Our TexasYouth2Adult website/tool, “created to empower youth with special health care needs to transition successfully into adulthood,” now has a sister site for Virginia.

Why a Transition Tool?
For those used to individualized education programs, the world beyond high school can be a shock. College and job applicants can no longer count on hands-on help arranging disability accommodations. Instead, they’re expected to:
- Already know what they need;
- Take the initiative in requesting accommodations;
- Consider alternate options as needed;
- Balance personal needs with professional responsibilities.
Plus, “growing up” means personal responsibility for medical and financial decisions, among others. Neglecting “transition planning” means being unprepared for these decisions, which means starting adulthood at a disadvantage. Yet there are few resources covering all major aspects of adult life.
Youth2Adult (Y2A) bridges that gap by providing resources in seven important areas:
- Medical
- Education
- Social and Recreational
- Legal and Advocacy
- Financial Management
- Independent Living
- Employment
With a Y2A tool, families can find everything they need for transition planning—which can start as early as elementary school.
BridgingApps and Youth2Adult
“BridgingApps is uniquely positioned to create [an] online tool that will empower families to plan early … with the right questions … to allow their children to live as fully participating members of [a] community.” –Elise Hough, CEO, Easter Seals Greater Houston
Like TexasYouth2Adult, VirginiaYouth2Adult is connected with the BridgingApps App Search Tool. This database simplifies the search for assistive technology: recommended apps are reviewed by users with disabilities, family caregivers, special-education teachers, and other experts. Personal goals are always considered before “official” disabilities.
We Had Plenty of Help
“Sentara Health Plans is proud to introduce the Virginia Youth2Adult website … as an interactive tool designed to support youth and caregivers across Virginia. This comprehensive resource empowers all Virginians to actively participate in this critical life [stage].” –Randy Ricker, Medicaid Plan President and Vice President of Sentara Health Plans
BridgingApps thanks Sentara Health Plans, our Virginia partner, for their help getting VirginiaYouth2Adult up, running, and locally relevant. Sentara Health Plans provides health coverage to around 1 million members in Virginia and Florida. Its parent organization is Sentara Health, a nonprofit healthcare organization that serves clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the United States.
BridgingApps also thanks the Virginia-based Easterseals affiliates and others who provided input to help make VirginiaYouth2Adult an effective resource.
(Read the official press release, “BridgingApps® and Sentara Health Plans Creating Transition Tool for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs.”)
Bonus: How to Create a Y2A “App” on Your Smartphone or Tablet
While Y2A is not technically an app, you can create a screen-icon shortcut to the Virginia and/or Texas site (or any website of your choosing):
- Open your device’s internet app (usually Safari on an iOS device or Chrome on an Android).
- Go to the website you want to create a shortcut for.
- Tap the Share button on an iOS device, or the Menu button on an Android.
- Tap Add to Home Screen.
- Enter a name for the shortcut. It will post an icon on your home screen.