Early Childhood Special Education

Next Steps to Independence: Skills and Strategies

The Next Steps checklist provides a framework to develop skills for independence in adulthood for individuals with disabilities. This tool highlights critical developmental milestones. These milestones are organized by age: birth-age 3, age 3-5, elementary school, middle school, high school, and age 18-22.

Families might use this tool to reflect on their child’s achievements, consider any areas of concern, or collaborate with educators.

Educators might use this tool to identify critical skills to address, adaptations to consider, or as an informal transition assessment for self-determination skills. See the Teaching and Learning Strategies and Important Action Steps for Families with each age group. These sections include activities and suggestions for teaching these critical skills and connecting with community partners.

TEA’s Early Childhood Special Education webpage

TEA’s Early Childhood Education in Texas webpage

Next Steps to Independence Skills and Strategies