Paper Title
THE USE OF REHABILITATION COUNSELING IN THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH NEURODIVERSITY

Abstract
Neurodiversity is a concept that is discussed as a more inclusive concept that focuses on the individual rather than the context of the disease in the assessment of different developmental conditions. This concept is defined as a perspective that argues that the human brain and mind exist in an infinite number of variations and that each individual of the human race develops a different neurocognitive functionality. Additionally, neurodiversity reminds us that there is no single truth or single “normal,” and in recent years, it has begun to replace the term “disability” in national and international literature. It is a new concept that does not frame neurological conditions as illnesses or deficiencies and therefore does not place heavy expectations on individuals or society. This concept has begun to influence all scientific disciplines related to mental health and all related fields. One of these fields is special education. From individuals with neurological diversity who experience significant limitations in self-care, daily living skills, adaptive behaviors, and deficiencies in functional academic skills, to individuals with neurological diversity who possess superior intelligence and extraordinary talents in any field, the ultimate goal of special education is to assist the individuals it serves in achieving full independence. Like typically developing individuals, individuals with neurological diversity also have two critical periods in their lives. The first is the school-age period, which encompasses the early years of life, and the second is the adulthood period, which transitions them from student status to adult status. A successful transition to adulthood is closely related to issues such as independent living, career development, education, friendships, and the ability to make decisions about one's own life. Therefore, the transition to adulthood is an important and challenging process for both individuals with neurological diversity and their parents. In this challenging process, rehabilitation counseling a highly complex and comprehensive field that offers a range of additional services such as psychological assistance, career counseling and guidance, vocational training, vocational assessment and monitoring, workplace accommodations, and provision of assistive devices has become increasingly important in providing psychosocial support to both individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and their families. In this study, the role and functions of rehabilitation counseling in the transition to adulthood for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders are examined within the context of the literature, recommendations are made on how rehabilitation counseling can be utilized in the transition to adulthood for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, and these findings are discussed in the context of future research and applications. Keywords - Rehabilitation Counseling, Neurodiversity, Transition