Bridging the Transition Cliff with Peer Coaching

Jenny Mai Phan, PhD

George Mason University 

Transition-aged youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face a well-documented "service cliff" as they age out of pediatric care and school-based supports. At a time when their neurotypical peers are navigating post-secondary educationor entering the workforce with growing autonomy, young people with IDD often encounter fragmented services, limited guidance, and abrupt shifts in care and support systems. This disparity is not just a gap—it’s a chasm that too many young people fall into.

To bridge this divide, robust, well-resourced peer coaching programs are needed across the country that can connect transition-aged youth with trained peer coaches—individuals with lived experience of IDD who can offer guidance, encouragement, and practical strategies for navigating adulthood. Just as important, a cadre of peer coaches must be supported with structured training, supervision, and compensation. Investing in such programs will promote inclusion and foster skill development for both peer coaches and young people with IDD navigating these critical years.