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Strategies to support medical self-management skills in youth

Tips for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults with special health needs.

The tip sheets below are the parent component to the youth and young adult tip sheets. Each tip sheet offers suggestions and strategies for you to increase your child’s understanding of their complex medical needs and to increase their self-management skills over time. The age ranges given for each tip sheet serve only as guidelines and may vary dependent on your child’s cognitive abilities.

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Open PDF file, 190.52 KB,  First Steps for Talking to Your Child about His Health 4 - 6 (English, PDF 190.52 KB)
Open DOCX file, 163.74 KB,  First Steps for Talking to Your Child about His Health 4 - 6 (English, DOCX 163.74 KB)
Open PDF file, 192.25 KB,  First Steps for Talking to Your Child about Her Health 7 - 10 (English, PDF 192.25 KB)
Open DOCX file, 188.44 KB,  First Steps for Talking to Your Child about Her Health 7 - 10 (English, DOCX 188.44 KB)
Open PDF file, 142.97 KB,  Preparing Your Child to Take Care of His Health 11 - 13 (English, PDF 142.97 KB)
Open DOCX file, 47.6 KB,  Preparing Your Child to Take Care of His Health 11 - 13 (English, DOCX 47.6 KB)
Open PDF file, 148.52 KB,  Guiding Youth to take Charge of their Health 14 - 17 (English, PDF 148.52 KB)
Open DOCX file, 188.82 KB,  Guiding Youth to take Charge of their Health 14 - 17 (English, DOCX 188.82 KB)
The Ins & Outs of Transition Planning 

The Down Syndrome Adolescent & Young Adult Clinic serves patients from 13 to 21 years of age. Families and youth receive support and education about transition planning in order to prepare youth to be engaged in all aspects of their care and can serve as consults to other practices.

Self-Determination 

This 8 minute video of a mom & her young adult daughter discusses from each of their viewpoints, their fears & needs regarding the development of self-management skills.

Moving from Pediatric to Adult Providers 

This 16 minute video models a series of steps and strategies pediatricians, parents and the youth can take to ensure a successful transition to adult care. The steps include strategic discussions, understanding the process and ways to support the young adult through the process beginning at age 14.

Individualized Health Plans 

This 8 minute video explains the importance of ensuring a health plan for youth and young adults with significant health needs is incorporated into the IEP. By incorporating self-management skills into the IEP transition to post-secondary or vocational settings will be more successful.

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