Life After High School
Planning for life after high school can be overwhelming. This page provides information and resources to help plan and find appropriate options and services.
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Description: This web app provides online resources to help famililies raising children and youth in foster care and kinship care, where children and youth are brought up by non-birth parent relatives. The following topics are covered: Trying to Enroll a Child in School? Concerned about Learning or School? Concerned about Mental Health or Behaviors? Need Public Benefits? Concerned about Transitions Through School and After? Concerned about Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs? Involved in the Court...
Description: A recent PBS NewsHour segment examined issues related to employment of people with disabilities, including taking a deeper look at why the employment rate of Americans with disabilities is much higher compared to people without disabilities. The segment also shows how employers benefitting from hiring people with disabilities.
Description: The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) plays a critical role in improving the health and well-being of Virginians through access to high-quality health care coverage. This year, Medicaid expanded eligibility for health coverage to close to 400,000 Virginia adults. This year also marks the one-year anniversary of Virginia’s nationally-renowned Substance Use Disorder benefit, the Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services program. DMAS also achieved major milestones in...
Description: Great Expectations is a nationally recognized program that helps Virginia’s foster youth earn the postsecondary credentials they need to achieve an independent and successful life. Great Expectations is currently available at 21 of Virginia’s Community Colleges. Great Expectations was created in 2008 as a partnership between Virginia’s Community Colleges and philanthropists supporting the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education. The program launched at five Virginia...
Description: LIFE stands for Living Independently, Focusing on Empowerment. Project LIFE is a UMFS program, funded by the Virginia Department of Social Services. Their mission is to enhance the successful transition of older youth in foster care to adulthood by: increasing the capacity of professionals working with youth to engage in sound, evidence-based practices, and promoting permanent connections, effective preparation for transition to adulthood, and meaningful youth input into state and local...
Description: Services for Older Youth - Youth services (also known as the Independent Living Program) assists foster care youths ages 14-21 in developing the skills necessary to make the transition from foster care to independent living. Independent Living services include activities that are based on a written assessment of life skills. Areas of focus include personal development skills such as self-esteem, communication skills, decision-making, conflict resolution and anger management. Examples of...
Description: Helping your child through the process of choosing a college, applying and then getting ready to go can seem like a daunting task. Like everything, it’s easier if you break it down. Here’s information to help you get your freshman-to-be all set for his four-year adventure. You will find: 9 Steps for Easing the Transition to College Typs of College Accommodations and Services Checklist: What to Ask Colleges About Assistive Technology Video: College Students on the Best Things Their...
Description: This web-based guide to rental housing and housing resources is produced by the Virginia Housing and Supportive Services' Northern Virginia Regional Implementation Team. The Northern Virginia RIT educates individuals, families and service providers about integrated, independent housing and new housing resources available to people in the Settlement Agreement population. We also prepare individuals with developmental disabilities to qualify for housing resources and help them navigate...
Description: EZPic2Txt is a texting app that provides a simple picture-based format for individuals with disabilities, who are non-readers or who are not able to text using a standard touch screen keyboard. The user can send important preset messages (created by a family member, caregiver, educator or employment specialist) to necessary preset contacts as e-mail messages or text messages with one swipe. Texts sent or received by the user can be read out loud using text-to-speech technology. Messages may be...
Description: Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Division of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) works together with students, youth, families, schools and community agencies and organizations to provide services that promote successful transitions from school to work and adult life. DRS offers two sets of services to help students with disabilities move from school to post-school life: pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) and vocational rehabilitation (VR) transition services....
Description: The POWER (Parent Organizer With Educational Resources) web app provides parents and families with online resources to answer questions about child development, disabilities, community services, Special Education, diploma options in Virginia and transition to life after high school. The questions and potential resources are separated into age levels: Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School and High School. This project is a collaborative effort between the Parent Resource...
Description: Military Outreach (PEATC) - Military families sacrifice alongside the military member and face unique challenges such as deployment, frequent moves, and the additional demands of high Optempo. For those families who have children with disabilities receiving special education and related services, moving every 2-3 years is likely to negatively impact educational outcomes for their student. PEATC’s Military Outreach Specialists assist active duty, reservists,...
Description: Virginia’s Medicaid Waiver System: Could you or your child benefit from services such as respite care, personal care, assistive technology, employment services, residential services, nursing care, and/or behavior supports? If so, you may want to check into Virginia’s Medicaid Waiver program. In Virginia, Medicaid Waivers pay for a variety of services and supports for children and adults with developmental disabilities. They provide these supports so that the person can live...
Description: CampusTours builds video tours, photorealistic interactive campus maps, mobile walking tours and custom data-driven multimedia applications for education, non-profit and government clients worldwide. AnyMap™ Turn any type of map artwork into a rich interactive map and virtual tour experience with AnyMap. AnyTour™ From community colleges to the United States Capitol, organizations trust AnyTour to tell their stories. WalkingTour™ WalkingTour is a compelling video...
