What to Do If Your Young Adult Has No Day Program
SH
When graduation hits and there's no plan, no program, and no path—it’s time to create your own.
You got through high school.
IEPs. Transition meetings. All the paperwork.
But now it’s over—and there’s nothing lined up.
No day program. No job. No plan.
Just… empty time.
If your young adult doesn’t qualify for—or simply doesn’t want—a traditional day program, you’re not alone.
And you’re not without options.
Why This Happens More Than People Realize
Here’s what I see with so many families after graduation:
🧩 The system assumes one path
Go to a day training program or stay home. There’s not enough guidance for anything in between.
🛑 Eligibility issues pop up
Some young adults don’t meet the exact criteria for a program, or they’re placed on a years-long waitlist.
😕 The program just doesn’t fit
Your young adult might be higher functioning, have specific interests, or feel emotionally unsafe in a group setting.
And suddenly, the structured days of school are replaced with… nothing.
✅ What You Can Do Instead
Here’s how to build a meaningful day—even without a program in place.
1. 🧠 Start with their strengths and interests
Don’t build around what the system offers. Build around what lights them up. Is it animals? Music? Computers? Physical work?
2. 🧑🤝🧑 Use Participant-Directed Services (PDS) creatively
If you have a Medicaid waiver in Kentucky, it's likley that you have the option to recruit, hire, train, and manage your own caregiver instead of using an agency.
If you you're waiting for a waiver, you can hire someone privately.
Even 2–3 hours a day can provide rhythm and purpose.
Hire a support person to help with:
- Volunteering
- Skill-building
- Social outings
- Learning public transportation
- Following a structured daily routine
3. 🗓️ Create a weekly schedule
This might include:
Mon/Wed: Library or YMCA
Tue/Thu: Cooking, community center
Fri: Volunteer or family support
Even small blocks of time create structure that prevents isolation and regression.
4. 🧭 Think long-term, but act short-term
What you do now sets the tone for years to come. You don’t need a 10-year plan. You need a next step that helps them grow.
Need Help Figuring Out What That Looks Like?
If you’re staring at a blank calendar and wondering how to help your young adult thrive—I can help.
I work with families to:
✅Build structured schedules using what you do have
✅Tap into Medicaid waivers like PDS
✅Find creative alternatives to day programs
✅Connect with supports that aren’t “cookie-cutter”
I have a few free 1:1 strategy sessions open this month for families in this exact situation.
You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience. Let’s use it.
Meet Samantha
Samantha Harrison is a disability consultant with over 13 years of experience helping Kentucky families navigate Medicaid waivers, hire caregivers through Participant-Directed Services (PDS), and build care steams that actually work.
She’s on a mission to help families who are being left to manage complex systems alone—facing long waitlists, confusing rules, and impossible decisions without enough support. And with new Medicaid cuts looming, the stakes have never been higher.
Samantha offers hands-on, personalized support to help families get clear answers, take action, and create sustainable solutions—without getting lost in the red tape. If you’re ready for real help, you’re in the right place.
