This page is designed to connect you with basic information about transition planning. We've included articles, guides, and online trainings designed for specific audiences, because we all process and use information from the vantage point of why we want to know and what we're going to do with the info. Below you'll find resources listed for:
This is just a starter list, a limited number of resources to consider and use, as suits your needs and interests. Other resources specific to lines of inquiry, such as employment or further education, are identified in NICHCY's resource pages for those topics. There are so many helpful websites and materials out there, it's difficult to organize and share them usefully, short of a never-ending laundry list. So: Explore all the transition resource pages that are relevant to your transition involvement, and you'll find resources aplenty to help you on that path.
Resources for General Audiences
People make it happen | Laws don't make things happen, people do. This booklet includes information about the various roles in transition and how different members of transition teams may participate in the transition process.
http://transitioncoalition.org/transition/tcfiles/files/docs/peopleMakeItHappen_8-20091250526573.pdf/peopleMakeItHappen_8-2009.pdf
Planning for the future | This workbook is designed to help students, their families, and professionals to plan for life after high school. It uses a person-centered approach to identify student strengths and uses a problem-solving approach to develop a plan of action and a vision for the future.
http://transitioncoalition.org/transition/tcfiles/files/docs/planning
_future1213214588.pdf/planning_future.pdf
Transition to adult health care | This training guide is intended to serve as a framework for anyone interested in helping young people with special health care needs and their parents prepare for the transition to adult health care.
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/hrtw/TAHC.pdf
Health care transitions: A video | Jim's story
http://video.ichp.ufl.edu/JimStory2.htm
Healthy and Ready to Work | Success in the classroom, within the community, and on the job requires that young people with special health care needs stay healthy. If special health care needs are involved in your transition concerns, then visit the Healthy and Ready to Work National Center, which provides information and connections to health and transition expertise nationwide.
http://www.hrtw.org
Health care transitions: A video | College and beyond
http://video.ichp.ufl.edu/collegeandbeyond.htm
Effective college planning (9th edition) | For more than 20 years, the WNY Collegiate Consortium of Disability Advocates has been working with families and education professionals to assist students with disabilities make a successful transition from high school to college. Effective College Planning is a resource guide that provides technical assistance, timelines, and activities related to the transition process.
http://www.ccdanet.org/ecp/introduction/
Visit NCWD Youth | National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability
An excellent resource for us all! We can't even begin to tell you all the info you'll find.
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/
Visit TATRA | Technical Assistance on Transition and the Rehabilitation Act
Click on TATRA Knowledge Center and dive in.
http://www.pacer.org/tatra/knowledgecenter.asp
Visit ICI | The Institute for Community Inclusion
Resources and publications across the spectrum of transition and the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all facets of adulthood
http://www.communityinclusion.org/
Moving from services to community supports | Transition Coalition
This mini-module focuses on the paradigm shifts in how services for individuals with disabilities have changed over time.
http://transitioncoalition.org/transition/static/services_supports/
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Resources for Parents
Wondering what path your child will take after high school?
This brochure was created to help families understand the basics of transition planning, including its purpose, who is involved, and the process as a whole.
http://transitioncoalition.org/transition/file.php?path=files/docs/tp_brochure1213214652.pdf
Supporting the dynamic development of youth with disabilities during transition: A guide for families. | The title says it all.
www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=1432
The basics of transition planning | This helpful brochure was created to assist families in understanding the basics of transition planning, including its purpose, who is involved, and the process as a whole.
http://transitioncoalition.org/transition/tcfiles/files/docs/tp_
brochure1213214652.pdf/tp_brochure.pdf
Parent transition survey | This survey was created by a local transition council to help parents and family members identify preferences and thoughts for their son/daughter for life after high school.
http://transitioncoalition.org/transition/tcfiles/files/docs/PARENT_TRANSITION_
SURVEY1238601804.pdf/PARENT_TRANSITION_SURVEY.pdf
Want to be a full participant in developing your child's IEP?
