A Guide to Transition Resources
Disability Information and Referral Center (DIRC)
Contents
National Organizations
State Organizations
Websites
Non-Disability Transition
Online Guides and Articles
Print/Multimedia Materials
Specific College Resources
Specific Employment Resources
Links to other Topics
DIRC Materials
Vertical File Publication
PDF version
Related Links
Guide to Resources on Learning Differences
Selected Materials on Learning Differences
National Library Service for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
NOTE: The topic of transition resources is very broad and encompasses other aspects of disability culture such as independent living and self-determination. This guide is currently under construction and is intended to serve as an introduction to the subject rather than an all-inclusive, definitive document.
National Organizations
Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
704-947-7779
www.ahead.org/
DO-IT
doit@uw.edu
www.washington.edu/doit/
HEATH Resource Center / The George Washington University
www.heath.gwu.edu/
National Center for the Study of Postsecondary Educational Supports (NCSPES)
www.rrtc.hawaii.edu/
National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET)
612-624-5659
ncset@umn.edu
www.ncset.org/
Funded by the PACER Center
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth
877-871-0744
www.ncwd-youth.info/
Funded and run in part by the NYEC
National Pacer Center on Transition and Employment
www.pacer.org/transition/
Site includes a learning center, resource library, stories, and videos
National Youth Employment Coalition
202-780-5928
nyec@nyec.org
www.nyec.org/
PACER (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights)
800-537-2237
www.pacer.org
Project Search
www.projectsearch.us/
Project Search involves a one year, school-to-work program that takes place entirely in the workplace. The program provides real-life work experience to help youth with significant disabilities make successful transitions from school to adult life. Each Project Search team should be comprised of educators, rehab specialists, community rehab partners, and business managers and employees. There are currently about 20 Project Search programs throughout Texas.
Source America (Employment)
888-411-8424
www.sourceamerica.org
Please refer to State Organizations for Texas office.
Transitions ACR
508-856-3075
www.umassmed.edu/TransitionsACR
This center aims to provide supports to young people with serious mental conditions.
State Organizations
Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitation
800-628-5115
www.twc.state.tx.us/jobseekers/vocational-rehabilitation-youth-students
www.twc.state.tx.us/files/students/transition-services-twc.pdf
Source America Regional Office (Dallas/Fort Worth)
2401 East Randol Mill Road Ste 200
Arlington, TX 76011
Texas Department of State Health Services Audiovisual Library
Toll free: 1-888-963-7111 ext. 7260, 512-776-7260
www.dshs.texas.gov/avlib/
Houses the rehab collection
Texas Education Agency
512-463-9734
http://tea.texas.gov
Division of Special Education
https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/special-education
Transition in Texas
www.texastransition.org
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)
800-872-5273 (recording) 512-454-8631 (switchboard)
www.tsbvi.edu
Organization Websites
Casey Life Skills
https://caseylifeskills.secure.force.com/clsa_learn_youth
This web site provides a check list of skills, strengths, and interests for students to explore with their mentors, social workers, or case managers.
Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)
www.eric.ed.gov/
Equal Access to Software and Information (EASI)
http://easi.cc/
FYI Transition
https://fyitransition-students.org
An interactive web site for students, parents, and professionals
From the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
MDA Transitions Site
http://transitions.mda.org/
A comprehensive web site about all aspects of transition, designed for anyone with a mobility impairment
Partners for Youth with Disabilities
www.pyd.org/
Primarily this organization implements programs for the state of Mass., but their programs can also be used as models for organizations in other states. They feature mentor, online partner, young entrepreneur, and parent programs.
Project Eye to Eye
http://eyetoeyenational.org/
One of the services of Eye to Eye provides peer and mentoring support for high school and college students with learning differences. The program does not have a Texas affiliate at this time.
Transition Coalition
http://transitioncoalition.org/
Websites for Transition Students
Friends of Quinn
www.friendsofquinn.com/
This is an online community for young people with learning differences.
