Wyoming Transition Checklist Special Education: Essential Steps From Age 14 to 21

Most transition checklists you'll find online are either generic federal IDEA overviews or internal district audit forms designed for school staff. Neither tells a Wyoming parent what they specifically need to do, when to do it, and which state agency handles each step.

The checklist below covers the core milestones. It's organized by age because timing matters — missing a window by even one school year can mean waiting an extra year or longer for adult services.

Ages 14–15: Foundation

• Request age-appropriate transition assessments covering education, employment, and independent living — don't wait for the school to offer them
• For students on the Wyoming Extended Standards, ensure the IEP team drafts the written four-year Certificate of Completion plan by eighth grade
• Register for DVR Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) — available from age 14 without formal VR eligibility
• Begin building a records binder: all IEPs, evaluation reports, diagnoses, and transition assessments in one place
• Check if your district participates in the Pathways to Progress program for integrated vocational and mental health supports

Age 16: Formal Transition IEP

• Confirm the IEP contains measurable postsecondary goals based on assessment results — not vague aspirations
• Verify that the transition plan addresses all three IDEA domains: education/training, employment, and independent living (where appropriate)
• Request a DVR transition navigator be formally invited to the annual IEP meeting (requires prior written consent)
• Schedule an informational meeting with the regional WDH Benefits and Eligibility Specialist to learn about the Supports Waiver timeline
• Document all career interest inventories and vocational assessments — these travel into the adult system

Age 17: Preparing for Legal Adulthood

• Receive the school's mandatory written notification about transfer of educational rights at age 18
• Discuss decision-making options with your child: Supported Decision-Making, Educational Power of Attorney, or (only if necessary) guardianship
• Apply for the traditional DVR vocational rehabilitation program and begin drafting the Individualized Plan for Employment
• Obtain the Supports Waiver intake packet from WDH and complete the LT-104 functional assessment
• Schedule clinical evaluations (psychological testing) — wait times for Medicaid-enrolled clinical psychologists in rural Wyoming can be months
• Get certified copies of all psychological and neuropsychological evaluations (valid for five years)

Age 18: Legal Majority

• Execute an Educational Power of Attorney if desired — it must be signed, notarized, and submitted to the school before or at the 18th birthday; if using Supported Decision-Making, prepare the agreement with the student and share it with the school
• Apply for adult SSI benefits (parental income deeming ceases at 18)
• Coordinate adult Medicaid redetermination through WDH
• Ensure the adult student or an authorized decision-maker signs all IEP documents going forward
• Review whether financial accounts need restructuring so countable resources do not exceed the $2,000 SSI resource limit (ABLE accounts, Special Needs Trusts)

Ages 19–21: Transition Exit

• Review the graduation plan at every annual IEP meeting — challenge any premature diploma decisions
• Maintain active placement on the Supports Waiver waitlist and work with your case manager on non-waiver crisis resources
• Coordinate with community college disability offices if postsecondary education is part of the plan
• Execute work trials and customized employment contracts through DVR
• At exit: obtain the school's finalized Summary of Performance (SOP) and maintain it permanently

After School Exit

• Transition to adult DVR employment services or waiver-funded supported employment
• Verify that all adult agency applications are active and no paperwork has lapsed during the handoff
• Connect with Wyoming Independent Living centers for ongoing community support

You can download a printable version of this checklist — plus a full planning workbook — in the Wyoming IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide.

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