In the medical world the term “transition” refers to preparing youth for the experience of becoming consumers of adult healthcare. During childhood, parents take responsibility for seeing that their son or daughter’s medical needs are met—they call for doctor appointments, fill out forms, and keep track of medications. As youth get older, the ability to manage their own medical needs becomes increasingly important. Healthcare transition focuses on building independent health care skills – including self-advocacy, preparing for the adult model of care, and transferring to new providers. This section focuses on the transfer to new health care providers.

Transition planning happens in more than one setting and youth with disabilities and chronic conditions or special health care needs may have several transition teams. A youth’s health care transition team includes:

• the young person
• his or her parents
• his or her primary doctor
• specialty care providers
• other medical care providers or support staff, if appropriate.