title: Transition to adulthood.
abstract: Over the past 20 years, survival of youth with special health care needs, including youth with rheumatic diseases, has markedly improved. Over 90% will survive past their twentieth birthday and health care providers are recognizing a need for transition services to assist youth with disabilities to become successful adults. The barriers to, and the principles of, transition services are outlined. A discussion of available models and assessment tools for transition readiness and lessons learned on how to provide successful transition services is included.
authors.affiliation: George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D000328:Adult; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006801:Humans