Transition Iowa

02/24/2026

🌟 4+ Services Misunderstanding #1:
“Students with an IEP automatically stay in school until age 21.”

This is not always the case. To qualify for 4+ services, a student must have an unmet transition need that still requires special education support after high school. Students can continue receiving services until those transition needs are met or until the end of the school year in which they turn 21 — whichever comes first.

The best part? This decision is not set in stone. The IEP team reviews eligibility every year during the annual meeting to ensure services match the student’s current needs.

Explore how 4+ services help Iowa students ages 18–21 with IEPs reach transition goals in living, learning, and working.

02/17/2026

🎓 What Are 4+ Services?
4+ Services are designed for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) who continue to need special education support to meet their IEP goals and/or graduation requirements. These services also help address unmet post-secondary transition needs for students up to age 21.

Over the next 3 weeks, we’re breaking down some of the most common misunderstandings about 4+ Services — and clarifying what families, educators, and students really need to know.

✨ Stay tuned each week as we reveal a new misunderstanding and unpack what 4+ Services truly offer.

Learn more about 4+ Services here:
🔗 https://www.transitioniowa.org/four-plus-services

02/13/2026

🎥 Webinar Recording Now Available: Understanding Host Homes

Curious about host homes and how they support people with disabilities in meaningful, community-based ways? The recording of this informative webinar is now available to watch.

Join ASK Resource Center, Abby Barker from Mosaic, and Joan Baumert—a guardian of an individual who lives in a host home—as they break down what host homes are, how they work, and why they can be such a powerful living option for some individuals with disabilities.

This session offers both professional insight and a real family perspective, helping families and caregivers better understand whether a host home might be the right fit for their loved one.

Participants will:
✔️ Learn what a host home is and how the model works
✔️ Understand how host homes provide daily support and promote community living
✔️ Hear real-life examples of successful host home partnerships—and what makes them work well

This webinar is designed for families and caregivers who want clear, practical information about this unique and supportive residential option.

▶️ Watch the full webinar here:

Join ASK, Abby Barker from Mosaic, and Joan Baumert, a guardian of an individual who lives in a host home, to learn what host homes are and how they provide ...

02/10/2026

🔎 What is Section 301?
A powerful safety net for young people receiving SSI.

Section 301 allows someone to keep their SSI benefits even if Social Security decides they are no longer medically eligible — including situations where a young adult does not qualify after the Age 18 Redetermination.

How does it work?
If the student is actively working toward a job goal through an approved program (like VR services, an IEP with transition goals, a college program, or another qualifying plan), SSI benefits can continue until the goal is achieved and the person is successfully working.

This protection helps young people stay stable while building the skills and experience needed for employment.

📄 Learn more in our Section 301 explainer:
https://www.askresource.org/filesimages/Transition/Transition-WhatisSection301.pdf

02/03/2026

🌟 Supporting Employees with Disabilities
Understanding how work and benefits can go together

Did you know?
Many skilled employees with disabilities work part-time — not because they aren’t capable of more, but because they worry that increasing their hours could cause them to lose essential Social Security benefits.

The good news: Social Security has programs and protections that can help people with disabilities work, grow, and advance in their careers without immediately losing the supports they depend on.

Our new flyer breaks down these programs in a clear, easy-to-understand way to help employers, families, and employees make informed decisions about work and benefits.

📄 Read the full resource:
https://www.askresource.org/filesimages/Transition/Transition-SupportingEmployeeswithDisabilities.pdf

01/13/2026

💼 Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)
Helping students work without losing their SSI benefits

Did you know that students under age 22 who receive SSI can earn money from a job — and a large portion of their earnings won’t count against their benefits?

The Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) is a powerful work incentive that supports teens and young adults with disabilities who want to gain work experience, build skills, and move toward independence.

Whether you're a student, family member, educator, or transition professional, understanding SEIE can open the door to new opportunities.

