The report examines issues in the "aging out" process, in which handicapped youth 21 years of age are no longer eligible for publicly funded residential, educational, and child care facilities. Procedures involved in New York's transitional care and maintenance programs are noted, and new concepts regarding the extent of society's commitment to the education of disabled citizens are addressed. Specific examples in Onondaga County are illustrated. The importance of redirecting educational and vocational thrusts to community-based approaches is discussed. Aging out is traced to inadequate educational, vocational, and residential strategies. Community-based, community-oriented instruction is offered as the alternative for severely disabled individuals. A section examines ways in which the community-based alternative could strengthen the effectiveness of special education in Onondaga County and the state. Short-term and long term community based strategies are considered. (CL)