The ASSIST coursework is divided into in the following areas:
- Philosophy: Parents advocate during transition of their young adult to life after school while using person-centered thinking and planning
- Education: Secondary transition & Post-secondary
- Financial planning & decision-making: Special Needs Trusts (SNT), ABLE Accounts, Decision-Making options
- Community life: Employment, Health Insurance, Housing
- Disability benefits: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Sessions take place once a week for 2-hours over 12/13 weeks. Below is an example of the ASSIST curriculum:
Week 1 – Introduction to ASSIST & Person-Centered Planning
Week 2 – Models of Decision-Making
Week 3 – Supplementary Security Income (SSI)
Week 4 – Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) & Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Week 5 – Medicaid Waiver
Week 6 – Health Insurance
Week 7 – Employment 1
Week 8 – Employment 2
Week 9 – Post-Secondary Education
Week 10 – Housing, Independent Living, & Enabling Technology
Week 11 – Special Needs Trust (SNT) & ABLE Account
Week 12 – Advocacy
Week 13 – Secondary Transition Planning (Optional)
Each of these sessions is supplemented by local experts on each topic.