If you are 18-22 and not attending school, call for an IPP meeting to discuss what services you need. You may want adult services from the regional center such as a day program, vocational training, or independent living skills training. If the IPP team decides the school can provide these services, then the regional center must first try to get them for you from the school. The IPP team should also discuss if you meet a competitive-work, paid-internship, or extraordinary-circumstance exemption.

Let’s say you got a high school diploma at age 20. This means you cannot get any more special education services, including transition services, from your school.^[1]Cal. Education Code sections 56026(c)(4) and 56026.1. The regional center, not the school district, is now responsible for giving or funding the disability-related services you need.

If you get a certificate of completion, you can still get special education and transition services from your school district because you have not received a regular diploma. You should still be able to get services (day programs, vocational education, work services, independent living services, and mobility training and related transportation services), because you have received a certificate of completion.^[2]Cal. Education Code sections 56026(c)(4) and 56026.1, and Lanterman Act section 4648.55(a).

If you quit school at age 18, but you are still not 22, you have a few choices. You could go back to school for more transition services, as long as you were an enrolled special education student before you turned 19.^[3]Cal. Education Code sections 56026(c)(4). You could find out if you were eligible for a Certificate of Completion from your school district and try to get one. This should remove obstacles from getting day program, vocational, and other services from the regional center.^[4]Section 4648.55(a). Or, you could ask your regional center to provide the adult services you need. Disability Rights California has found that some regional centers will serve adults between 18 and 22 who have left school without a diploma or certificate of completion and do not want to go back. Other regional centers, may insist you return to your school district for services.