What is Passport to Independence?
What is Passport to Independence?
Embedded Files
Passport to Independence is a family centered transition resource designed to support students and families as they prepare for life after high school.
Postsecondary outcomes look different for every student. Some students move on to college or careers, some enter the workforce with or without supports, and others focus on independent living, community participation, or supported pathways.
Passport to Independence recognizes that there is no single “right” path, only the path that fits the student.
This resource is part of ongoing work to support postsecondary outcomes by helping families understand common transition pathways, explore options at their own pace, and make informed decisions based on the student’s strengths, needs, interests, and supports.
Why Passport to Independence Was Created
Many families reach the later high school years feeling unsure about what comes next. The systems, services, and choices can feel overwhelming, especially when students’ needs don’t fit neatly into one category.
Passport to Independence was created to:
- reduce confusion around postsecondary options
- shift the focus from “What should they do?” to “What fits this student?”
- support families earlier, before decisions feel urgent
- center dignity, flexibility, and real-life readiness
Rather than pushing families toward a single outcome, Passport helps families see the full landscape of possibilities and move forward with clarity and confidence.
How Passport to Independence Works
Families will sign up for Passport to Independence with the Parent Mentor, Christina Holland. They will be given a packet of information including 'Passport' tools.
Inside the Passport toolbox:
- An overview of the pathways / 'destinations'
- A vision sheet
- A Passport to Independence booklet (will be given at the end of the program)
- A fridge magnet with weekly tear sheets
Firstly, the family will compete a vision sheet to:
- Clarify hopes for life after high school
- Identify what matters most right now
- Focus on skills that support the student currently
Each week, families check in with Christina by submitting a quick text photo of the completed fridge magnet. This simple check in helps celebrate effort, track progress, and keep momentum going without creating extra paperwork for families.
Christina will then update their passport with a stamp or sticker in the pathway section they explored that week, along with the activity they engaged in.
After families complete the three months of engagement with the program, they will receive their finalized Passport booklet that demonstrates their progress and clearly lays out the family's interested pathways they explored during the program.
How Passport to Independence Helps Families
Passport to Independence:
- highlights the most common postsecondary pathways students pursue after high school
- breaks down what those pathways can look like in real life
- provides examples, practice opportunities, and reflection tools
- supports gradual exploration rather than rushed decisions
Families can use Passport to:
- explore multiple pathways over time
- notice which options align best with their student
- build readiness through small, meaningful experiences
- communicate more clearly with schools, agencies, and providers
The goal is not to decide everything at once. The goal is to guide families toward a postsecondary outcome that is realistic, supported, and centered on the student.
Postsecondary Outcomes
Passport to Independence reflects the primary outcomes students most often enter after high school, including:
- College (2-4 year)
- Competitive employment
- Supported employment
- Entrepreneurship
- Supported living / Independent living
- Community participation
- Inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE)
- Technical or Trade School
- Military or service exploration
Families may explore more than one pathway, and pathways may change over time. That flexibility is expected, and supported.
Passport to Independence is not a checklist or a one-time decision tool.
It is a supportive guide meant to be used over time,
as students grow and transition toward adulthood.
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