National Centers and Resources

Competitive Integrated Employment Transformation hub

March 27, 2024

From the US Department of Labor.

The Supporting Transformative Change in Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) Opportunities for People with Disabilities landing page links to resources to support steps to increase the participation of people with disabilities in CIE. Whether you’re an individual with a disability or family member, employment service provider, state agency or employer our CIE Transformation Hub has practical resources for you.

Competitive Integrated Employment hub

Paving the Way to College and Careers: Families and Schools Together curriculum

This progressive, 9th-12th grade curriculum, offers high school counselors with five, 1.5 hour lessons they can deliver to parents/students to help them get ready for college/careers. The lessons are structured to achieve five main goals: 1) Strengthen the parent/student relationship by providing a safe and structured space for dialogue; 2) Establish a strong connection between parents/students with their high school counselors; 3) Increase student/family knowledge of the academic and developmental milestones they will encounter in high school; 4) Develop skills and strategies necessary to be on track for a post-secondary education/career; and 5) Successfully complete a PSAT/PLAN, SAT/ACT, FAFSA, and college/technical education application or job application.

Paving the Way webpage

Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative for housing

This federal program offers vouchers for Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). Eligibility includes youth at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age (have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days.

FYI information from HUD
Information on FYI program from National Center for Housing and Child Welfare

Who’s on the IEP Team resources

From the WAZE to Adulthood project at PEATC, these fact sheets support parents/caregivers and students in understanding all roles and the members of an IEP team.

Who is on My IEP visual for students
Who is on my IEP team fact sheet for students
Roles around the IEP Table sheet for parents/caregivers

Charting the LifeCourse

Charting the LifeCourse is designed to be used for individuals with disabilities, family members, or in the work individuals do. The framework and tools will help organize ideas, vision, and goals, as well as problem-solve, navigate, and advocate for supports. The LifeCourse Nexus website provides links to resources and information for individuals, families and professionals, including e-learning modules.

Charting the LifeCourse Tools website

Got Transition organization

Got Transition^® is the federally funded national resource center on health care transition (HCT). Its aim is to improve the transition from pediatric to adult health care through the use of evidence-driven strategies for clinicians and other health care professionals; public health programs; payers and plans; youth and young adults; and parents and caregivers.

Link to Special Populations webpage on Got Transition

Supported Decision Making Library

From The Arc of Northern Virginia, a collection of resources on supported decision making, an array of services and procedures to support adults with disabilities into adulthood, often as an alternative to Guardianship.

Supported Decision Making resources

Ticket to Work program for adults

Do you receive disability cash benefits (SSDI or SSI) from Social Security?
Are you between 18 and 64 years old?
Are you looking to find meaningful and substantial work?
Are you ready to test your ability to work and replace your cash benefits with earnings?
If you answered YES to all of the above, Ticket to Work might be for you!

US Office of Disability Employment Policy

Office of Disability Employment Policy, an agency within the U.S. Department of Labor, offers individuals with disabilities and employers information and resources to promote and maintain employment of persons with disabilities. Among its program areas are disability employment statistics and employment supports.

My Future website

A website produced by the Department of Defense with data from the Departments of Commerce, Education and Labor. Site offers information and tools on post-high school career, education and military options.

Practice Guides for Transitions for Students with Emotional Disorders

Resources from a Translating Evidence to Support Transitions (TEST) grant is to increase the use and adoption of research-based best practices in transition planning services for high school students with emotional and behavioral disorders receiving special education services.

Scroll down page to find Practice Guides, Presentations and other resources.

Social Security Benefits for Children and Adolscents

A great one page comparison table for families and professionals from the Center for Transition Innovations at VCU.

PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment

The road to adulthood for youth with disabilities is filled with opportunity, and parents play a key role. PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment is ready with the information families want, presented in a way families can use. The site features a wide array of transition-related resources for families and youth.

Research and Training Center for Pathways to Positive Futures

At Portland State University, the Pathways to Positive Futures center aims to improve the lives of youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions through rigorous research and effective training and dissemination. Our work is guided by the perspectives of young people and their families, and based in a positive development framework.

WIOA: New Law Helps Youth & Young Adults Get Jobs – What Families Need to Know

This fact sheet reviews key eligibility and services provided under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It focuses on the supports for youth and young adults with psychiatric disabilities.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information on who is considered “Parent” for financial aid

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information on who is considered “Parent” for financial aid.

If you are considered a dependent student for FAFSA® purposes, you will need to provide information about your legal parent(s) on the application. A legal parent is your biological or adoptive parent, or your legal parent as determined by the state (for example, if the parent is listed on your birth certificate). If you have a stepparent currently married to your legal parent, you generally also must provide information about him or her.

More info and how to apply

The In’s and Out’s of Social Security Disability, SSI and DAC Benefits

February 08, 2017

The In’s and Out’s of Social Security Disability, SSI and DAC Benefits by Sheri Abrams, Esq.

Supporting the Education of Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Conditions Webinar

Supporting the Education of Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Conditions:
State of the Science
presented by Marsha Ellison, PhD, Michelle Mullen, MS, CRC, CPRP, and Kathleen Biebel, PhD of the Implementation Science and Practice Advances Research Center at U Mass (formerly The Transitions RTC)

Originally broadcast on January 7, 2016

Description:
The majority of college students with serious mental health conditions do not finish school, jeopardizing their long-term employment. Can supported education services help?

Marsha Ellison, Michelle Mullen and Kathleen Biebel, researchers and trainers of supported education services, will host a 2-part webinar series presenting the state of the science 2nd state of the practice of supported education and related strategies for achieving post-secondary education goals of young adults with SMHC.

The Learning & Working Transitions RTC

The Learning & Working Transitions RTC at University of Massachusetts Medical Center focuses on youth and young adults ages 14-30 who have serious mental health conditions, conducting cutting-edge research on age appropriate programs that support education, training, and working during the transition to adulthood.

Think College

Think College: College options for people with Intellectual Disabilities