Transition For Young Adults With Disabilities Is Complicated, But Some Steps Can Help

 For many young people with disabilities and their caregivers, the transition from childhood to adulthood is a struggle exacerbated by disjointed services, gaps in information and a lack of support. Read More >

This School Helps Students With IDD Transition To Adulthood

 At a tuition-free charter school, students with intellectual disabilities and autism are learning skills and gaining work experience as they strive toward goals tailored to their abilities. Read More >

New IDD Transition Program Takes Shape

 Leaders in one of the nation's largest cities are launching an effort to create more opportunities for those with developmental disabilities after they age out of school. Read More >

Young Adults With ASD Often Struggle After High School, Study Says

 The transition from high school to adulthood is a critical moment, but new research suggests many young adults with autism are struggling to access the services that could help them thrive. Read More >

Zoo Program Helps Teens With Disabilities

 One zoo is pairing teens with disabilities with mentors to complete volunteer tasks while working on goals like communication, social skills, friendships or developing independence. Read More >

Students Create Job Platform For People With Developmental Disabilities

 An online job board that's in the works will offer individuals with developmental disabilities creative ways to showcase their talents and expertise beyond a traditional resume or cover letter. Read More >

Students Aim To Brighten Future For Classmates With Autism

High school students are looking to help their peers with special needs build a foundation for productive, fulfilling lives after graduation by equipping them with skills to run small businesses. Read More >

Online art apps help students hone workforce skills

Students are using online applications such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Spark for Education to complete art projects and gain the technology workforce skills they'll need for the future, say educators. Claudio Zavala Jr., instructional technology coordinator at the Duncanville Independent School District in Texas, says the programs teach children creative problem-solving skills. EdTech online

How The College Admissions Scandal Could Spell Trouble For Students With Disabilities

Advocates for students with disabilities are concerned that accommodations for college entrance exams could tighten in the wake of an admissions cheating scandal. Read More;

New Day Program Envisioned With 'Community College-Like Campus'

Frustrated that many students depart high school only to sit at home with nothing to do, a teacher is developing a new day program to serve adults with disabilities, regardless of severity. Read More ;

Programs Teaching Those With Autism To Code Get Boost

Autism Speaks is putting big money behind efforts to train people with autism to code, betting that the unique talents of those on the spectrum pair well with the high-demand field. Read More >

Transitioning from High School to Vocational Rehabilitation and Work with AT

This short information brief from the LEAD Center, Funding for Assistive Technology: Transitioning from Secondary School to VR And Work, answers the important question, “To what extent can Assistive Technology (AT) follow an individual with a disability who moves from secondary school to postsecondary education, vocational rehabilitation, and/or work?”

The Path to Independence: Mobile Apps to Support Transition-Age Youth

This recent PACER publication, The Path to Independence: Mobile Apps to Support Transition-Age Youth, highlights free and low-cost mobile apps available to support transition-age youth with disabilities as they embark on their journey towards post-secondary education, job training, employment, and independent living. With so many options, it can be difficult to know where to begin. This list includes apps that have been reviewed by parents and professionals and found to be useful and well-designed.

Coffee Shop Helping Kids With Special Needs Learn Life Skills

With a cart, a Keurig and some paper products, a group of middle school students with disabilities are becoming more independent and learning what it takes to run a business. Read More;

Autism-Related Challenges Persist Well Into Adulthood, Study Shows

In one of the first studies to look at the lives of people with autism as they hit middle age, researchers found adults struggling with independence, employment and relationships. Read More >

Certificate program offers office skills

A Massachusetts community college has created a certification program for students with learning disabilities to teach them office, computer and business skills. Students in the program spend three days each week in the classroom and two days in internship programs.

Wicked Local/Westford, Mass.

Are Schools Doing Enough To Prepare Students For Life After Special Ed?

Schools are legally obligated to create meaningful post-school plans for students with disabilities, but the experiences of many young people show how hard it is to get the process right. Read More ;

Ideas Sought On Improving Transition Outcomes

Federal officials are looking for ideas to help improve outcomes for young people with disabilities as they enter adulthood. Read More >

Career Exploration for Student with Disabilities

Career exploration for students is an important step for a smooth transition into adulthood. This handout, Frequently Asked Questions About Career Exploration for Youth with Disabilities, can help parents and students understand what career exploration is, why it is important, and where career exploration occurs. To learn more about the common question asked and benefits, read the handout in its entirety.

Transition planning key for student success

Many schools are not providing adequate transition planning for students with special needs that help them align their high-school learning with larger career and life goals, some experts and parents say. Thoughtful plans are key for educators to assist students with this change, speech pathologist Leslie Durrell notes.   The Hechinger Report