Secondary Transition Relevant Professional Learning

 
As students with disabilities plan for life after high school, questions about how employment impacts public benefits can create uncertainty and hesitation for students and their families. Benefits counseling plays a critical role in helping individuals understand how work, earnings, and career advancement interact with benefits such as SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, and related programs—supporting informed decision-making and reducing fear around employment.

This session combined a brief foundational presentation with a panel discussion featuring educators and partners who have implemented strategies to connect students and families to benefits counseling in their schools and communities. Participants will gain a clear understanding of what benefits counseling is (and is not), why it is an essential component of secondary transition planning, and the appropriate role participants play in sharing information and making referrals. Through real-world examples, panelists will share practical approaches, lessons learned, and strategies for helping students and families access benefits counseling while maintaining professional boundaries.

This session supported ethical, informed transition practice by increasing professionals’ understanding of benefits systems, appropriate referral processes, and strategies to promote employment outcomes while protecting client autonomy and informed choice.