Resources

US DOL - US Department of labor

The Guideposts for Success — What All Youth Need to Successfully Transition into Adulthood

https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/youth/

ODEP's work in the youth arena is based on the Guideposts for Success. The Guideposts represent what research and practice has identified as key educational and career development interventions that make a positive difference in the lives of all youth, including youth with disabilities. They were developed by ODEP in collaboration with one of its research and technical assistance centers, the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth), following an extensive review of more than 30 years of research and best practices in youth development, education, and workforce development. ODEP and NCWD/Youth identified five elements as essential for all youth, including youth with disabilities, to effectively transition into postsecondary education and employment.

Other Resources

Youth development and leadership is an important process in which young people prepare for the challenges of growing up by building skills based on their strengths and interests. Youth development involves: learning to apply knowledge from school to other areas of life, connecting with peers and mentors who positively influence behavior and attitudes, thriving in both physical and mental health, working towards career goals, and leading oneself and others in the community in ways that matter to the young person. View the following Youth Development & Leadership resources from ODEP and its partner, the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth).

• Youth Action Council on Transition (YouthACT) — Teams of youth and adult partners from across the country work together to develop the youth's leadership skills and to promote positive change on a wide range of issues within their communities.
• YouthACT National Online Dialogue Final Report — YouthACT hosted a national online dialogue to gather ideas from youth and young adults with disabilities about what would help them become successful adults. View the final report for a summary of top ideas, comments, votes, and participant data.
• Cultivating Leadership: Mentoring Youth with Disabilities — This resource explains the benefits of mentoring for all youth.
• The 411 on Disability Disclosure — This guide helps youth understand the impact of disclosing disability in education, employment, and social settings.
• Youth Tip Sheets — This series of tip sheets gives youth suggestions on how to become fully engaged in various youth development and leadership opportunities.
  • Youth in Action! — Becoming a Stronger Self-Advocate
  • Youth in Action! — Leading Your Transition Planning
  • Youth in Action! — Learning Disability History
  • Youth in Action! — Getting Involved in Volunteering
  • Youth in Action! — Serving on Decision-Making Boards
  • Youth in Action! — Participating in Internships and Work-Based Experiences
• High School/High Tech — This national network of state and local programs gives youth with disabilities the opportunity to explore jobs and further education for technology-related careers.
• Other Youth Development and Leadership Resources

Individualized Learning Plans

An individualized learning plan (ILP) is a tool that students use — with support from school counselors, teachers, and parents — to choose and prepare for a career that meets their interests, skills, and values. All students can engage in ILPs to guide their decision-making around courses, extracurricular activities, and work opportunities that prepare them to successfully achieve their career goals.

• "Shelly Saves the Future: A Story of Career Development" Informational Comic — Follow high school senior Shelly as she uses an ILP to take charge of her future.
• "Kickstart Your ILP" Toolkit — View this guide to learn about ILPs, including tips for making the most of them and a checklist of steps to complete during each year of high school.
• "ILPs Across the U.S." — This interactive map provides students with information about their state's ILP policy.
• Other ILP Information and Resources

Soft Skills

Soft skills are important traits that make you marketable in today's rapidly changing workplace. ODEP has created a set of lessons and videos for youth ages 14 to 21 to learn about the six key skill areas: communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, networking, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism.

• Soft Skills to Pay the Bills — Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success
• Habilidades sociales para salir adelante — Dominar habilidades sociales para tener éxito en el trabajo y un futuro seguro
• Soft Skills to Pay the Bills — Video Series
• Soft Skills to Pay the Bills — Video Series and Discussion Guide on DVD
• Soft Skills to Pay the Bills — Video Discussion Guide (PDF)
• Soft Skills to Pay the Bills — Rack Card (PDF)
• The Impact of Web-Based Game Play on Soft Skills Education

Inclusive Service

Volunteer and work experiences can help prepare all youth, including youth with disabilities, for the world of work.

• Government Benefits and Participation in Service Programs (PDF) — This resource explains how youth receiving Social Security disability benefits can participate in AmeriCorps without losing these benefits.
• Youth in Action! — Getting Involved in Volunteering
• Youth in Action! — Participating in Internships and Work-Based Experiences
• Inclusive Service as a Pathway to Employment 25 Years after the Americans with Disabilities Act — On July 29, 2015, the United States Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its legacy of equal opportunity and inclusion. Two resources were highlighted. ODEP’s Youth Technical Assistance Center, the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, released Fostering Inclusive Volunteering and Service Learning, a guide for youth service professionals and others interested in facilitating youth engagement in volunteer activities. It describes how youth benefit from inclusive volunteering, different types of volunteer opportunities, and ways to assist youth to prepare for, access, and learn from their experiences. The second resource, the Toolkit for AmeriCorps Alumni with Disabilities Transitioning to Employment, developed by CNCS is a collection of resources regarding pre-employment and employment issues for people with disabilities, special programs, government services, and mentorship and networking opportunities.