Take a look at NICHCY’s Developing Your Child’s IEP and learn how to effectively work with schools to meet the needs of your evolving child.
http://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/NICHCY
PUBS/pa12.pdf
Parents' guide to the transition of their adult child to college, career, and community | An online module from the HEATH Resource Center
http://www.heath.gwu.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1093&Itemid=65
Transition-age students and SSI: What parents should know | How does receiving Social Security affect families as their children move into adulthood? This brief shares families' experiences and suggests ways that families can manage SSI and use it to help a young adult prepare for his or her career.
http://www.communityinclusion.org/article.php?article_id=65&type=topic&id=7
To work or not to work | "To Work or Not to Work" --- that is a question being asked by many individuals with disabilities and their family members as they begin to think about going to work in their local communities. This fact sheet answers frequently asked questions by family members and seeks to dispel the concerns parents have about their youth entering the workforce. http://www.worksupport.com/resources/viewContent.cfm/501
Employment 101 | There's a wealth of info about jobs and "getting employed" in NICHCY's Employment 101. If this is the transition area that interests or concerns you, we recommend taking a deeper look at the subject via the link above.
http://www.nichcy.org/FamiliesAndCommunity/Pages/resources-employers.aspx
Youth and disability disclosure: The role of families and advocates |
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/information-brief-21
What about postsecondary education for your youth? | Visit Post-ITT (Postsecondary Innovative Transition Technology Project ). Check out its Parent Support Module, designed just for you.
http://www.postitt.org/parentcourse/index.shtml
Transition and your adolescent with LD | This helpful document provides families with information about how to plan for the transition from school to postsecondary settings and information about different postsecondary options for adolescents with disabilities.
http://transitioncoalition.org/transition/tcfiles/files/docs/adol_
convert1213214553.pdf/adol_convert.pdf
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Resources for Professionals
Advising high school students with disabilities on postsecondary options | This HEATH booklet helps guidance and career counselors help high school students with disabilities in accomplishing transitions into postsecondary education and employment.
http://www.heath.gwu.edu/images/stories/Toolkit.pdf
Career planning begins with assessment | The best decisions and choices made by transitioning youth are based on sound information including appropriate assessments that focus on the talents, knowledge, skills, interests, values, and aptitudes of each individual. This guide serves as a resource for multiple audiences within the workforce development system.
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/assessment.html
Age-appropriate transition assessment | Division on Career Development and Transition, Council for Exceptional Children
http://www.dcdt.org/factsheets/DCDT_Fact_Sheet_age_appropriate_
Transition_Assessment.pdf
Age-appropriate transition assessment for students with significant disabilities | National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities
http://www.ndpc-sd.org/documents/STSPI/2009/InstitutePresentations2009/
ToolsforTransitionAssessmentforStudentswithSevereCognitiveDisabilitiesMorningstar.pdf
Visit the Transition Coalition | It provides online information, support, and professional development on topics related to the transition from school to adult life for youth with disabilities. Find online training modules on best practices, cultural diversity, transition assessment, youth with ED/BD, and working with families. A true treasure trove.
http://transitioncoalition.org/transition/index.php
Visit NSTTAC | National Secondary Transition and Technical Assistance Center
This is OSEP's funded center to support transition planning for youth with disabilities.
http://www.nsttac.org
10 steps to community resource mapping | The Center for Youth Development and Policy Research discusses the ten steps of effectively, efficiently, and accurately mapping community resources for youth.
http://cyd.aed.org/cym/cym.html
Transition to postsecondary education: A guide for high school educators | Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transitionguide.html
Transition tips: A database | Come search, browse, or add your own tip to the tips database. Tips are available in the major areas of transition planning and are submitted by practitioners describing transition practices and resources they have found helpful.
http://transitioncoalition.org/transition/tips/
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Resources for Students
A Life4Me
http://www.alife4me.com/
What are your goals for your life after high school? | National Secondary Transition and Technical Assistance Center
This video is part of a "postsecondary goals activity," which will help young people start thinking about what they want to do after they finish high school.
http://www.nsttac.org/NSTTACVideos/PostSecondaryGoals.aspx
A toolkit for youth, by youth | Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network (PYLN)
The PYLN is a team of youth leaders with disabilities from across Pennsylvania with a purpose to develop the self-determination, empowerment, and leadership of youth that promotes successful post school outcomes in the areas of education, employment, independent living, and health and wellness among youth. They would welcome you to their transition toolkit.
http://www.nsttac.org/students_and_families/PYLNtransitiontoolkit09.pdf
Stories of transition to the adult world | Meet four young people with very different strengths, gifts, interests, and concerns. They all share the desire to live full, productive adult lives where they can contribute to their communities. All of them also can point to key people who have been instrumental in helping shape their dreams into reality.
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/hrtw/Txt/transitionstories.html
Caleb's story | This 11-minute video highlights the work and home experiences of a young man with very involved health, cognitive, and physical disabilities.
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/hrtw/Caleb%27s_Story.swf
Visit HEATH | The HEATH Resource Center specializes in postsecondary education options for individuals with disabilities. Among other resources, you'll find 16 online learning modules focused on various aspects of life after high school.
http://www.heath.gwu.edu/
Want more? | Sure you do! You'll find more resources for students listed throughout these transition resource pages, especially in Students Get Involved!
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