Assessing Transition Support Experience and Needs for Aspire Service Users

Morgan Mader, MS – Family

Courtney Cusentino – Self-Advocate

Project Supervisor: Dr. Kruti Acharya

IL LEND OPEN HOUSE 2026

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Organization Overview

• Aspire Chicago – Community service provider that offers programming such as Life Skills Coaching, Community Employment, day programming, and CILA/ICILA.

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• Life Skills Coaching program – Specialized and personalized 1:1 coaching program for adults with disabilities to learn and practice applicable living skills.

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• Transition Consultation Package – Consultation services and coaching for families/guardians on transition planning for teenagers and young adults moving from high school Transition Programs to post-secondary services.

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Background

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• Transition support from high school to post-secondary services and programming varies among school districts and special education programs.

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• Aspire programs help to address transition gaps

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• Goal: To improve the transition services offered by Aspire

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Methods and Process

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• Presented our research proposal to Aspire leadership for approval and feedback.

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• Collaborated with Aspire staff on how to create and execute the consent and survey.

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• Created survey to assess Transition support, experience, current skill set of Aspire Life Skills Coaching participants.

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Methods and Process

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• Survey launched on 4/9 via email and remained live for 2 weeks (until Wednesday 4/22).

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• Analyzed data with descriptive statistics

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• We will create a deliverable visual aid for presentation. Data will also be used for future Transition Consultation webinars.

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Disability Diagnosis and Transition Program Attendance

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Primary Disability Diagnosis

Did you attend a Transition Program?

Autism

Brain Injury

Mild IDD

Other

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What skills did you obtain from being in the Transition Program?

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Employment/Vocational Skills

Cooking Skills

Financial Skills

Shopping/Consumer Skills

Social/Recreational Skills

Education

Health/Medical Skills

Transportation/Navigation Skills

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Family Member/Guardian Supports

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Do you have a family member/guardian who supports you?

Do you live with a family member/guardian?

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Government Funded Disability Benefits

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Do you have government funded benefits?

Do you need help with applying for or maintaining those benefits?

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What skills do you enjoy working on the most?

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Employment/Vocational Skills

Cooking Skills

Financial Skills

Shopping/Consumer Skills

Social/Recreational Skills

Education

Housing

Personal Finance

Social Skills/Recreation

Transportation

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What skills do you need the most support with?

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Employment/Vocational Skills

Cooking Skills

Financial Skills

Shopping/Consumer Skills

Social/Recreational Skills

Education

Housing

Personal Finance

Social Skills/Recreation

Transportation

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Recommendations and Implications

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• There is a notable discrepancy with lack of transition supports within the population who received services from Aspires Life Skills Coaching Program
• The biggest areas of need are in employment and social skills
• Access to government funded benefits is minimized without support

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Recommendations and Implications

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• The top three (3) skills service users enjoy working on are cooking, social, and consumer skills
• The top three (3) skills service users need support with are social, personal finance, and housing skills

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Transition Consultation can address:

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• Creation of a smoother transition process with focus and goals from high school to post-secondary planning
• Gaps in accessing government benefits and community resources
• Connections with service providers to access vital independent living skills instruction and support

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Assessing Transition Support Experience and Needs for Aspire Service Users

Morgan Mader, MS – Family

Courtney Cusentino – Self-Advocate

Q&A

https://aspirechicago.com

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