Updated, February 2018
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:
Resources for General Audiences
Got Transition
The Got Transition/Center for Health Care Transition aims to improve transition from pediatric to adult health care through the use of new and innovative strategies for health professionals and youth and families. Lots of good, basic information here, with sections specially designed for health care providers, youth and families, and researchers and policy makers.
http://www.gottransition.org/index.cfm
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.
https://transitioncoalition.org/?s=planning+for+the+future
Getting ready for healthcare at the age of majority
This tip sheet considers steps that parents, teens, and others (such as teachers or transition specialists) can take to help teenagers with disabilities learn what’s involved in taking care of one’s own health and healthcare as an adult. It’s part of a series on planning ahead for reaching the age of majority.
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/aom-series-healthcare/
Transition guide to postsecondary education and employment for students and youth with disabilities
From the authoritative source, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS).
https://sites.ed.gov/IDEA/files/postsecondary-transition-guide-august-2020.pdf
What to know about youth transition services for students and youth with disabilities
This fact sheet was created by the Federal Partners in Transition (FPT) workgroup to address the outcome goals and policy priorities identified in the 2020 Youth Transition Plan. It’s packed with helpful links to learn more about legislation, developing youth skills, options for after high school, and more.
Resources for Parents
Parents’ guide to the transition of their adult child to college, career, and community
An online module from the HEATH Resource Center, now part of the National Youth Transitions Center.
https://www.brainline.org/article/parents-guide-transition-their-adult-child-college-career-and-community
Getting ready for when your teen reaches the age of majority: A parent’s guide
Age of majority is the age when children legally become adults. In most states the age of majority is age 18. This tip sheet for parents discusses what’s important to consider in preparing and is part of a series of briefs that includes stand-alone tip sheets on getting ready for healthcare, for managing financial matters, and for independent living. There is also a companion webinar.
/age-of-majority-parentguide/
Planning for success: Supporting transitions through high school to college and career
This 40-page booklet is written by parents for other parents, to share their experiences in preparing their children for college and career. They discuss why preparing is so important, describe the academic and personal behaviors young people need, take a look at the Common Core State Standards and testing, and much more. A publication of the NYC Board of Education.
https://www.accessnorth.net/lifeTransitions/lifeTransitionsResources/ParentGuideForCCL8.7.12.pdf
Resources to assist youth with the transition to a successful adulthood
This collection of helpful resources from the Social Security Administration provides information on and links to a wide variety of employment supports and national and community resources.
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/resources-for-successful-transition-to-adulthood/
Exceptional Parent’s annual employment and transition guide
For parents, obviously! Learn about youth empowerment groups and self-advocacy, transition planning for youth with complex care needs, job coaches, and more.
http://reader.mediawiremobile.com/epmagazine/issues/202010/viewer?page=1
Developing financial capability among youth: How families can help
This InfoBrief comes from NCWD/Youth and provides families with suggestions and resources on how to talk with youth about money and assist them in learning and practicing financial management skills through their interactions at home.
https://capeyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/03/InfoBrief-42-Developing-Financial-Capability-Among-Youth-How-Families-Can-Help.pdf
Employment 101
There’s a wealth of info about jobs and “getting employed” in this resource.
http://parentcenterhub.org/employers/
The 411 on disability disclosure: A workbook for youth with disabilities
This workbook is designed for youth and adults working with them to learn about disability disclosure. This workbook helps young people make informed decisions about whether or not to disclose their disability and understand how that decision may impact their education, employment, and social lives. There’s also an audio version of the workbook and many accompanying materials.
https://www.heath.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2346/f/downloads/the_411_on_disability_disclosure_for_adults.pdf
Resources for Professionals
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/publications/career-planning-begins-with-assessment-a-guide-for-professionals-serving-youth-with-educational-and-career-development-challenges/
Age-appropriate transition assessment toolkit
What is age-appropriate transition assessment, and why is it important? What informal and formal assessments are available? From NTACT, the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition.
https://www.nsttac.org/content/age-appropriate-transition-assessment-toolkit-3rd-edition/
Student-centered transition planning
This module from the IRIS Center will help users to better understand the benefits of student-centered transition planning, identify ways to involve students in collecting assessment information and developing goals, and be able to prepare students to actively participate in their own IEP meetings (est. completion time: 2 hours).
https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/tran-scp/
Secondary Transition: Helping students with disabilities plan for post-high school settings
This module, also from the IRIS Center, focuses on the transition process from high school to post-secondary settings. Among other topics, it discusses IEP planning, engaging students in the process so as to become better advocates for their own needs, and the importance of outside agencies such as vocational rehabilitation.
http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/tran/#content
School counselors: Facilitating transitions for students with disabilities from high school to post-school settings
This IRIS Center module provides information for counselors and other education professionals to assist high school students with disabilities in the transition from the school environment to a post-school setting (est. completion time: 1.5 hours).
https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/cou2/
Visit the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT)
This is OSEP’s funded center to support transition planning for youth with disabilities.
https://transitionta.org/
Transition to postsecondary education: A guide for high school educators
From the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education.
https://www2.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.
https://transitioncoalition.org/transition-tips/
Resources for Students
We’ve identified an entire treasure chest of resources just for you!
Visit Students Get Involved!
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**Highly Rated Resource! This resource was reviewed by 3-member panels of Parent Center staff working independently from one another to rate the quality, relevance, and usefulness of CPIR resources. This resource was found to be of “High Quality, High Relevance, High Usefulness” to Parent Centers.
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