The purpose of this study was to explore reasons why adolescent youth from foster care and in special education, including those who are newly emancipated from the foster care system, have difficulty transitioning into independent living. The study was guided by one research question: What difficulties do students who receive special education services and become emancipated from the foster care system face when transitioning into independent living? Based on several interviews with Thomas, a 19-year-old, emancipated foster youth who received special education services while in school, four life factors (instability of placement and school, mental health, mentors, and lack of communication) and three causational themes (movement, relationship, and academics) materialized. It is clear from the interview findings that foster youth needs an array of assistance to transition into independent living.