Abstrad. This study examined barriers to transition faced by young adults with disabilities receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and their families. Interviews were conducted with 12 transition-age students and 10 of their parents/guardians. Obstacles to transition planning that were unrelated to the receipt of SSI included: (a) poor match between students' interests and current jobs; (b) perceived lack of partnership between families and schools; (c) impact of disability on employment, social supports, and continuing education; (d) preoccupation with the present and uncertainty about the future; and (e) financial constraints. Additional barriers associated specifically with receiving Social Security included (a) difficulty managing the receipt of SSI; (b) limited understanding of the relationship between work and SSI; and (c) unawareness of the supports available through the SSI system. The article concludes with a discussion of strategies to ease the transition planning process.
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