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.

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  Charting the LifeCourse Tools website

IEP Transition Planning In Virginia Tips To Know For Youth With IEPs Who Are In Foster Care

A product of the WAZE to Adulthood project, developed by Formed Families Forward. This fact sheet offers tips and best practices for implementing strong transition planning for youth and young adults with disabilities who are also in foster care. Virginia-specific policies and resources are provided.

Self Advocacy fact sheet

From the PEATC Planning Your Future series, this 2 page fact sheet is designed for youth and explains what is self-advocacy and offers suggestions for increasing it.

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  Self Advocacy Fact Sheet for youth

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.

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  Link to Special Populations webpage on Got Transition

Being Involved in Person-Centered Planning for Students and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship or Adoptive Families

This fact sheet from FFF and the WAZE to Adulthood project, led by PEATC and supported by the US Rehabilitative Services Administration. It provides an overview of some common challenges to transition planning for this population and offers parents and caregivers suggestions and resources for supporting person-centered planning.

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  Fact Sheet

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.

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  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!

Applied Studies Diploma fact sheet from VDOE

Published by Va Department of Education in Spring 2021.

What’s Next? Planning Transitions Through and After High School webinar

Broadcast on May 14, 2021, this FFF webinar reviewed data on youth with special needs in  foster, adoptive and kinship families and their outcomes. Content includes a review of special education transition planning requirements and a number of post-secondary programs and other resources for youth and young adults with disabilities and who have been in foster care.

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  Webinar recording

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  Presentation slides

Supported Decision Making guide series from PEATC

From PEATC, several booklet guides from the Transition to Adulthood Series.

Is Guardianship My Only Option? – This short 16-page guide reviews guardianship arrangements for adults with disabilities and presents options for supported decision making.

Supported Decision-Making in Special Education Programs – This guide reviews options for supported decision making in schools, related to special education planning and services.

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  Is Guardianship My Only Option?

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  Supported Decision Making in Special Education

US Office of Disability Employment Policy

Internet Safety Tip Sheet for Parents and Caregivers

From Formed Families Forward, this tip sheet covers 10 tips for helping to keep children and youth safe online.

IEP Tip Sheets for Youth

From the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research, these TEST tip sheets are designed for youth and young adults who have individualized education programs (IEPs). One focuses on preparing for an IEP meeting and another focused on identifying community partners to participate in IEP meetings and transition planning.

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  You Got This: Taking a Leadership Role in Your IEP Meeting

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  I've Got my Crew: Inviting Community Partners to your IEP Meeting

Planning the High School Transition to Post-Secondary Education webinar recording

A 35 minute discussion about transitioning from high school to college and post-high school settings, with expert guest Annie Tulkin and hosted by FFF.

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.

Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities online modules

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), through grant funding provided by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) and assistance provided by the Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) at James Madison University has developed five web-based training modules for parents, school professionals, and other community stakeholders that work with families whom have a child with a disability.   Parents and caregivers have certain goals in mind when their children go to school. Regardless of whether or not their children have disabilities, all parents want their children to learn, explore, and experience as much as they possibly can.  Parents strive for their children to complete their public education, obtain a diploma, and be fully prepared to move on toward their chosen path, whether that is immediate employment, higher education, or something else.  In order for children to achieve these goals, there are certain decisions that will have to be made along the way.  The modules created relate to the Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities curriculum and are designed to assist participants in understanding four things as they prepare to make these decisions:

• What are some of the keys to a child’s academic success?
• What decisions will need to be made regarding a child’s educational path?
• At what point should we be making these decisions?
• What information is needed so that we can make the most well informed decisions possible for a child?

There are a total of five modules that range in length from three to five minutes, which can be completed in a single viewing or broken up over time to meet individual time constraints.

The curriculum for these modules is also available in print and online.  A fully accessible online version is located at the following web link: Virginia Department of Education’s Special Education – Parents Section.  To obtain a printed copy of the curriculum or to ask questions about the module training opportunities, please contact Tracy Lee, Family Engagement Specialist, via email, at Tracy.Lee@doe.virginia.gov, or by phone, at (804) 225-3492.

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.