For teenagers and young adults with disabilities, the NDIS goal-setting focus shifts towards preparing for adulthood, independence and a successful transition into post-school life.
There’s so much to think about at this time of life. Setting goals allows young people to have a sense of control over their lives and their future.
NDIS funded supports for teens, tweens and young adults.
There are some supports that may be relevant to consider for teenagers and young people when setting their NDIS goals.
- Developing independent living skills. Goals may focus on skills such as cooking, personal care, managing finances and travelling independently.
- Building vocational skills. Goals may involve vocational training, internships or work experience for a smoother transition to employment.
- Accessing further education: Goals can include researching and applying for higher education or other courses, and developing study skills.
- Community participation and social skills: Goals might involve joining local clubs or groups, developing social networks and participating in recreational activities.
NDIS capacity building supports may also fund things like developing self-advocacy skills, communication training and mentoring to build confidence and independence.
Goal setting tips for teenagers and young adults.
As a young person, it’s important you have the opportunity to actively participate in shaping your own path and have a say in your educational journey. This can enhance both self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Set realistic and meaningful goals that are challenging yet achievable to help you stay motivated.
- Include long-term goals to build planning and decision making skills.
- Align goals with major milestones and transitions such as education, training, employment and independent living.
- Reflect on your achievements to reveal areas where you may want to improve or develop a new skill.
- Identify strengths and how you can use those to overcome barriers or weaknesses to work towards your goals.
- Refine and adapt your goals as circumstances, priorities or aspirations change.
- Learn from past experiences – reflect on what worked well and apply those lessons to set new goals more effectively.