Many parents, caregivers, and educators recognize how challenging the transition can be from high school to adult life in community for young adults with Down syndrome. As advocates for our loved ones, we need to know what services and supports to advocate for at this important stage of life.

During this presentation, we will learn from Dr. Susan Loveall, an expert in Down syndrome research, about effective assessments and supports for transition, IDEA transition requirements, outcomes of adults with Down syndrome who have exited high school in the last 5 years, as well as gain insight into perceptions from people with Down syndrome about their transition experiences.

Speaker Bio: Dr. Susan Loveall is an assistant professor in Special Education and Communication Disorders at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE where she runs the Learning Lab for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. She earned her PhD in Developmental and Cognitive Psychology from the University of Alabama in 2013. Her research focuses on learning, language, and literacy in individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. As the mother of an adorable and wild little girl with Down syndrome, she has a particular love for working with this population. The ultimate goal of this current research is to identify the best supports for successful transitions for young adults with Down syndrome.