The Boston-based Institute for Community Inclusion has, for more than 40 years, advocated for adults with intellectual disabilities to be integrated into mainstream American life. One of this organization's arguments in favor of post-secondary education for disabled adults is the otherwise small chance these people have of gaining employment. More than 90 percent of adults with intellectual disabilities are unemployed. A good first step in determining what your intellectually disabled loved one can do after high school is to familiarize yourself with such advocacy organizations and their recommendations.
As with any young adult trying to plan for the future, an intellectually disabled person should first determine his goals, such as seeking an independent or group living situation or obtaining employment. The Institute for Community Inclusion recommends building skills and contacts in the business community through work internships before leaving high school. This will help your loved one figure out what she is good at and what she likes.
Research which companies have a good record of making accommodations for those with intellectual disabilities. The Walgreens drug store chain, for instance, won the first ever Productive Lives Award from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation for its work to build a workforce nearly a third of whom are disabled at its distribution centers in Connecticut and South Carolina. Parents and the intellectually disabled young adults, themselves, should be advocates for on what they can do, with accommodations, and what types of jobs will be a good fit.
If your loved one isn't ready to work, enroll him in one of dozens of higher education programs, found on college and university campuses across the country. Clemson University is one of five universities in South Carolina that now offers an adult life skills program for the intellectually disabled. Vanderbilt University in Tennessee started a similar program in 2010. A challenge in today's limited marketplace for such programs is finding one that is the right fit for your budget, has the program you need and is in the right location.