I Belong
www.ibelong.ca/
This is a Canadian web site for young people with intellectual disabilities, and the families and educational staff that support them.
Starlight
www.starlight.org/
This is a web site for students with chronic illnesses or serious injuries.
Voices for Hope
www.voices4hope.net/
This site provides resources for teenagers and young people with mental health conditions. Last updated in 2019.
Non-Disability Transition Website
Youthhood.org
www.youthhood.org/
Even though it’s not a disability-related web site, Youthhood has a lot of interactive elements that will be helpful to all transition students.
Online Guides and Articles
Online Guides (General)
Career Guide for People with Disabilities
https://novoresume.com/career-blog/disability-career-guide
College and Career Guide for Students with Disabilities
https://study.com/resources/college-resource-for-students-with-disabilities
Cyber Disclosure for Youth with Disabilities
www.ncwd-youth.info/publications/cyber-disclosure-for-youth-with-disabilities/
Finding a Job That Is Right for You: A Practical Approach to Looking for a Job as a Person with a Disability
https://askjan.org/publications/individuals/Finding-a-Job-that-is-Right-for-You.cfm
(The) 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities
Through National Collaborative on Workforce & Disability (NCWD)
www.ncwd-youth.info/publications/the-411-on-disability-disclosure-a-workbook-for-youth-with-disabilities/
Kickstart Your ILP (Individualized Learning Plan)
www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/program-areas/individuals/youth/individualized-learning-plan
From the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy
Paving the Way to Work: A Guide to Career-Focused Mentoring For Youth with Disabilities
www.ncwd-youth.info/publications/paving-the-way-to-work-a-guide-to-career-focused-mentoring/
Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED491247
Simply Said: Introducing Vocational Rehabilitation Services
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT9pKlcTQMg
YouTube video from the PACER center
Understanding the New Vision for Career Development: the Role of Family
www.ncwd-youth.info/publications/understanding-the-new-vision-for-career-development-the-role-of-family/
Online Guides (Specific Disabilities)
Down Syndrome
https://assignmentbro.com/blog/students-with-down-syndrome
Visual Impairment/Blindness
Helping Students with Visual Impairments: Resources, Tools, and Technology to Foster School Success:
www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/helping-blind-low-vision-students/
E.X.P.L.O.R.E the Possibilities: An Approach to Transition:
www.tsbvi.edu/instructional-resources/1914-explore-the-possibilities-an-approach-to-transition
Online Articles (General)
The ADA, Section 504, and Postsecondary Education
www.pacer.org/transition/resource-library/publications/NPC-42.pdf
All About the IEP
www.parentcenterhub.org/iep/
Twelve Things You Can Do to Plan for Your Child’s Future Today
www.tsbvi.edu/seehear/archive/twelve.html
Q&A for Students on VR (vocational rehab)
www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/transition/students.htm
Questions to Answer in Preparation for your Child’s IEP Meeting
www.tsbvi.edu/seehear/archive/itp.htm
Online Articles (Specific Disabilities)
Learning Disabilities
College and College Prep
www.ldonline.org/indepth/college
Selecting a College for Students with LD or ADHD
www.ldonline.org/article/11772
Transition: School to Work
www.ldonline.org/indepth/transition
Visual Impairments
Making It! Successful Transition Competencies for Youth with Visual Disabilities
www.tsbvi.edu/seehear/spring00/makingit.htm
The Challenge of Transitions
www.tsbvi.edu/seehear/summer02/tcb.htm
Online Articles (For Students Younger Than High School)
Moving on To High School: A Tip Sheet for Parents of Children on Individualized Education Programs
www.communityinclusion.org/article.php?article_id=148
Print/Multimedia Materials
AHEAD Materials (Selected Lists)
www.ahead.org/professional-resources/publications/publications-for-sale
Books:
Beyond Transition: An Interactive Workbook for College-Bound Students with LD and ADHD
The Essential Six, Volume One A Parent's Guide: How to Pave the Road to Self-Advocacy for College Students with Learning Differences
Brochures and Booklets: www.ahead.org/publications#Brochures
- Advising Students with Disabilities
- College Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- College Students Who Have ADHD
- College Students Who Have Chronic Diseases or Episodic Disabilities
- College Students with Learning Disabilities - 3rd Edition
