeline is also available from the
Adolescent Health Transition Project as an 11" x 17" chart.
It is based on a model developed by Dr. Stephen L. Kinsman, Kennedy
Krieger Institute. Visit the instructions
page to download the PowerPoint version of the timeline or please
email Cam or Kathy at healthtr@u.washington.edu
to receive a copy. The instructions page
also has the timeline in 4 additional languages.
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