title: Pediatric rehabilitation: 5. Transitioning teens with disabilities into adulthood.
abstract: This self-directed learning module focuses on preparing adolescent patients with special health care needs for adulthood by promoting their independence in their own self-care; helping them to navigate issues of sexuality, marriage, and parenting; preparing the patient and family to make guardianship decisions during the transition between childhood and adulthood; and planning for higher education or vocation. Emphasis will be on the role of the physiatrist in providing this guidance and its importance in improving the patient's quality of life. It is part of the study guide on pediatric rehabilitation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pediatric medicine. The goal of this article is to refine the learner's knowledge of preparing adolescent patients with special health care needs for adulthood to improve their quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of PM&R and Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, 3405 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19096, USA. kimhk@email.chop.edu
authors.forename: Heakyung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Chong Tae
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moberg-Wolff
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trovato
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011247:Pregnancy; D019529:Sexuality; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation