SEND Local Offer - Preparing for adulthood
From the age of 16 young people have the right to make some decisions for themselves if they are capable of doing so.
As children get older, it is important that they are given the opportunity to take more control of their lives. They will need support to do this from their family and the professionals working with them. This is particularly important for young people with special educational needs and or disabilities.
Discussions about preparing for adulthood need to start early. If a child or young person has a education health care (EHC) plan, their review at age 13 to 14 years old will have a focus on preparing for adulthood.
Learning and employment
Further education and employment skills
Visit our post 16 education page for information on further education options.
Support finding employment
Support to Work is an online and telephone support programme for disabled people in England and Wales who are applying for jobs.
For more information about this support programme visit the Scope website.
When you apply for a job, you should not be asked about your disability or your health.
Find out more about telling people about your disability or health when you apply for a job.
Support in work
Employers are responsible for protecting you as an employee from any form of harassment, discrimination, and bullying in the workplace.
Find out more how to make sure everyone is treated fairly at work.
Your employer has a duty to take steps to remove, reduce or prevent the obstacles you face as a disabled worker or when you are applying for a job, where it's reasonable to.
Visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission website for workplace adjustments.
Career support
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Careers service can provide information, advice, and guidance to support young people if they live or go to a school in Stockton-on-Tees.
Visit the career support section for more information.
Living Well
No place like home
No Place Like Home is a guide created by the Council For Disabled Children to help people with learning disabilities understand different housing options available.
Your home and living circumstances should enable young people to have as much independence as they want, while ensuring they have the right support to make this happen.
Everybody needs a home: a place where they are able to do the things they like to do; somewhere where they feel safe and secure; somewhere to be with friends or to just relax.
The booklet is designed to provide information that will support a discussion with someone with learning disabilities who is thinking about moving into their own home.
It aims to describe the advantages and disadvantages associated with different types of housing options that you will find in your area.
Visit the Council for Disabled Children's website to read the No place like home guide..
Housing options
The council has lots of help and information available to help you and your family make the right choice.Find out more information about housing options.
Supported accommodation allows you more independence than a care home but with additional care for extra piece of mind. This may include resident management staff, mobility facilities and community alarm services. Find out more about local supported accommodation options.
Social housing is suitable for people who want to live independently and is more affordable for people on lower incomes. Find out more about social housing.
If you have a disability, you may be eligible for support to adapt your home to suit your needs. This can either be with a disabled facilities grant or an equipment loan. Find out more about options to adapt your home.
Independent Living Skills
Daisy Chain offer independent living skills support for people aged 18 plus such as:
- planning and cooking simple, healthy meals
- diet and nutrition
- food shopping
- travel training
- budgeting
- housework skills and routines
- self-care, personal hygiene, and health
- supported volunteering opportunities at their superstore
- skills for keeping safe
- dining out and accessing community venues
They also have My Life My Community which is a range of brand-new, local, and accessible social groups designed exclusively for autistic and neurodivergent adults, living in the Tees Valley.
Find out about Daisy Chain's adult services.
Learning to drive
An assessment is recommended to see if a person with special educational needs can reach driving test standard.
Visit the Driving Mobility Website for more information on learning to drive.
There are two parts to the UK driving test:
- theory test
- practical test
Both parts of the test need to be passed. The theory test must be passed before taking the practical test. When starting driving lessons with special educational needs, consider the following:
- choosing an instructor with specialist experience and who the learner feels comfortable with
- discussing with the instructor any techniques that have aided learning in the past
- if communication or anxiety is going to be a problem, ask the instructor for someone supportive to sit in for the first few lessons.
- trying an automatic transmission care as well as manual transmission
being prepared to take more and longer lessons if needed
Other transport options
Young people with learning disabilities may also be eligible for free or discounted public transport with a:
- concessionary bus pass that allows people to travel for free within the Tees Valley
- disabled persons railcard that gives you a third off train travel across the UK.
Find out more transport options in our transport section.
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