Helping young students explore future careers, lifelong learning and independent living works best when we keep choices simple, clear, and routine. Students at this age are in the Awareness stage of exploring transition. Instruction experiences should build on concrete examples and hands-on learning to build a broader range of understanding of the areas related to transition. This helps younger students to begin to make choices and use self-advocacy skills in low risk situations. Self-advocacy skills are key to successful transition to adulthood.
Starting early and practicing making these decisions often, and in naturally occurring environments, teaches early age transition skills that become a natural habit. The continuum of teaching transition skills prepares students for a lifetime of successful choices and can significantly lower the risk of drop out for high risk students.
Resources
Connected to this is early agency partnership. These supports can help families to access services such as Respite Care, Medicaid and Waiver Services to allow for greater access to a wide range of related services.
- I’m Determined for Educators
- PTI – Nebraska
- Waiver Facts
- Starting Early to Build Success
- ARC - The Arc offers a wide range of programs and services to meet the needs of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They help families by providing programs, information, and resources. The Arc focuses on issues such as: voting, employment, special education, Medicaid, and waiting lists.
- Disability Rights Nebraska - DRN uses a combination of legal advocacy, public policy advocacy, citizen advocacy, self-advocacy, and advocacy education to protect vulnerable people with disabilities, especially those who learn, live, or work in isolated, segregated, or congregated settings.
- Easterseals of Nebraska - Through a variety of resources, Easterseals helps people with disabilities get access to quality health care, education and employment.
- Assistive Technology Partnership - ATP uses a variety of methods and technologies to help individuals with disabilities connect with technology.
- NCBVI - Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired - NCBVI can provide services including job exploration counseling; counseling on college, technical school, and other training opportunities; employment readiness training; work experience; mentoring; independent living skills training; self-advocacy training; and summer camps, and summer work experience and career-readiness programs. Call NCBVI at 402-471-2891 or toll free at 1-877-809-2419. You can also email our front desk at NCBVI.autho@nebraska.gov.