Description: The mission of HKNC is to give people who are deaf-blind the tools to live, work and thrive in the communities of their choice. Authorized by an Act of Congress in 1967, HKNC is the only organization of its kind—providing training and resources exclusively to people age 16 and over who have combined vision and hearing loss. Students travel from across the country to our headquarters in Sands Point, New York, for on-campus training in assistive technology, vocational services, orientation...
Description: What can adult life include? Young people with disabilities look forward to adult lives in the community that include: Friends and family Relaxation and fun A home of their own Work or volunteering Lifelong learning Making choices Travel or move around your community Faith-based participation This is a good picture of the future. It can happen when young people have a team planning with them.
Description: The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is the only non-regulatory federal agency that promotes policies and coordinates with employers and all levels of government to increase workplace success for people with disabilities. To develop and influence disability employment-related policies and practices, ODEP sponsors the following three policy development and technical assistance resources: Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) Job Accommodation Network...
Description: DMV has taken numerous measures to ensure our customer service centers (CSC) comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that our customers with disabilities have access to the programs and services they need. Assistance for Customers with Disabilities Customers with disabilities can easily request special assistance or accommodations by making their needs known when they arrive at the information counter in any CSC. A customer service representative will assist the customer with...
Description: The I’m Determined project, a state-directed project funded by the Virginia Department of Education, focuses on providing direct instruction, models, and opportunities to practice skills associated with self-determined behavior. This project facilitates youth, especially those with disabilities to undertake a measure of control in their lives, helping to set and steer the course rather than remaining the silent passenger. Much of our work comes from research around three psychological...
Description: ABLEnow accounts help individuals with disabilities save money to pay for qualified expenses, without being taxed on the earnings – and in most cases, without losing eligibility for certain means-tested benefit programs.
Description: Service Dogs of Virginia is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that raises, trains, and places dogs to assist people with disabilities. Highly trained dogs perform a multitude of tasks that allow greater personal freedom and independence. We serve clients residing in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and are based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Physical Assistance Dogs Autism Service Medical Alert Dogs PTSD Service Dogs Facility Dogs
Description: This is a resource from ADDitude Magazine. To download the resource you will have to enter your email address. Help your gamer pick programs that boost attention and executive skills. Many kids with ADHD love their screen time. This free download contains the best recommendations, with ratings, for the video and computer games to choose from these favorites: Bad Piggies Roblox Minecraft Portal And much more!
Description: BridgeLine servies include: Case Management Vocational Day Program "Clubhouse" Residential Program Assisted Independen Living Program
Description: The Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA) is a Commonwealth of Virginia State Authority created with public funds to help Virginians with disabilities obtain assistive technology. The ATLFA provides affordable financing alternatives (loans with below-market interest rates, no down payments, longer repayment terms, etc.) to help make adaptive equipment a possibility for individuals who might not otherwise be eligible for borrowing. Any type of equipment can be financed as long as...
Description: “Work Early, Work Often” is a video campaign created by the Youth Transitions Collaborative’s career preparation and management working group. Together, the two-part series highlights the importance of work and work-based experiences in an individual’s transition to adulthood, particularly for young adults with disabilities. Each storyline focuses on a different subject and narrative, told from the perspective of key audiences that are part of the transition journey. All...
Description: College accommodations are those supports and services provided at no cost to eligible students with disabilities to have equal access and opportunity to benefit from classes, programs, and activities. Common academic accommodations may include priority registration, note takers, extended time on tests, testing in a limited distractions room, accessible classrooms, interpreters, and textbooks in an alternate format. Using accommodations can make a big difference in student learning and grades...
Description: Advisory: This Fast Fact contains adult content and may not be suitable for all readers In today’s technological world, the Internet has become an important and growing source of information and connectedness. The Internet is useful for many reasons, whether it is being used to chat with old friends, find directions to a restaurant, or read a movie review. However, individuals with ASD and their families may face unique challenges when attempting to safely navigate the web. It is possible...
Description: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center - Promoting the availability and accessibility of transportation options for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and communities.
Description: From the time your child applies to college to the start of classes, she’ll have many new decisions to make. Choosing if, when and how to disclose her learning or attention issues will be one of the biggest. This article includes the pros and cons and things to know about disclosing during the application process, to disability services, to professors, and to friends and classmates.
Description: The PERT Program is a highly effective school-to-work transition initiative supported by the Virginia Department of Education and administered through the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) at Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center (WWRC). PERT Program services are provided on the WWRC Campus where students reside in a dormitory. The PERT Program assists students in their transition from high school to post secondary options by helping them answer these...
Description: Social Security's Ticket to Work Program supports career development for Social Security disability beneficiaries ages 18 through 64 who want to work. The Ticket Program is free and voluntary. The Ticket Program helps people with disabilities progress toward financial independence. Individuals who receive Social Security benefits because of a disability and are ages 18 through 64 probably already qualify for the program.
Description: Wellness is a rapidly growing area of focus for people across the U.S. The popularity of health advice segments on TV news and talk shows, of high tech fitness tracking devices and apparel, and of stress management and meditation workshops are a few of the indicators of a growing interest in whole-person well-being. For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the benefits of attending to wellness are at least as great as those experienced by the rest of the population. But...
