Student Voice
Youth hearing from their peers is as powerful as it gets! This section showcases youth voices regarding the importance of self-advocacy as well as providing valuable tips and strategies. The resources include: comic strips, blogs, videos, reading materials, and modules to engage youth. Within the resources, individuals can choose the format that works best for them. The materials are designed to assist youth with understanding their disability and advocating for their needs, as this can be a barrier to post school success.
Tools:
The I'm Determined project, funded by the Virginia Department of Education, has tools, models and opportunities for students to explore their interests, understand their disability, needs, goals, strengths, and preferences through a one pager.
Transition Discoveries was developed by a grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. They provide resources for professionals, families and youth, and believe that youth deserve to be the drivers of their future. Everything they do prioritizes youth voices, ideas, and experiences. Highlighted below is their interactive website for students to begin their own journey, try activities, and plan their own future.
Transition Discoveries Youth Webpage: Begin Your Discovery Journey
Comics:
Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (Transitions ARC) put together a comic series for high school students to help them understand what an Individualized Educational Program or IEP is, what transition planning is, and the importance of the student being involved in them.
"Adulting Shorts" Comic Series
Video:
The Self-Determination Channel by Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) has fantastic videos about using choice and control in one's life. Topics include: success stories, challenges, tips and advice, self-determination, and leading a self-determined life. The Self-Determination Channel is hosted by youth self-advocates and the content is decided by self-advocates.
Coming to us from Disability Hub MN is another short video that highlights people with disabilities talking about the importance of self-advocacy.
Youth In Transition: Self-Advocacy
Blog:
The Research and Training Center on Community Living through the University of Minnesota hosts an online self-advocacy page that features several blogs on a variety of topics.
The Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (Transitions ARC), also has student voice blogs and podcasts.
Podcast:
UMass Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (Transitions ARC) S.T.A.Y. Tuned Podcast: Supporting Transition-Age Youth Podcast is a podcast made for and by young adults with mental health conditions.
Modules
In Control Wisconsin created a self-directed employment planning online training designed to help people with disabilities think about their integrated employment options, understand employment supports and create a plan to achieve their employment goals. Module 8 especially speaks to self-advocacy and working with outside agencies.
Self-Directed Planning Modules
Reading
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center, Formed Families Forward and Family Voices of Tennessee created a resource for students to help them understand what transition is and the process needed to go through as well as how it is part of their IEP. Keep in mind it is a different state but as a whole, it is a resource that all students with disabilities can relate to.
Dude, Where's My Transition Plan?