Resources
Resources for Employers
Disability Employment
The federal government’s webpage for recruiting and hiring persons with disabilities, administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Getting Hired Website
This website is dedicated to helping inclusive employers hire professional individuals and veterans with disabilities.
Hiring People with Disabilities
This website, by the U.S. Small Business Administration offers information on various programs that encourage the recruitment and hiring of people with disabilities.
Hiring People with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) provides many resources on recruiting and hiring people with disabilities. Specifically, its Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), promotes policies and coordinates with employers and all levels of government to increase workplace success for people with disabilities.
Career Exploration in Action
This brief provides practical examples and resources used by promising and exemplary youth programs to engage youth in career exploration. Developed and maintained by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (NCWD/Youth).
Youth.gov Website
This site is the U.S. government website that helps you create, maintain, and strengthen effective youth programs. This webpage offers information on Career Exploration & Skill Development.
NCSET Website
This website provides Frequently Asked Questions on Career Guidance and Exploration. It was developed by the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition at the Institute of Community Integration at the University of Minnesota.
U.S. Department of Labor Website
The DOL’s website providing information on Career Preparation and Work-Based Learning Experiences.
Engaging Youth in Work Experiences
This Innovative Strategies Practice Brief provides practical examples and resources used by promising and exemplary youth programs to engage youth in work experiences. Developed and maintained by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (NCWD/Youth).
What to Know about Work-Based Learning Experiences for Students and Youth with Disabilities
This fact sheet was created to address the compatible outcome goals and policy priorities identified in The 2020 Youth Transition Plan: A Federal Interagency Strategy and provides a quick glance of available resources. It was created by the Federal Partners in Transition (FPT). FPT is a workgroup with representatives the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Social Security Administration.
List of Local Vocational Rehabilitation Offices
This site offers visitors a comprehensive listing of State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies, prepared by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a service of ODEP.
Work Support
This site houses information, resources, and research about work and disability issues from Work Support, Virginia Commonwealth University’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (VCU RRTC).
Services for Adults with Disabilities
Once a student with a disability leaves high school, other agencies are available to assist with putting the individual in contact with helpful resources. The Center for Parent Information & Resources prepared this listing of resources for adults with disabilities to help them get started. This listing contains organizations that provide information, referral, and/or direct services.
Accommodation and Compliance Series: Job Coaching in the Workplace
JAN’s Accommodation and Compliance Series is a publication designed to help employers determine effective accommodations and comply with title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Supporting Individuals with Significant Disabilities: The Roles of a Job Coach
This document is Virginia Commonwealth University’s RRTC fact sheet on Job Coaching.
The Importance of Natural Supports
A publication about Natural Supports by Think College, a project of the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at UMass Boston, a University Center for Excellence in Disability.
Supported Employment and Natural Supports: A Critique and Analysis
This paper provides a brief but critical review of the concept of natural supports, by Worksupport, a web portal that highlights Virginia Commonwealth University’s funded projects on many topics related to the employment of individuals with disabilities.
Job Accommodation Network’s Website
JAN’s homepage, providing free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
Disability Employment: Reasonable Accommodations
OPM’s webpage on Reasonable Accommodations and Disability Employment.
Disability Employment: Providing Accommodations
OPM’s webpage on Providing Accommodations and Disability Employment.
Help Your Young Adult Learn About Accessing Accommodations After High School
A publication was written by the PACER Center, a parent training and information center for families of children and youth with all disabilities from birth to young adults.
ADA National Network’s (ADANN) Website
The ADANN provides information, guidance and training on the implement the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in order to support the mission of the ADA.
A Guide to Developing Collaborative School-Community Business Partnerships
This publication is by TransCen, Inc. in partnership with The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT).
Partners > Benefits Chart
This resource features an illustrated flow chart adapted from the Guide to Developing Collaborative School-Community Business Partnerships, listed above.
Resources for Job-Seekers
I’m determined
This website is funded by the Virginia Department of Education, focusing on providing resources that promote self-determined behavior.
Hitting the Open Road After High School: How to Choose Your Own Adventure to Success
This publication is intended to help youth think about their options and plan ahead. It is co-written by members of the Youth Action Council on Transition.