Description: The Virginia Family Special Education Connection Website provides Local Disability Services information for all of the Counties/Cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. These services include: Arc (The Arc) Autism Spectrum Disorder Resources Brain Injury Services Care Connection for Children (Health Department Program) Centers for Independent Living Child Development Services Program - Clinics Child Find Community Services Board (CSB) Department for Aging and...
Description: Traumatic Brain Injury - What College Disability Specialists and Educators Should Know about Executive Functions - DO YOU KNOW that deficits in executive functions, attention, and learning and memory are the most common cognitive problems after a traumatic brain injury (TBI)? In this document we explain what executive functions are, how they interfere with college life, and the supports students with TBI need to have equal access in college.
Description: Social Security Office Locator allows you to find the Social Security office located within your zip code. Social Security Online Services - Social Security is constantly expanding their online services to give you freedom and control when conducting business with Social Security. Today, you can apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits online, check the status of an application or appeal, request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas), print a benefit verification...
Description: This website sponsored by The Arc includes: Learn About Future Planning Planning ahead can help guide a person with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) to lead a good life as independently as possible. A plan is important throughout all stages of life and especially in the future after the parent or caregiver is no longer able to provide support. Build Your Future Plan To better serve families and individuals with I/DD in future planning, “Build Your Plan”™ is a...
Description: This webcast will provide results of a study on the career planning experiences and overall college experiences of students on the Autism Spectrum. Structured interviews were conducted with college students with ASD attending community colleges and/or state universities in Virginia. Seven emerging themes based on students’ knowledge of, and participation in, career related services and supports will be described.
Description: Justin George is a young man with AS and ADHD. He also has anxiety. This webcast will be delivered by Justin. In his own words, he will discuss how strategies, people and placements helped him move from middle school, high school and now to college. Strategies on how he moved forward, became more self-determined, and has used his interests and love of amateur radio and weather reporting to continue to become more successful as he progresses through his transitions in life will be discussed.
Description: The Faces and Facts of Disability - Social Security is with you throughout life’s journey, touching the lives of nearly every American, often during times of personal hardship, transition, and uncertainty. Our programs serve as vital financial protection for working men and women, children, the disabled, and the elderly. For over 60 years, our disability program has remained true to its original purpose of delivering economic security against the risk of a severe disability that prevents...
Description: Here are Mary’s Top 10 Tips on communicating with someone who has a disability. This video engages the viewer while educating them on the proper disability etiquette. This video is part of a series on disability awareness and inclusion in sports and physical education.
Description: Local community agencies charged with providing case management, and distribution of local, state, and federal funds for services to individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health disabilities. Many CSBs and BHAs also provide direct services in employment and housing for invidividuals with behavioral and developmental disabilities. Some individuals with ASD are eligible for services based on their additional diagnoses and needs.
Description: Centers for Independent Living, often referred to as "CILs", are non-residential places of action and coalition designed and operated by people with disabilities. CILs work with individuals to promote leadership and independence as well as with local communities to remove barriers to independence. In Virginia, most CILs serve a planning district comprised of several counties. Centers for Independent Living (CILs) provide services to individuals with significant disabilities as well as to the...
Description: Healthy Transitions is a mobile app designed to help young adults with special healthcare needs build skills needed to gain independence and manage their own healthcare. The app features videos that explain how to handle real life scenarios and an interactive game to reinforce the ideas presented in the videos. The videos are categorized into four sections; healthcare, insurance, healthy lifestyles and relationships. The Healthy Transitions app is easy to use and can be downloaded for free...
Description: These research summaries covering instructional strategies and interventions offer information that includes level of effectiveness as well as the age groups for which a given strategy or intervention is designed. Links to the original reports are also provided for those who might wish to explore further. Summaries are available on the following topics: Assessment (includes progress monitoring), Behavior and Classroom Management, Content Instruction, Diversity, Early intervention/Early...
Description: There are many financing options and benefits available to disabled students. This is our guide to the opportunities out there. We’ll start with those that are available to students living with any kind of disability and then break down awards designated for students living with particular types of disabilities.
Description: VDOE is responsible for approving driver education programs in the commonwealth’s public and private schools. Driver education programs in Virginia schools focus on safe driving attitudes, skill development and appropriate responses to hazards. The commonwealth’s standards for driver education require extended supervised practice with a licensed parent or guardian to develop precision in the application of skills and processes to effectively manage risks.
Description: MASI is a comprehensive, fee-based program that provides additional intensive support services to students on the Autism Spectrum beyond typical higher education accommodations. MASI uses a team-based approach to assist students in achieving their goals in college.
Description: Vision Statement: A life of possibilities for all Virginians Mission Statement: Supporting individuals by promoting recovery, self-determination, and wellness in all aspects of life
Description: On this website, you can learn about Virginia’s Medicaid, FAMIS programs for children, pregnant women, and adults. You can also get information about health insurance choices through the Federal Marketplace.
Description: College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through...