Intellectual disability disorder 17 year old son

[Anonymous]

My 17 year old was diagnosed today with Intellectual disability disorder. His IQ is below 70. We have known his IQ is low but this IDD is new for me.

I have known college will not be for him. It’s sad. Gosh, he’s struggled for so long and reading about this disorder makes so much sense now.

Anyone have a child diagnosed later in life? I’m really wondering our next steps. He’s almost an adult and that’s scary because he won’t be a typical 18 year old.

[Anonymous]

My first thought would be to get him qualified for services through vocational rehabilitation.

[Anonymous]

If he's in public school, please take all of the materials to his team (if he has one) immediately and as for transition resources. He is likely to be eligible to stay until 21.

[Anonymous]

Is he going to graduate with a HS diploma? I have a son with a slightly higher IQ, but only by a few points. The HS diploma is key to his success.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised that you are just realizing this. Is your son in high school? Is he preparing to graduate?

[Anonymous]

For this to be just discovered now he must be very resilient which will be helpful for him in the adult world. Agree with finding out what is available to him in vocational services through your public school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he's in public school, please take all of the materials to his team (if he has one) immediately and as for transition resources. He is likely to be eligible to stay until 21.

+1

[Anonymous]

OP what are his interests? Has he ever held a job? There are many disability services in this area that can help. His high school should have a career transition person that helps with this as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is he going to graduate with a HS diploma? I have a son with a slightly higher IQ, but only by a few points. The HS diploma is key to his success.

What was the path for your son? What did he end up doing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he going to graduate with a HS diploma? I have a son with a slightly higher IQ, but only by a few points. The HS diploma is key to his success.

What was the path for your son? What did he end up doing?

Went into a trade and has a good job with the county. We apparently knew before OP - by the end of ES, we knew college was not in the future. Before that we were pretty oblivious and had a substantial college fund. By HS, there was a lot more f pressure to move him to the certificate program, which I opposed because it’s not a pathway to I dependence and gainful employment. He was able to qualify for vo-tech in HS and did two more years of training after that.

[Anonymous]

My DS is also 17 and a senior in HS. We're in VA and working with the VA Dept. of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). I think it may be a good start for you. If you're not in VA, I'm sure state has an equivalent. Good luck!


https://www.dars.virginia.gov/drs/transitionservices.htm#gsc.tab=0
https://www.dars.virginia.gov/#gsc.tab=0

[Anonymous]

Talk to your local chapter of the arc--a lot of things like voc rehab, Medicaid waivers, and able accounts vary by state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he going to graduate with a HS diploma? I have a son with a slightly higher IQ, but only by a few points. The HS diploma is key to his success.

What was the path for your son? What did he end up doing?

Went into a trade and has a good job with the county. We apparently knew before OP - by the end of ES, we knew college was not in the future. Before that we were pretty oblivious and had a substantial college fund. By HS, there was a lot more f pressure to move him to the certificate program, which I opposed because it’s not a pathway to I dependence and gainful employment. He was able to qualify for vo-tech in HS and did two more years of training after that.

New poster here. I hope this doesn't sound like a dumb question; we are just learning about this. Is vo-tech + training a diploma track or certificate track? If you are in the DC area, where did you do it?

[Anonymous]

He was diagnosed though a private assessment or the school? What were his index scores? Verbal, fluid reasoning/nonverbal, spatial/visual, etc. Did he have a strength?

Do his academics math his IQ. There are kids whose IQ's are low - below 70 but their academics might be in the low 80's or high 70's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he going to graduate with a HS diploma? I have a son with a slightly higher IQ, but only by a few points. The HS diploma is key to his success.

What was the path for your son? What did he end up doing?

Went into a trade and has a good job with the county. We apparently knew before OP - by the end of ES, we knew college was not in the future. Before that we were pretty oblivious and had a substantial college fund. By HS, there was a lot more f pressure to move him to the certificate program, which I opposed because it’s not a pathway to I dependence and gainful employment. He was able to qualify for vo-tech in HS and did two more years of training after that.

New poster here. I hope this doesn't sound like a dumb question; we are just learning about this. Is vo-tech + training a diploma track or certificate track? If you are in the DC area, where did you do it?

MCPS. At least when my son was in school, certificate track disqualified a kid from vo-tech. Also post HS training required a diploma.

We set a goal of D-ing out of HS. Getting that diploma was all that mattered and every day I can see how worth it it was to put in all of the effort.