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 YCC NEWS

• National Online Dialogue to Shape Federal Strategies to Assist Young People with Disabilities as They Transition from School to Work.
  The U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services and the Social Security Administration will host the event May 13-27 and invite policymakers, educators, service providers, families, youth, the advocacy community and others to join this conversation to improve transition outcomes. To register for and participate in the dialogue, visit the Federal Partners in Transition feedback community.

• Policy report: Promise for the Future: How Federal Programs Can Improve Career Outcomes for Youth & Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Conditions.
  This publication examines various federal programs that can provide assistance in meeting the educational, vocational and basic supports needs of youth and young adults (from ages 16 to 30) with serious mental health conditions (SMHCs).
  PDF (1.0MB)

• RFI on Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Disconnected Youth.
  The department is analyzing information received from the Request for Information (RFI) on Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Disconnected Youth, published on June 4, 2012. The comment period closed on July 5, 2012 and over 170 comments were received.

[Past YCC News]

 EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS	DATES
Webinar: Reclaiming Futures: A Model for Communities Helping Teens Overcome Drugs, Alcohol and Crime This Webinar is designed for those wanting to learn more about the Reclaiming Futures model and how the model has been adopted as a cost-effective juvenile justice reform initiative. Date: April 30, 2013 Time: 10:00–11:00 PST / 1:00–2:00 EST Register: Here.	4/30/2013
National Transition Conference Briefing OSERS' Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), in collaboration with the Institute for Community Inclusion, will conduct a Webinar on the transition conference including summary of available resources. For more information.	4/2013
Systems Change Transition Projects Utilizing Direct and Indirect Service, Part II: Youth Employment Services. This webinar informed the audience of procedures used by South Carolina and Maryland. Model Demonstration grantees provided information that has been useful in assisting state VR agencies in providing effective transition services. This is the second of three webinars that will be provided by the Model Demonstration grantees on behalf of the Transition TA Priority Development Group.  Archived.	4/30/2013
Capacity Building Institute (CBI). The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC) along with the Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)-funded Technical Assistance Centers, will sponsor the CBI in an effort to build state capacity to improve outcomes for youth with disabilities.	5/6–9/2013
Third Model Transition Demonstration Projects Webinars This is the third of series of Webinars on transition services and activities conducted by OSERS' Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) / Training and Service Programs Division, in collaboration with Model Transition Demonstration Project grantees. For more information.	6/2013

[Past YCC Events]

 YCC FOR YOUTH

Fact Sheets and Tip Sheets

• Factsheet: If, When, and How to Disclose to an Employer That You Have a Mental Health Disability
  PDF (277KB)

• Factsheet: FAQ: Student Loans, For-Profit Colleges, and Traditional Colleges: Some Things You Should Know Before Borrowing
  PDF (210KB)

• Factsheet: Things People Never Told Me
  This is a compilation of suggestions about finances, health care, employment, and relationships from foster youth transitioning to adulthood.
  PDF (905KB)

• Tipsheet: Do I Tell My Boss? Disclosing My Mental Health Condition At Work
  PDF (517KB)

• Tipsheet: Getting Accommodations at College: Tools for School
  PDF (358KB)

Internships

• American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) Internships
  (AAPD) internships available for youth in college at the Department of Education (ED) and other federal agencies. Contact: Dana Fink at AAPD, or Tom Finch at the Department of Education.

• Project Search Internships at the Department of Education
  Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), along with its partners, implements another exciting school year for youth with disabilities attending District of Columbia Public Schools. Learn more about Project Search internships at the Department of Education.

• State Transition Services and Vocational Rehabilitation Services
  Contacts that can assist youth with disabilities seeking transition services and vocational training in your state.

Additional Youth Links

• Eating Disorders
  This page will provide you with eating disorder information and resources to help you learn about the different diseases, specific populations, and guide you or someone you know in the process of recovery.

• Young Adult Parenting
  This page is designed for young adult parents who are pregnant or young adults who are already parenting and have a mental health condition.

• Bullying
  This page was created to empower youth and young adults with knowledge and resources to help put an end to bullying.

[Additional YCC Youth-related Resources]

 RESOURCES

YCC Transition Policy Resources

• Coordination Between Special Education and Vocational Rehabilitation Officials in Your State (FY 2013 State Plans published 10/2012)
  Learn about coordination between special education and vocational rehabilitation (VR) officials in your state through Attachment 4.8(b)(2) in the State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation VR Services and the Supplement for Supported Employment (SE) Services.

• Federal Student Aid
  Learn about exploring careers, choosing and applying to schools, taking required tests, and financial aid.

• Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Part B State Contacts
  See the list of Monitoring and State Improvement Planning staff that provides state-specific information regarding the implementation of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

• Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Technical Assistance Centers
  Assist state and local educational agencies with their transition efforts:
  
  
  • The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center assists states in building capacity to support and improve transition planning, services, and outcomes for youth with disabilities and disseminates information about evidence-based practices. See www.NSTTAC.org
    
    
  • The IDEA Partnership Project’s Transition Community of Practice brings together youth, family members, policy makers, administrators, and service providers to address problems encountered in the transition process from school to post school activities. See www.ideapartnership.org
    
    
  • The National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities focuses on increasing rates of school completion for students with disabilities. See www.dropoutprevention.org/NDPC-SD
    
    
  • The National Post-School Outcomes Center provides technical assistance to improve secondary, transition, and postsecondary school outcomes. See www.psocenter.org
    
    
  • The Postsecondary Education Programs Network 2 (PEPNet2) provides technical assistance to postsecondary education and training institutions to improve access and accommodations for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. See www.pepnet.org

• Policy Letter: Least Restrictive Environment Requirements for Transition Work Placements
  Office of Special Education Program’s policy letter regarding the least restrictive environment requirements for transition work placements.
  PDF (1.5MB)

• Rehabilitation Services Administration Monitoring Reports
  FY 2012 Section 107 Monitoring Reports on vocational rehabilitation programs and transition services in your state.

• State Toolkit for Examining Post-School Success (STEPSS)
  State and local districts work through a data examination process including Indicators 1—Graduation, 2—Dropout, 13—Secondary Transition, and 14—Post-School Outcomes that is designed to lead to an improved plan.

• State Transition Services and Vocational Rehabilitation Services
  Contacts that can assist youth with disabilities seeking transition services and vocational training in your state.

[Additional YCC Transition Policy Resources]

YCC Technical Assistance (TA) Resources

• Brief: What Are the Trends in Employment Outcomes of Youth with Autism?
  This brief shows that youth with autism received similar levels of vocational rehabilitation services and reported similar employment outcomes compared to their peers with other disabilities. However, these outcomes were modest, declining, and substantially different across states, regardless of the types of disabilities.

• Defining College and Career Readiness: A Technical Assistance Resource Guide
  PDF (1.7MB)

• Emerging Transition Practices by State VR Agencies
  Review emerging transition practices by state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies.

• Meeting the Needs of Significantly Struggling Learners in High School: A Look at Approaches to Tiered Intervention
  PDF (193KB)

• Project  Search Case Studies

• Tiered Interventions and Secondary Transition Planning for Students with Disabilities: 101
  PDF (634KB)

• Tips on Core Competencies for Transition Service Providers
  PDF (247KB)

• Universal Design for Learning and Secondary Transition Planning for Students with Disabilities: 101
  PDF (276KB)

• Webinar on the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI)
  A Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and Department of Labor and Employment and Training Administration Webinar on the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) to learn about employment opportunities and employment initiatives for youth with disabilities.

• What Matters in Staying on Track and Graduating in Chicago Public Schools: A Focus on Students with Disabilities
  PDF (1.5MB)

[Additional YCC T/A Resources]

OSERS College-to-Career Resources

• OSERS 2012 Transition Data Fact Sheet
  Read about OSERS 2012 Transition Data Fact Sheet, a quick reference to inform Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) staff and the public about critical grants and data areas related to the transition of youth with disabilities from school activities to post-school activities
  PDF (325KB)

• Project SEARCH Case Studies
  Access the Project SEARCH case studies.

• Identifying Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities Using Existing Surveys
  Read about the definitions of disability in transition-age youth from different national surveys.
  PDF (668KB)

[Additional YCC General Resources]

 ABOUT

The YCC Story

The transition of youth with disabilities from school to productive adulthood has received high priority from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)' Office of the Assistant Secretary (OAS) and the three program offices within OSERS:

• the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP),
• the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), and
• the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).

During the 2012 National Transition Conference, Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Obama, announced that this year would be the Year of College and Career (YCC) for youth with disabilities. In response to this announcement, the OSERS Transition Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from all three program offices, developed the YCC website to provide public information regarding transition activities, resources, policies, and events occurring within OSERS.

As this initiative moves forward, the steering committee will contact other offices and agencies to include their college and career information in the website. Stay tuned for more new and exciting YCC announcements www.transition2012.org.

[Additional Information About the YCC]

 CONTACT

E-mail	osers-ycc@ed.gov