- Confidentiality and Disability Issues in Higher Education
- Preparing for College: Options for Students with Learning Disabilities
- Ready, Set, Go: Helping Students with Learning Disabilities Prepare for College
- Section 504: The Law and Its Impact on Postsecondary Education
- The Americans with Disabilities Act: The Law and Its Impact on Postsecondary Education
- Universal Design in Higher Education
- Universal Design: A Guide for Students
- Universal Design for Inclusive Lectures and Presentations
American Foundation for the Blind
College Bound: a guide for students with visual impairments (2005)
Community Inclusion Publications
www.communityinclusion.org/page.php?page=pubs
Specific College Resources for Students with Disabilities
National
College Admissions Testing
www.accommodations.collegboard.org
College Resources for Students with Disabilities www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/resources-for-students-with-disabilities/
Degree Programs for Unique Learners
Venture at Bellevue Community College, Bellevue, WA
http://olsatbellevuecollege.com/
Searchable database of other programs
www.thinkcollege.net/
Guide to College-Level Tests
www.onlineschools.org/college-test-guide/
Post Secondary Guide
www.pacer.org/transition/learning-center/postsecondary/
Preparing for College: An Online Tutorial
www.washington.edu/doit/preparing-college-online-tutorial
From DO-IT
In Texas
Disability Rights Texas
www.disabilityrightstx.org/en/category/education
Easter Seals – Central Texas
www.easterseals.com/centraltx/
Offers workforce development and supported employment
The Higher Education Coordinating Board
www.highered.texas.gov
Higher Education Resource Guide
ww.tcdd.texas.gov/resources/publications/#Higher_Education_Resource_Guide_for_Students_with_Disabilities
Texas Higher Education Foundation
https://txhigheredfoundation.org
Texas Transition & Employment Guide
www.texastransition.org/upload/page/0245/docs/TEA-Texas-Transition-And-Employment-Guide
Other Information
Checklist for Applying to College (From Quest Magazine):
Research
Begin at least during junior year of high school.
Consult magazines, books, and web sites
Request college viewbooks
Attend college fairs and open houses
Make Contact
Contact the Disability Services Offices at Colleges
Ask about what documentation is required
Make sure you are familiar with the nature and scope of your disability
Tours
Request tours through the Disability Services Office.
Scrutinize the accessibility of the campus.
Be sure to visit buildings you know you will need to use.
Personal Care Attendants
Not all colleges assist with finding personal care attendants.
Interview carefully.
If you hire non-students, check on residence hall policies.
Older students are often more responsible and reliable.
Always have a back-up plan.
Ways to find attendants
Disability Services Office
Independent Living Centers
Class or residence hall bulletin boards
Remember
Balance accessibility needs with academic program interests.
Self-advocacy is very important.
Accessibility is not uniform at all colleges or universities
Specific Employment Resources
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
www.eeoc.gov/
Job Accommodation Network
http://askjan.org/
My Next Move
www.mynextmove.org/
Interactive web site for persons of all ages and abilities who are seeking a career
Office of Disability Employment Policy in the US Department of Labor
www.dol.gov/agencies/odep
Soft Skills to Pay the Bills
www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/program-areas/individuals/youth/transition/soft-skills
A series of videos that teach young people skills like networking, communication, and teamwork, which will help them succeed in the workplace.
From the U.S. Department of Labor
Texas Workforce Commission
www.twc.state.tx.us/
The Labor Market and Career Information (LMCI) www.lmci.state.tx.us section of TWC produces a wealth of helpful resources, from brochures to packets to web courses, to assist individuals of all abilities. Examples of brochures include career tips, financial aid information, and personality types suitable for specific jobs. TWC also offers an online course for work prep, and a website called “Reality Check” www.texasrealitycheck.com that allows a person to choose a desired career and then proceed through a series of pages to calculate the cost of living to determine if the career and lifestyle decisions they make are realistic. Examples of packets (called magazines on the site) produced by LMCI can be found in this Guide under “Vertical File Publications.” Some documents and online resources geared toward younger students as well.
