Transition Iowa

"The wait is over! 🎉 The full Together We Can (TWC) agenda is now live. Explore sessions, discover new opportunities to learn, and start planning a day that’s all about growth, connection, and empowerment.

Check it out on our website, askresource.org/togetherwecan, and get ready to make the most of your TWC experience!

"

🌟 4+ Services Misunderstanding #1:
“Students with an IEP automatically stay in school until age 21.”

This is not always the case. To qualify for 4+ services, a student must have an unmet transition need that still requires special education support after high school. Students can continue receiving services until those transition needs are met or until the end of the school year in which they turn 21 — whichever comes first.

The best part? This decision is not set in stone. The IEP team reviews eligibility every year during the annual meeting to ensure services match the student’s current needs.

4+ Services: Continued IEP Support Ages 18–21 Explore how 4+ services help Iowa students ages 18–21 with IEPs reach transition goals in living, learning, and working.

🎓 What Are 4+ Services?
4+ Services are designed for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) who continue to need special education support to meet their IEP goals and/or graduation requirements. These services also help address unmet post-secondary transition needs for students up to age 21.

Over the next 3 weeks, we’re breaking down some of the most common misunderstandings about 4+ Services — and clarifying what families, educators, and students really need to know.

✨ Stay tuned each week as we reveal a new misunderstanding and unpack what 4+ Services truly offer.

Learn more about 4+ Services here:
🔗 https://www.transitioniowa.org/four-plus-services

🎥 Webinar Recording Now Available: Understanding Host Homes

Curious about host homes and how they support people with disabilities in meaningful, community-based ways? The recording of this informative webinar is now available to watch.

Join ASK Resource Center, Abby Barker from Mosaic, and Joan Baumert—a guardian of an individual who lives in a host home—as they break down what host homes are, how they work, and why they can be such a powerful living option for some individuals with disabilities.

This session offers both professional insight and a real family perspective, helping families and caregivers better understand whether a host home might be the right fit for their loved one.

Participants will:
✔️ Learn what a host home is and how the model works
✔️ Understand how host homes provide daily support and promote community living
✔️ Hear real-life examples of successful host home partnerships—and what makes them work well

This webinar is designed for families and caregivers who want clear, practical information about this unique and supportive residential option.

▶️ Watch the full webinar here:

ASK an Expert: Everything You Need to Know About Host Homes Join ASK, Abby Barker from Mosaic, and Joan Baumert, a guardian of an individual who lives in a host home, to learn what host homes are and how they provide ...

🔎 What is Section 301?
A powerful safety net for young people receiving SSI.

Section 301 allows someone to keep their SSI benefits even if Social Security decides they are no longer medically eligible — including situations where a young adult does not qualify after the Age 18 Redetermination.

How does it work?
If the student is actively working toward a job goal through an approved program (like VR services, an IEP with transition goals, a college program, or another qualifying plan), SSI benefits can continue until the goal is achieved and the person is successfully working.

This protection helps young people stay stable while building the skills and experience needed for employment.

📄 Learn more in our Section 301 explainer:https://www.askresource.org/filesimages/Transition/Transition-WhatisSection301.pdf

🌟 Supporting Employees with Disabilities
Understanding how work and benefits can go together

Did you know?
Many skilled employees with disabilities work part-time — not because they aren’t capable of more, but because they worry that increasing their hours could cause them to lose essential Social Security benefits.

The good news: Social Security has programs and protections that can help people with disabilities work, grow, and advance in their careers without immediately losing the supports they depend on.

Our new flyer breaks down these programs in a clear, easy-to-understand way to help employers, families, and employees make informed decisions about work and benefits.

📄 Read the full resource:https://www.askresource.org/filesimages/Transition/Transition-SupportingEmployeeswithDisabilities.pdf

💼 Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)
Helping students work without losing their SSI benefits

Did you know that students under age 22 who receive SSI can earn money from a job — and a large portion of their earnings won’t count against their benefits?

The Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) is a powerful work incentive that supports teens and young adults with disabilities who want to gain work experience, build skills, and move toward independence.

Whether you're a student, family member, educator, or transition professional, understanding SEIE can open the door to new opportunities.

📄 Download the SEIE explainer:https://www.askresource.org/filesimages/Transition/Transition-StudentEarnedIncomeExclusion.pdf

🌟 Understanding Work Incentives & Benefits Planning
For Families, Educators & Youth with Disabilities

Did you know there are programs designed to help young people with disabilities work, earn money, and still keep their benefits?

Our new informational flyer breaks down the basics in a simple, easy-to-understand way — including:

🔹 What is a Work Incentive?
🔹 Who is a Certified Benefits Planner?
🔹 What does WIPA stand for?
🔹 Who else can help with benefits planning?

This is a great resource for families, transition teams, educators, and anyone supporting a young person entering the world of work.

📄 Download the flyer:https://www.askresource.org/filesimages/Transition/Transition-BenefitsPlanningExplanation.pdf

Balancing Work & Benefits
A Guide for Young Workers with Social Security Benefits

Did you know that many young people can work and still keep their benefits with the right planning and support?

Our new informational sheet breaks down what youth, families, and professionals need to know — including how earnings affect benefits, what programs can help, and how to plan for a successful path into employment.

📄 Download the guide:https://www.askresource.org/filesimages/Transition/Transition-BalancingBenefitsandWorking.pdf

Empower young workers to make informed decisions as they move toward independence, employment, and adulthood.

What is Age 18 Redetermination?

When a young person receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) turns 18, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews their case to determine whether they still qualify—this time using adult disability rules.

These adult rules are different and place more emphasis on whether the person can work and earn above Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). Because of this shift, some young people may lose their SSI benefits at age 18, even if they qualified as a child.

Understanding this process early can help families prepare, gather documentation, and explore supports to maintain stability during the transition to adulthood.

📄 Learn more in our Age 18 Redetermination guide:https://www.askresource.org/filesimages/Transition/Transition-Age18Redetermination.pdf

📢 Now Available: ASK an Expert – 6 Principles of IDEA ( #6 Procedural Safeguards)

Understanding your rights in special education matters. This video walks through Procedural Safeguards—what they are, why they matter, and how they protect families and students under IDEA.

Whether you’re new to special education or deep in the IEP process, this resource is designed to support informed, confident advocacy.

▶️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/n5ghixCSHCQ