Post Secondary Education
Continued education after high school often leads youth and young adults with disabilities to greater success in entering a career. Educational opportunities range from universities, community college, trade and technical schools, and training programs. It is important to know the entrance criteria, disability documentation requirements to qualify for accommodations, range of disability support services, and financial aid.
Refer to the following DC Partners in Transition website links to learn more about various postsecondary education options, supports and services.
Post Secondary Education
Skills and Strategies
- Describe what classes you enjoy
- Explain your likes and dislikes in and out of school
- Demonstrate problem solving strategies
- Identify your learning style
Post Secondary Education
Skills and Strategies
- Demonstrate time management skills
- Demonstrate organizational skills
- State the requirements of high school classes and your options for high school programs/courses of study
- Explore the acceptance requirements for postsecondary schools
Post Secondary Education
Skills and Strategies
- Develop graduation credit plan
- Explore and visit postsecondary school
- Understand which areas you need for support – explore use of assistive technology
- Understand actions and consequences
Post Secondary Education
Skills and Strategies
- Begin more specific post-school planning – develop plans for college and/or employment
- Discuss entitlement vs. eligibility issues
- Actively participate in high school course scheduling
- State prerequisites for further training (PSAT, SAT, or CTE assessment)
- Investigate scholarship opportunities and funding sources
Post Secondary Education
Skills and Strategies
- Take college entrance exam
- Maintain academic success
- Complete college applications
- Participate in college prep program
- Apply for scholarship opportunities and funding sources
- Contact disability services office(s) at postsecondary education institutions to determine needed documentation and available supports
Post Secondary Education
Skills and Strategies
- Finalize postsecondary education/training plan, including documentation
- Understand and use the Summary of Performance
- Coordinate services and supports with disability services
- Meet with instructional staff regarding needed accommodations and supports
Resources
- Getting Involved in Volunteering (Youth in Action!)
- This tip sheet for youth provides action steps for getting involved in their community.
- Help Your Young Adult Learn About Accessing Accommodations After High School
- This tip sheet shares ways in which families can help young adults to understand, manage, and explain their disability to others and obtain needed accommodations.
- Accommodation Information by Disability: A to Z
- A searchable online resource that provides ideas for accommodations and a list of contact organizations.
- KnowHow2Go
- Explore the site to learn more about the steps you need to take to be college-ready.
- The 4 Steps to College
- A handy guide that shares more about the four steps students should follow to prepare for college.
- Campus Life: Joining Clubs and Organizations
- This module provides information on why and how students with disabilities should get involved in campus clubs and organizations when they attend college.
- College Funding for Students with Disabilities
- A tip sheet that shares information about federal and state aid, scholarships, and awards that can help students with disabilities pay for college.
- Understanding Transition Services in Transition Plans
- Brief snippet for educators on how to write effective and meaningful transition services for students with disabilities.
- Letters of Invitation for Transition Planning Meetings
- Brief snippet about the process of inviting students to IEP meetings when transition planning is being discussed.
- The IRIS Center Secondary Transition Modules
- This Module defines and discusses the purpose of interagency collaboration and addresses the importance of partnering with agencies to improve outcomes for students with disabilities who are transitioning from high school.
- Secondary Transition Assessment Resources
- This resource provides an overview of transition assessments which can be considered a beginning library of transition assessments for providing high quality assessment. Many of the assessments are free, and those that must be purchased were selected for their quality and cost-benefit. OSSE does not have an approved list; however, this guide serves as a list of secondary transition assessments available to educators.
- Writing Annual Goals and Postsecondary Goals
- This handout provides information on how to write annual and postsecondary goals for transition plans for students with disabilities. This short guide provides tips about how to write compliant and meaningful transition goals in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
- Transition Planning for English Learners
- This webinar is geared towards educators and school-based staff who work with English learners. During this session, participants will learn about the factors that contribute to college and career attainment for English learners (ELs) including current ELs, former ELs, and ELs with special needs. Participants will be exposed to practices that lead ELs and ELs with identified disabilities to success in obtaining postsecondary employment and completing postsecondary education. By the end of the session, participants will have a template of best practices that will lead to post-secondary success specific to their school/LEA.
- Parent Tips for Transition Planning
- This resource explains the purpose of transition planning, answers frequently asked questions, and contains guided questions that support effective transition plan development.
- The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth With Disabilities
- This workbook helps youth to understand what it means to disclose a disability, make informed decisions about disclosing, and the impact disclosure can have on education, employment, and social life.
- Going to College: A Resource for Teens with Disabilities Website
- This website contains information about living college life with a disability. Designed for high school students, the site provides video clips, activities, and additional resources that can help youth get a head start in planning for college.
- Guidance and Career Counselors' Toolkit: Advising High School Students with Disabilities on Postsecondary Options
- This resource contains answers to counselors' most frequently asked questions about postsecondary opportunities for students with disabilities. Students and families are also encouraged to sue this toolkit to help guide their college and career transition planning.
- DC Partners in Transition Website
- DC Partners in Transition is a group of DC stakeholders who are committed to improving the ability of DC youth with special needs and disabilities to successfully transition into education, employment, and independence. Click on the link to access resources, read the success stories of DC youth who have successfully transitioned, and discover information on upcoming events and ways to get involved.