Additional Resources

These resources are useful for youth with disabilities entering the world of work:

• Transition QuickGuide: Take Charge of Planning and Managing Your Own Health and Career Goals (PDF)
• Making the Move to Managing Your Own Personal Assistance Services (PAS): A Toolkit for Youth with Disabilities Transitioning to Adulthood
• Entering the World of Work: What Youth with Mental Health Needs Should Know About Accommodations
• Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)
• Schedule A Hiring Fact Sheet for Youth
• Disability Mentoring Day

These tools enable job seekers to access information on career paths related to their interests, skills, and expectations for employment:

• O*NET Online
• Career One Stop
• My Next Move
• Bureau of Labor Statistics Student Resources

These resources emphasize the importance of learning about disability history and culture:

• Disability History Timeline
• Disability History: An Important Part of America's Heritage

These miscellaneous resources can help all youth as they transition into the world of work:

• Am I Learning to Lead? Self-Assessment
• Youth.gov

NCWY/Youth - Career-focused Mentoring for Youth: The What, Why, and How

https://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/cfm.htm

When asked to describe an ideal employee, attributes such as being a hard worker, a team player, and a good communicator are frequently cited by employers as being even more important than technical expertise. According, however, to a recent survey of 461 employers conducted by the Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for Human Resources many new entrants to the workforce lack these important skills. These business leaders reported that while the three "R's" are still fundamental to every employee's ability to do the job, knowledge of applied skills is even more important. (Are They Really Ready to Work? Employers' Perspectives on the Basic Knowledge and Applied Skills of New Entrants to the 21^st Century U.S. Workforce (2006)).

One remedy may be found in mentoring. Career-focused mentoring provides young people the opportunity to get a glimpse of the world of work that may not otherwise be available to them. It also allows them to gain and practice skills that are useful in professional and other settings, and to prepare for life as an adult.

NCWD/Youth - Individual Learning Plan Fact Sheet

http://www.ncwd-youth.info/solutions/individualized-learning-plans/

Ready, Set, GO! Success in School and Beyond

http://readysetgo.state.mn.us/RSG/index.html

Minnesota offers many options for high school students to earn college credit before graduation. Select a program name above to learn more about these "dual credit" opportunities. Find out how these challenging courses can benefit you!

Youth.gov

https://youth.gov/feature-article/federal-partners-transition

The Federal Partners in Transition (FPT), a workgroup with representatives of several federal agencies, including the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor, and the Social Security Administration, was formed in 2005 to support all youth, including youth with disabilities, in successfully transitioning from school to adulthood. To realize this work, FPT developed The 2020 Federal Youth Transition Plan: A Federal Interagency Strategy, which outlines how the partner agencies will enhance interagency coordination through the identification of a shared vision, compatible outcome goals, and policy priorities, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for youth with disabilities by 2020.

Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act

https://www.doleta.gov/wioa/

WIOA is landmark legislation that is designed to strengthen and improve our nation's public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers.

WorkforceGPS

https://www.workforcegps.org/

WorkforceGPS is your online technical assistance website created to help build the capacity of America's public workforce investment system. Sponsored by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, WorkforceGPS was developed specifically for workforce professionals, educators, and business leaders. Here you will find curated communities of interest, useful webinars and other training resources, promising workforce development practices, and relevant evidence-based research – giving you the tools you need to help you create innovative approaches to improve the employment prospects of job seekers. We invite you to come and engage with your peers by joining WorkforceGPS today.

US DOL - Apprenticeship

https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/youth/Apprenticeship.htm

ODEP's #ApprenticeshipWorks Guides introduce youth, educators, service providers, and businesses to the benefits and opportunities of inclusive apprenticeship.

ODEP promotes inclusive apprenticeship program models that meet employer needs by attracting a diverse array of candidates, including people with disabilities. ODEP works to promote inclusion of people with disabilities in apprenticeship programs by influencing national and state policies and providing effective practices.

DOL is committed to apprenticeship and has awarded $175 million as part of the American Apprenticeship Grants to expand apprenticeships and make them available to more workers and employers.

DOL has also awarded a two-year, $1.9 million contract to Social Policy Research Associates, Inc. for the Inclusive Apprenticeship Initiative for Youth and Adults with Disabilities. This Apprenticeship Inclusion Models (AIM) demonstration project will develop pilot projects that research, test, and evaluate innovative strategies in existing apprenticeship programs to expand access, education, and occupational skills training in information technology (IT), healthcare, and other in-demand sectors. Sign up for AIM Community of Practice and Newsletter.