Links to other topics affecting transition
Assistive Technology
RESNA Technical Assistance Project
www.resna.org
Texas Technology Access Program
https://ttap.disabilitystudies.utexas.edu
Financial Information:
ABLE Accounts
www.texasable.org
College Scholarships and Financial Aid
www.affordablecollegesonline.org/spotlight/affordable-colleges-for-students-with-disabilities/
Do-It
www.washington.edu/doit/college-funding-students-disabilities
FinAid
www.finaid.org/otheraid/disabled
Social Security Disability
www.ssa.gov/disability/
Health Care
Adolescent Health Transition Project
http://depts.washington.edu/healthtr/
Girls Health.Org
www.girlshealth.gov/
Features a section on “Illness & Disability”
Medicaid
www.medicaid.gov
Medicare
www.medicare.gov
Independent Living
Guide to Transitioning to Independent Living
www.new-horizons.org/gdeind.html
Texas Centers for Independent Living
www.ilru.org/projects/cil-net/cil-center-and-association-directory-results/TX
Mentoring/Shadowing
Disability Mentoring Day
www.aapd.com/disability-mentoring-day/
Mentoring Youth with Disabilities
www.ncwd-youth.info/publications/mentoring-strategies-to-support-expansion-of-diversity-in-the-workforce/
Personal Assistance Services
Making the Move to Managing Your Own Personal Assistance Services
www.ncwd-youth.info/publications/making-the-move-to-managing-your-own-personal-assistance-services-pas-a-toolkit-for-youth-with-disabilities-transitioning-to-adulthood/
In Texas:
Coalition of Texans with Disabilities Consumer Directed services
www.txdisabilities.org/CDS-Division
Reasonable Accommodation
In Employment
From the EEOC
www.eeoc.gov/procedures-providing-reasonable-accommodation-individuals-disabilities
In Higher Education
ADA Information Line through the U.S. Department of Justice
800-514-0301
Southwest ADA Center
800-949-4232
www.southwestada.org/
National ADA Network
http://adata.org
Self-Determination
More than Just a Job: Person-Centered Career Planning
www.communityinclusion.org/article.php?article_id=16
Self-Determination: Supporting Successful Transition
www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=962
Self-Determination
www.pacer.org/transition/learning-center/independent-community-living/self-determination.asp
Volunteerism
Best Buddies Friendship Programs
www.bestbuddies.org/what-we-do/friendship/
DIRC Materials Available
Books
Adventures in the Mainstream: Coming of Age with Down Syndrome Palmer, Greg, 2005.
College & University Resource Directory for Students with Disabilities, Houston Mayor’s Committee for Employment of People with Disabilities, 2002
Exceeding Expectations: Successful Adults with Learning Disabilities, Reiff, Henry B., Paul J. Gerber, and Rick Ginsberg, 1997
Going to College: Expanding Opportunities for People with Disabilities, Getzel, Elizabeth Evans, M.A., and Paul Wehman, Ph.d., editors, 2005
Guiding Your Teenager with Special Needs through the Transition from School to Work Life: Tools for Parents, Korpi, Mary, 2008
Job-Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped: or People Who Have Disabilities, Bolles, Richard Nelson and Dale Susan Brown, 2001
K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities, 9th Ed, Princeton Review, 2007
Launching Into Adulthood: An Integrated Response to Support Transition of Youth with Chronic Health Conditions and Disabilities, Lollar, Donald, Ed.D., editor, 2010
Learning a Living: A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding a Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Dyslexia, Brown, Dale S., 2000
Life beyond the Classroom: Transition Strategies for Young People with Disabilities, Fourth Edition, Wehman, Paul, Ph.d., 2006
Life Planning for Adults with Developmental Disabilities: A Guide for Parents and Family Members, Greenbaum, Judith, PhD., 2007
Listening to the Experts: Students with Disabilities Speak Out. Keefe, Elizabeth, et al, 2006.