📄 Download the SEIE explainer:
https://www.askresource.org/filesimages/Transition/Transition-StudentEarnedIncomeExclusion.pdf

01/06/2026

🌟 Understanding Work Incentives & Benefits Planning
For Families, Educators & Youth with Disabilities

Did you know there are programs designed to help young people with disabilities work, earn money, and still keep their benefits?

Our new informational flyer breaks down the basics in a simple, easy-to-understand way — including:

🔹 What is a Work Incentive?
🔹 Who is a Certified Benefits Planner?
🔹 What does WIPA stand for?
🔹 Who else can help with benefits planning?

This is a great resource for families, transition teams, educators, and anyone supporting a young person entering the world of work.

📄 Download the flyer:
https://www.askresource.org/filesimages/Transition/Transition-BenefitsPlanningExplanation.pdf

12/30/2025

Balancing Work & Benefits
A Guide for Young Workers with Social Security Benefits

Did you know that many young people can work and still keep their benefits with the right planning and support?

Our new informational sheet breaks down what youth, families, and professionals need to know — including how earnings affect benefits, what programs can help, and how to plan for a successful path into employment.

📄 Download the guide:
https://www.askresource.org/filesimages/Transition/Transition-BalancingBenefitsandWorking.pdf

Empower young workers to make informed decisions as they move toward independence, employment, and adulthood.

12/23/2025

What is Age 18 Redetermination?

When a young person receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) turns 18, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews their case to determine whether they still qualify—this time using adult disability rules.

These adult rules are different and place more emphasis on whether the person can work and earn above Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). Because of this shift, some young people may lose their SSI benefits at age 18, even if they qualified as a child.

Understanding this process early can help families prepare, gather documentation, and explore supports to maintain stability during the transition to adulthood.

📄 Learn more in our Age 18 Redetermination guide:
https://www.askresource.org/filesimages/Transition/Transition-Age18Redetermination.pdf

12/20/2025

📢 Now Available: ASK an Expert – 6 Principles of IDEA ( #6 Procedural Safeguards)

Understanding your rights in special education matters. This video walks through Procedural Safeguards—what they are, why they matter, and how they protect families and students under IDEA.

Whether you’re new to special education or deep in the IEP process, this resource is designed to support informed, confident advocacy.

▶️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/n5ghixCSHCQ

12/19/2025

🌟 ANNOUNCING OUR THREE-PART WEBINAR SERIES! 🌟
Supporting Successful Post-Secondary Transition

Preparing a young person with disabilities for life after high school can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to figure it out alone. This January and February, ASK is hosting a three-part webinar series to help families, caregivers, and professionals navigate key areas of post-secondary transition: living, education, and employment.

Each session offers clear guidance, real examples, and practical strategies you can use right away.

📅 January 26, 2026
Everything You Need to Know About Host Homes
Learn how host homes work as personalized, community-based living options and hear examples of successful partnerships.

📅 February 9, 2026
Navigating Disability Services: High School vs. College
Understand how accommodations change after graduation and get tips for a confident transition to college.

📅 February 16, 2026
Empowered Employment: Job Coaching & Work-Based Learning
Explore how job coaches support individuals with disabilities and learn strategies for successful employment experiences.

✨ Whether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, or service provider, these sessions will help you support your young person’s next steps with confidence.

➡️ Learn more & register: www.askresource.org/events

12/18/2025

📣 Community Input Needed: Behavioral Health District Survey

The Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) is collecting feedback from community members as part of its Behavioral Health District Assessment.

This survey is open through the second week of January, and responses will be used to help shape individual district plans across Iowa. The more people who participate, the better the data will reflect real community needs.

If you’ve had any experience with behavioral health services, care coordination, or referrals, your perspective is important.

👉 Take the survey here:
🔗 https://www.iowapca.org/district-assessment

Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your input.

Behavioral Health District Assessment: Community Member SurveyHelp us shape the future of behavioral health in Iowa. Share your feedback. Make a difference.The Iowa Primary Care Association coordinates a statewide network to ensure clear, consistent access to the continuum of behavioral health servi...