Lost in space: transition and social networks of young people with intellectual disabilities.

Many young people with learning disabilities with complex health and support needs are surviving into adulthood. In the UK policy documents highlight the problems faced by young people with ID at the point of transition to adult life and the barriers faced by youngsters from minority ethnic community communities. School leavers with learning disabilities are often lost within service structures as part of the transition process and young people with ID from minority ethnic communities faced many barriers in access and use of services. Their needs and aspirations during the transition from children to adult services are unknown to many of the service providers which may be attributed to lack of appropriate transition planning process. This results in the lack of real opportunities for young school leavers with learning disabilities to partake in ordinary community and social activities culminating in social exclusion, and creating barriers in accessing services.