Web-based Organizations and Internet Resources on Transition for Students with Disabilities

The organizations and agencies in this section offer information about transition for students with disabilities. Visiting these websites and exploring their resources will yield valuable and useful information.

General Information on Transition

Transition Suite
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)

This site includes five connections to resources on transition services for youth with disabilities:

• Transition 101
  http://www.nichcy.org/resources/transition101.asp
• Materials for Spanish Speakers
  http://www.nichcy.org/resources/transition101.asp#Spanish
• Transition for Parents
  http://www.nichcy.org/resources/transition_parents.asp
• Transition for Students
  http://www.nichcy.org/resources/transition_students.asp
• Transition for Professionals
  http://www.nichcy.org/resources/transition_professionals.asp
• Transition for Specific Disabilities
  http://www.nichcy.org/resources/transition_disab.asp

Each section includes an annotated list of online resources on various aspects of transition for a given audience.

Transition Coalition
http://www.transitioncoalition.org/cgiwrap/tcacs/new/index.php
"The Transition Coalition provides online information, support, and professional development on topics focusing on the transition from school to adult life for youth."

Technical Assistance on Transition and the Rehabilitation Act (TATRA)
Pacer Center
http://www.pacer.org/tatra/index.asp
PACER's TATRA Project and other US-government-funded programs focus on helping families prepare youth with disabilities for employment and independent living. Projects provide information and training on transition planning, the adult service system, and strategies that prepare youth for success in their adult lives. Some documents are available in Spanish, Hmong, and Somali.

National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET)
Creating Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities to Achieve Successful Futures
http://www.ncset.org/
NCSET "coordinates national resources, offers technical assistance, and disseminates information related to secondary education and transition for youth with disabilities in order to create opportunities for youth to achieve successful futures." The site has links to many online publications, as well as to resources on various topics related to transition planning, youth development and family participation, and postsecondary education and employment.

National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC)
http://www.nsttac.org/
The purpose of NSTTAC is to "assist states to … support and improve transition planning, services, and outcomes for youth with disabilities." The site has resources for students, parents, and professionals "regarding effective transition education and services that improve post-school outcomes." NSTTAC sponsors an annual conference on integrating transition issues into the curriculum.

Self-Determination
Center for Self-Determination
http://www.self-determination.com/
"The Center for Self-Determination is a highly interactive working collaboration of individuals and organizations committed to the principles of self-determination to help all persons create the lives they want, connected to and with their communities and pursuing long term relationships and economic futures." The site offers links to online articles and newsletters.

Self-Determination Technical Assistance Centers Project
http://www.sdtac.uncc.edu/project_description.asp
"The project focuses on improving and expanding the 'exemplary practices' for promoting self-determination". The site includes links to online assessment tools, lesson plans, and Power Point presentations on self-determination.

Postsecondary Education

HEATH Resource Center
http://www.heath.gwu.edu/
"The HEATH Resource Center is an online clearinghouse on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities," offering information "on educational disability support services, policies, procedures, adaptations, accessing college or university campuses, career-technical schools, and other postsecondary training entities."

National Alliance of Blind Students
http://www.blindstudents.org/
The National Alliance of Blind Students (NABS) is the student affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. "NABS works to advance the equal opportunity and excellence in education for all blind and visually impaired high school, college and university students in the United States." The site includes their publication, The Student Advocate, an email discussion list, and resources.

Employment

America's Career InfoNet
U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.acinet.org/
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, CareerOneStop provides links to career exploration, including self-assessments and employment trends. It also includes sections on Education and Training, Resumes and Interviews, Salary and Benefits, Job Search, and People and Places.

DisabilityWORK.com
https://disabilitywork.com/
This website matches job seekers with disabilities with employers in all types of work settings throughout the United States. It includes sections for those seeking jobs and for employers, as well as employment services, such as writing resumes and cover letters, career counseling, job placement, and job coaching.

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/
"The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) assists state and local workforce development systems to better serve youth with disabilities." Created in late 2001, NCWD/Youth is composed of partners with expertise in disability, education, employment, and workforce development issues.

Independent Living

Independent Living Research Utilization
http://www.bcm.edu/ilru/
"The ILRU (Independent Living Research Utilization) program is a national center for information, training, research, and technical assistance in independent living." They have extensive online publications available on the site.