Graduation Isn’t the End—It’s a New Beginning for Support
I was at a transition fair in Kansas City this spring, chatting with families and showing off the Smart Steps Mobile app. A young man—we’ll call him Ian—walked up to my table. Ian had a friendly smile and curious eyes, so I asked if he’d like to see how the app worked. He shrugged a little and said, “Sure.”
We tapped through a few screens together. After just a minute, Ian looked up and said, “I need this.”
Being Social Has Its Drawbacks
Ian told me that sometimes he gets angry when his family doesn’t have time to talk to him. A family member walked over and verified that yes, sometimes they are busy and they just can’t stop to talk. Maybe they’ve just gotten home and are preparing dinner, for example.
That moment stuck with me. We talked a little bit about some ideas, and I thought aloud about some strategies that he could try. I thanked him because a new decision tree for this need could help others, too. I’m not a psychologist, but putting my teacher hat on, I knew that sometimes anger could mean hurt.
How This Relates to Transitioning from High School
See, Ian had already graduated from high school. That meant that a lot of his social support—teachers, aides, even classmates—was gone. In school, students with disabilities, especially those with big personalities like Ian’s, often have a lot of people around them who are supporting them throughout the day. For someone who’s naturally social, that kind of daily interaction fills an important need: the need to belong.
But what happens after graduation, when that support fades? What about no one’s there to check in between classes or sit with you at lunch? If a student isn’t working or going to college, their social circle can shrink fast, regardless of disability. And as a matter of fact, research backs this up.
I saw this over and over as a post-high teacher—the sadness, the sense of being left behind. It’s real. And it hurts.
Smart Steps Mobile’s Latest Free Decision Tree: “I am Feeling Ignored”
That’s why Ian’s comment meant so much. Because of him, we’ve added a new decision tree to the Smart Steps Mobile app called “I am Feeling Ignored.” It helps users think through what to do when they feel left out or lonely—whether that means reaching out, doing something kind for themselves, or making a plan to connect with someone later.
This new feature is now part of the free download. If you try it and have ideas to improve it, you can always customize it with a personal account. That’s the beauty of Smart Steps—it grows with you.
Big thanks to Ian for his insight and willingness to talk about it. I hope to run into him again at another fair soon. If I do, I’ll be sure to ask for a picture so you can meet the young man who inspired something meaningful.
Have an idea for a new tree? You might just inspire a new decision tree that helps others! Email your thoughts to connect@smartsteps4me.com.
~ Cindy
App Store
http://bit.ly/SmartStepsMobileIOS
Google Playstore
http://bit.ly/SmartStepsAndroid
Free account:
https://app.smartsteps4me.com/register
(C)2025 Smart Steps LLC
#SmartStepsMobile #Neurodiversity #DisabilitySupport #PostHighSchool #InclusionMatters #IndependenceTools #TechForGood #SocialEmotionalSupport #LifeAfterHighSchool #TransitionToAdulthood #RealStoriesRealImpact