Take Charge of Your Money: An Introduction to Financial Capability
This brief is a starting point for learning about and developing your financial capability so that youth can make smart decisions about managing money.
A Curriculum for Self-Advocates
This comprehensive curriculum is for self-advocates with disabilities and was created by the Autism Self-Advocacy Networks.
iBelong
This website is for youth and families focusing on healthy relationships and building friendships.
Learn About Self-Advocacy: Speaking Up
This video slide show is helping youth with disabilities understand the power of self-advocacy.
Use Your IEP Meetings to Learn How to Advocate for Yourself
This tip sheet for youth with disabilities was created by the Utah Parent Center.
What is Self Advocacy? (video)
Learn the basics about being a self-advocate from this self-advocate made video! Researched and written by: Steven Greiner (TennesseeWorks)
Disability Disclosure (video)
This video provides a short introduction to disability disclosure for youth with disabilities in school or at work.
411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities
The 411 on Disability Disclosure is a workbook that provides the expertise about disclosing a disability, and helps you provide the expertise about yourself. This workbook was developed by TransCen, Inc. for the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth.
The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Family, Youth Service Professionals, Adult Allies That Care About People with Disabilities
This workbook provides the expertise about disclosing a disability, and YOU provide the support to a young person. This workbook was created by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth.
Help Your Young Adult Learn About Accessing Accommodations After High School
This articles describes three ways parents can help their son or daughter learn how to understand, manage, and explain his or her disability to others and obtain needed accommodations.
Resources for Families
Promoting High Expectations for Post-School Success by Family Members: A “To Do” List for Professionals
Parent advocates for students with disabilities across the nation were asked for their ideas. The following provides a “to-do” list of 7 strategies and 13 activities special education professionals can use in partnership with families to promote high expectations for post-school success for young adults with disabilities.
High Expectations: A Most Valuable Tool
Highlights the importance of parents having high expectations for their youth and offers strategies for advocating for those expectations.
Holding High Expectations from an Early Age
This article is located within TASH Connections Volume 40 Issue 1 (Pathways to Meaningful Employment for Youth and Young Adults with Significant Disabilities), published in Spring 2014.
TennesseeWorks: Raising Expectations
Contains useful resources that promote high expectations for youth with significant disabilities.
Wilson Family: Holding High Expectations
Youth with disabilities discuss how the decisions to disclose their disabilities have affected them at school, at work, and in social situations. Produced by TennesseeWorks.
Meet Brandon Ziemke
Meet Brandon Ziemke, a college student, employee and young man with an intellectual disability. Brandon talks about overcoming obstacles, the impact of caring adults in his life, and his hopes and dreams for the future.
ADA National Network
Website for national network that provides information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Disability Discrimination information from the EEOC
Defines disability discrimination in the workplace and offers resources. Provided by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
PACER Center
Information on disability advocacy, rights, and education written for families. Includes resources on a wide variety of topics, including special education, bullying prevention, and assistive technology.
Your Special Education Rights
Website that seeks to empower parents with the knowledge and understanding they need to advocate for their child’s education through engaging video programs.
Bullying and Disability Harassment in the Workplace: What Youth Should Know
Helps youth with disabilities recognize bullying in the workplace and offers strategies to address the issue.
Laws and Rights section of PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment
Contains information on the main laws that govern transition planning and employment.
Telling Your Story iPad App
“Telling Your Story” is a tool that persons with disabilities, family members, and other advocates can use to compose and practice the personal story they’ll present to elected public officials or other policymakers at all levels of government when seeking policy changes or increasing awareness about disability issues.
Think College
Contains a variety of useful resources related to postsecondary education opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The IEP as a Living Document
The information within this issue of TASH Connections may reignite the commitment to free appropriate public education by its encouragement of an inclusive community and authentic partnership and programming, rather than mere compliance. There are more than six million students and families who can benefit from this information.
Understanding the New Vision for Career Development: The Role of Family
Introduces families to a new way of looking at career development for youth.
Soft Skills to Pay the Bills – Master Soft Skills for Workplace Success (video series)
Features videos for youth on understanding needed workplace soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and professionalism. Created by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).
