Growing up ready: a shared management approach

In order to help youth with physical disabilities and their families to plan for the transition to adulthood, well-planned service delivery is essential. This paper provides an account of the work of a children's rehabilitation centre to develop a transition framework reflecting evidence-based practice. Examination of current transition practices, a review of the literature, and site visits to health care facilities and universities were conducted to identify promising practices in the field of transition to adult services. A transition framework was designed to facilitate the adoption of a shared management approach for helping families and their children to grow up ready. Key elements of the transition framework are described and future plans discussed.