Moving Into Adulthood: Easing the Journey for Young People with Disabilities, Family Support Network of North Carolina, 1997
Pathways to Successful Transition for Youth with Disabilities: A Developmental Process (2nd Ed), Author: Kochhar-Bryant, Carol A. and Gary Greene, 2008
Personal Care Attendant Guide: The Art of Finding, Keeping, or Being One, Banister, Katie Rodriguez, 2007
Physical Disabilities: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Thorton, Denise, 2007
The Power to Spring Up: Postsecondary Education Opportunities for Students with Significant Disabilities, Katovitch, Diana M., MS, 2009
Promoting Health Care Transitions for Adolescents with Special Health Care Needs and Disabilities, Betz, Cecily, L. and Wendy M. Nehring, 2007
Self-Advocacy Skills for Students with Learning Disabilities: Making it Happen in College and Beyond,Reiff, Henry B, 2007
Skills for Success: A Career Education Handbook for Children and Adolescents with Visual Impairments, Wolffe, Karen, ed., 1999
Think College: Postsecondary Education Options for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, Grigal, Meg, Ph.D., and Debra Hart, M.Ed., 2009
The Transition Handbook: Strategies High School Teachers Use That Work! Hughes, Carolyn and Erik W. Carter, 2000
Transition to Adulthood: A Resource for Assisting Young People with Emotional or Behavioral Difficulties, Clark, Hewitt B., Ph.d., and Maryann Davis, Ph.d., editors, 2000
Unlocking Potential: College and Other Choices for People with LD and AD/HD, Taymans, Juliana M., Ph.D. and Lynda L. West, Ph.D., with Madeline Sullivan, M.A., ed., 2000
DVDs
“College Success for Students with Learning Challenges”, 2008
“Optimizing Different Learning Styles,” 2004
“Teens and Disabilities”, 2007
Vertical File Publications
Mapping Your Dreams
www.pacer.org/transition/resource-library/publications/MYD-Employment.pdf
Parent Tips for Transition Planning
2001 The Alliance (Tech Assist Alliance for Parent Centers)
PDF
Leveling the Playing Field
From American Youth Policy Forum
PDF
Opening Doors to Postsecondary Education and Training
Wisconsin Dept of Public Instruction
Sept 2003
Parent Brief
Parenting Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities: Becoming the
Mentor, Advocate, and Guide Your Young Adult Needs
www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=208
Starting the Conversation: A Career Exploration Guide for Parents and Children
And Succeed at Work Express
Both available from the Texas Workforce Commission Labor Market and Career Information
www.lmci.state.tx.us
LMCI has created many excellent publications, including “Ready for the Real World after High School?” “Texas Job Hunter’s Guide,” and “Why Study This?” Booklets are geared toward to all students.
Student Portfolio
From Disability Assistance of Central Texas
A packet that allows students to collect and keep personal documents, such as school transcripts and medical histories, and other information needed to transition into the adult world.
Impact issue on Volunteerism
Vol 14 No 2 Fall 2001
Institute on Community Integration
College of Education and Human Development
University of Minnesota
Where Do We Go From Here: Planning and Navigating the Transition from School to Work
Exceptional Parent Magazine, 11/05
NOTE: The Disability Information and Referral Center (DIRC) also houses information on education, financial aid, scholarships, employment, social security, assistive technology, independent living, specific disabilities such as visual impairments and learning disabilities, and other topics related to transition. Books are available in print, and may be loaned for a period of five weeks. DVD’s are available on loan for three weeks. The borrower is responsible for the return postage. Copies of vertical file materials and other guides are available free of charge.
Disability Information and Referral Center (DIRC)
Talking Book Program (TBP)
PO Box 12927
Austin TX 78711-2927
1-800-252-9605
512-463-5458
512-936-0685 FAX
tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov
Transition Resource Guide in PDF
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