Career Exploration and Skill Development
Features numerous resources to help youth get a sense of their interest and skills as well as gain employment experience and learn about employment opportunities.
Positive Personal Profiles
In this webinar, developed by the Utah School to Work Project, a template to create a positive personal profile for students is shared. The profiles are completed prior to the discover process with the student at school or with input from family members.
By Youth for Youth: Employment
By Youth, for Youth: Employment was written by youth for youth who want to know more.
A #JobCreators Family Interview – The Perez Family
The Perez Family discusses the powerful impact self-employment has had on their daughter Zofia.
Understanding Volunteering
Describes the benefits of using volunteering as work experiences for youth with disabilities.
Work Early, Work Often (video series)
Highlights the importance of work and work-based experiences, particularly for young adults with disabilities.
Student College Resource Guide
This free practical guide offers user-friendly resources, including hands-on activities that can be easily implemented in the classroom and in the community.
Inclusive Higher Education is Reaping Benefits for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
This issue brief features the Integrative Community Studies program at University of North Carolina Greensboro. Learn more about this four-year certificate program of study that was founded in 2007.
College Accessibility for Students with Disabilities: Scholarships & Financial Aid
This webpage contains a handy data set meant to help people with disabilities find the financial help that can take them through college to graduation.
Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
This guide focuses on financial aid opportunities and discusses how to take advantage of them.
College Resources for Students with Disabilities
With the advances of adaptive technologies and trend toward progressive legislation, prospective college students with disabilities now have countless resources available to make their transition to postsecondary education less stressful. On this webpage you can find specific information and resources on a variety of different disabilities, learn how to make the transition into the workforce easier, and find out what your legal rights on campus are.
Supported Employment
This video highlights supported employment employees who found work positions created at a veterinary clinic with assistance from the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services.
Making a Smooth Transition from High School to Adult Living: Successful Collaboration
This webinar for parents of youth with disabilities explores how to use the concept of collaboration to ensure their son or daughter’s transition to adulthood is as smooth as possible. Presented by PACER.
Information on the Federal Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Learn how Vocational Rehabilitation (might be named differently in your state) can help you find and maintain employment. Includes contact information for the program in your state.
Introducing Vocational Rehabilitation Services: Simply Said
This video was made for Minnesota families, but contains info for anybody wanting to know more about how the Vocational Rehabilitation can help transition-age youth.
The Essential Elements of Customized Employment for Universal Application
Fact sheet produced by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).
Day Training & Supported Employment Programs: Information for Parents of Students with IDD
Provides information to families of youth with disabilities on various program options.
Day Training and Supported Employment Programs: Information for Parents (Questionnaire Worksheet)
Helpful set of questions parents can ask providers when exploring appropriate programs for the son or daughter.
VCU Work Support (Resources Section)
Features a robust set of fact sheets related to employment for persons with disabilities.
Exploring Self-Employment Opportunities for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
The video describes the value of being self-employed for people with developmental disabilities and their caregivers. It highlights 3 successful businesses and how they got started.
PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment
Offers parents, youth, and professionals, easy to use information on a variety of transition topics, including employment.
Parent Training and Information Centers
Every state has a Parent Training and Information Center. Use this website to find the one closest to you and to learn more about resources they provide.
Tapping into the Power of Families: How Families of Youth with Disabilities Can Assist in Job Search and Retention
This InfoBrief explores the important role families play in the job search and retention for youth with disabilities.
Helping Youth Develop Soft Skills for Job Success: Tips for Parents and Families
This InfoBrief discusses the importance of soft skills and offers strategies parents and families can use to help their child develop skills for employment success.
Youth and Disability Disclosure: The Role of Families and Advocates
Explores the role families and advocates play in helping youth understand the importance of appropriate disability disclosure.
Understanding Supplemental Security Income (Home Page)
SSI website from the Social Security Administration.
Choose Work
Website contains helpful information about the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work Program.
Benefits Planning for Youth with Disabilities
The guide helps those assisting youth with disabilities navigate the range of state and federal government programs and benefits for people with disabilities in the United States.
How to Make SSI Work for You: Simply Said
Youth and families can use the information they learn to plan ahead and apply for the benefits and supports they need after high school.
