This handbook offers guidelines to help parents prepare adolescent children with chronic illnesses or disabilities for independent management of their health care needs. In each chapter, guidelines for handling transition issues are presented in the context of the experiences and reactions of actual parents. Each chapter concludes with a summary list of helpful hints. Individual chapters address the following topics: preparing for independence in health care, letting go and changing roles, the impact of chronic illness or disability on adolescent development, sexuality, communicating with health professionals, self-advocacy in health care, paying for health care, and achieving independence. Extensive appendices include the following: a health care skills checklist; a health care checklist for residential settings; a self-evaluation questionnaire titled "Are You Ready To Manage Your Own Health Care?"; a personal transition health plan; a list of responsibilities of a health advocate; a list of resources on sexuality; a list of states with high-risk insurance pools; addresses and telephone numbers of the offices of State Insurance Commissioners; addresses of State Medicaid agencies; a list of state programs for children with special health needs; a list of resources for paying for health care; lists of other resources (e.g., Parent Training and Information Centers); and a bibliography of 21 references. (DB)