- Think College: College Options for People with Intellectual Disabilities
- Think College is a national organization dedicated to developing, expanding, and improving inclusive higher education options for people with intellectual disabilities. Click on the link to access resources and information for students and families.
- The Guideposts for Success: A Framework for Families Preparing Youth for Adulthood
- Developed by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, this InfoBrief shares how the Guideposts for Success can be used as a framework from which families of youth with disabilities can consider the support needs of their youth during the transition planning process.
- Charting the Course: Supporting the Career Development of Youth with Learning Disabilities
- Developed by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, the Guideposts for Success for Youth with Learning Disabilities provides guidance to caring adults and youth service professionals for improving services and outcomes for youth, ages 14 to 25, with diagnosed and undiagnosed learning disabilities.
- Ten Tips That May Help Your Child's Transition to Adulthood
- This resource offers advice to parents on how to support their child's successful transition to postsecondary education, employment, and independent living.
- Student-Directed Transition Planning Lesson Plans
- Visit this link to access eight lessons teachers can use to teach their students the information needed to actively participate in their transition-focused IEP meetings.
- College Preparation Checklist
- This brochure from the U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid Office offers guidance on how to find money for school, take the right classes, and choose a career.
- Effective College Planning Guide
- Effective College Planning is a resource guide created by members of the Western New York Collegiate Consortium of Disability Advocates (CCDA) that provides technical assistance, timelines and activities related to the transition process for parents and professionals. Visit the website to view individual chapters or to download a PDF of the entire guide.
- A Guide to Assessing College Readiness for Parents of College-Bound Students who Learn Differently
- This guide is designed to help parents assess their child's college readiness levels and help students understand the complex sets of skills, abilities and practices associated with foundation areas that are critical for success in a traditional higher education setting for students who learn differently.
- College Survival Skills -- Tips for Students with Disabilities to Increase College Success
- This pamphlet contains a list of suggested study skills and strategies that may be helpful to students as they make the transition from high school to college. These tips are paraphrased from interviews of Mentors, Scholars, and Ambassadors in DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) programs at the University of Washington.
- Help Your Young Adult Learn About Accessing Accommodations after high school
- This brochure shares three ways you can help your son or daughter learn how to understand, manage, and explain his or her disability to others and obtain needed accommodations.
- College or Training Programs: How to Decide
- This PACER Center pamphlet shares tips and questions students should consider when deciding which education or training options to pursue after high school.
- College Navigator Website
- The College Navigator website is a free consumer information tool designed to help students, parents, and others get information on nearly 7,000 postsecondary institutions in the United States
- Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
- This guide, created by the HEATH Resource Center at George Washington University, answers many commonly asked questions about college experiences for students with intellectual disabilities.
- Non-Degree Postsecondary Options For Individuals with Disabilities
- This pamphlet, produced by the George Washington University's HEATH Resource Center, discusses options for students with disabilities who want to become independent and employed but who do not want to pursue an academic degree.
- Effective College Planning Student Self Assessment
- Preparing for College: An Online Tutorial
- This publication shares advice and internet resources for college-bound teens with disabilities.
- Opening Doors to Postsecondary Education and Training
- This handbook, created by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, is designed to assist students with disabilities, families, and educators, in developing postsecondary education and training transition goals.
- My "Must Have" Papers
- This guide for students shares tips on keeping and protecting personal records and information.
- Getting Accommodations at College: Tools for School
- This student tip sheet shares information on how to request accommodations and modifications in a college setting.
- My Mental Health Rights on Campus
- This tip sheet shares information students will need to address rights, rules, and resources while at college.
- Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network Secondary Transition Toolkit
- A toolkit designed by youth with disabilities who are members of Pennsylvania's Youth Leadership Network to assist youth with transitioning into the adult world.
- Building a Bridge: A Resource Manual for High School Students
- This handbook, created by the Connecticut Transition Task Force, aims to help students and family members to prepare for life after high school and includes personal checklists youth can use to get to know themselves.
- Get Started Now: A Practical Guide for DC Students with Disabilities
- Navigating College: A Handbook on Self-Advocacy Written for Autistic Students from Autistic Adults
- Career Clusters
- As an organizing tool for curriculum design and instruction, Career Clusters provide the essential knowledge and skills for the 16 Career Clusters and their Career Pathways. It also functions as a useful guide in developing programs of study bridging secondary and postsecondary curriculum and for creating individual student plans of study for a complete range of career options.
- Writing Measurable Annual Goals for Students’ Transition Plans
- Brief snippet for educators on how to write measurable annual goals for students' transition plans.
- College Supports Questionnaire
- The College Supports Questionnaire is designed to address disability support services needs at a postsecondary college or training program, including the impact of the disability, housing needs, transportation need, support network, stress tolerance, social issues, and disclosure/advocacy.
- Transition Planning for English Learners Webinar
- This webinar is geared towards educators and school-based staff who work with English learners. During this session, participants will learn about the factors that contribute to college and career attainment for English learners (ELs) including current ELs, former ELs, and ELs with special needs. Participants will be exposed to practices that lead ELs and ELs with identified disabilities to success in obtaining postsecondary employment and completing postsecondary education. By the end of the session, participants will have a template of best practices that will lead to post-secondary success specific to their school/LEA.
