Youth & young adults with special health needs - especially those with complex medical conditions, disabilities and chronic illnesses - may not move as smoothly from pediatric to adult health care systems as their typically developing peers. This transition generally occurs between the ages of 18 - 22, although timing should be based on the youth or young adult’s developmental level, complexity of their chronic condition(s), and the readiness of the youth or young adult and their family to begin the planning process.
