20th Annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference in Springfield
The “Stepping Stones of Transition” conference shares services and resources to prepare youth and young adults with special healthcare needs and other disabilities for success in adulthood.
The 2025 Illinois Statewide Transition Conference, titled “Stepping Stones of Transition,” will take place in person on Oct. 30-31. The conference is at the Crowne Plaza Convention Center, 3000 S. Dirksen Parkway, in Springfield.
It will highlight the opportunities and resources available for youth and young adults with disabilities as they transition to adulthood.
“Stepping Stones of Transition” is for youth, parents, caregivers, vocational professionals, healthcare professionals, educators and others who work with youth and young adults with disabilities. Youth will learn how to plan for their future, including:
- What happens after I leave high school?
- How do I sort through the maze of resources?
- What steps can I take now to prepare for upcoming changes?
- What skills are important for me to develop?
Participants can learn about the importance of disability acceptance, awareness and inclusion from keynote speaker Taylor Sweeting. The conference also includes sessions on:
- Artificial intelligence (AI) in transition
- Self-advocacy
- Employment
- Future and financial planning
- Post-secondary education
- Health care
See the conference flyer for more details:
The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) helps sponsor the conference and serves on its steering committee.
DSCC may be able to fund the conference-related expenses for DSCC participants and their families, caregivers, nurses and/or personal attendants. These expenses include the cost of the hotel and transportation. DSCC participants can sign up online and get more information at:
- DSCC transition conference registration form in English
- DSCC transition conference registration form in Spanish
The deadline for DSCC families to sign up is Oct. 3.
The general public can find more details and registration information at www.illinoistransitionconference.org/. The Illinois Statewide Transition Conference Steering Committee offers a scholarship program to help youth with disabilities and their families attend the conference. The scholarship is open to:
- Individuals with disabilities
- Immediate family members of a person with a disability
- Guardians for a person with a disability
Visit the transition conference scholarship program page for more details.
The deadline to apply for the scholarship is Sept. 5.
Please contact DSCC Title V Transition Specialist Claire Cook at (800) 322-3722 or clairer3@uic.edu for help with registration and more details.
To learn more about the conference’s impact on families, you can read about our participant families’ experiences at the 2024 conference and watch our recap video below:
Find more videos highlighting different parts of the transition conference experience on our Illinois Statewide Transition Conference YouTube playlist.