Life Without a Filter: A Parent’s Guide to Disability Transition, Self-Directed Adult Services & Life After Special Education
Life Without a Filter is a podcast for parents of young adults with disabilities navigating the transition from special education to adult services, with a strong focus on Self-Direction and Participant-Directed supports.
Hosted by a parent with lived experience, the podcast offers honest conversations, practical guidance, and real-world examples to help families feel less alone and more confident about their next steps.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, unsure where to start, or trying to understand Self-Direction in your state, this podcast will help you feel less alone and more confident about your next steps—while offering ideas you can adapt anywhere in the U.S.
Life Without a Filter: A Parent’s Guide to Disability Transition, Self-Directed Adult Services & Life After Special Education
Episode 8:“Turning 18: What Families Need to Know (201 Series)”
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If you have a child with disabilities between the ages of 14–22, you’ve probably already felt the pressure that comes with turning 18. There are forms, referrals, applications, decisions… and it can all feel like a lot.
In this week’s episode, I take a deeper dive into the Turning 18 Checklist and walk through:
➡️ Why the 688 Referral needs to happen early
➡️ Selective Service details (and why it actually matters)
➡️ The reality of Section 8 waitlists
➡️ Guardianship vs. Supported Decision Making
➡️ SSI, SSDI, and what those confusing letters really mean
I’m sharing our family’s experience with L, what surprised me, and the things I wish someone had told me before we started this process.
Whether you’re a parent or an educator supporting transition-age students, I hope this episode helps make the journey a little clearer.
#SpecialNeedsParenting #TransitionPlanning #Turning18 #DisabilitySupport #AdultServices #Podcast
Shownote Links:
The Turning 18 checklist: https://autismhousingpathways.org/turning-18-checklist/
Autism Housing Pathways: https://autismhousingpathways.org/
What is Chapter 688?: https://www.mass.gov/doc/guide-to-chapter-688-mass-turning-22-law-brochure-0/download
Selective Service: https://www.sss.gov/register/who-needs-to-register/#:~:text=Disabled%20Men,-Disabled%20men%20who&text=Men%20with%20disabilities%20that%20would,event%20of%20a%20national%20emergency.
The Current Housing Situation: https://autismhousingpathways.org/the-current-housing-situation/
Section 8 Housing: https://18section8.org/
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For more information on the resources we share, visit our website: https://lifewithoutafiltercf.com/
As a Disclaimer, I am NOT a lawyer, a medical doctor, or a licensed psychologist. I am writing this blog as a mom sharing her journey and opinions. My views are my own and should not be construed as any direct medical or legal advice. (I hate having to write a disclaimer, but this is the world we live in!)