Resources for Youth and Families

The following Web links are subject to change.  Information provided through these Web sites is not necessarily endorsed by IDS or the granting agency.

EDUCATION

Think College.net
This Web site has information and links for youth with disabilities interested in learning more about attending college.  http://www.thinkcollege.net/

College Navigator
This Web site is a free information tool on nearly 7,000 postsecondary institutions in the United States.  http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
 
Preparing for College
This article from the National Center for Learning Disabilities discusses what high school students with disabilities need to know about preparing for college, including specific activities for academic preparation, tips on exploring college environments, and questions to ask regarding campus services and supports.  http://www.ncld.org/content/view/894/

Youth Sharing Their Success Strategies
This link contains informative videos featuring students with disabilities sharing their strategies for successfully staying in school, graduating, and getting jobs. Students reveal their struggles with self-reporting their disability and negotiating accommodations in school and at work. http://adaptiveenvironments.org/neada/site/student

Minnesota Partners in Policymaking
This link connects to the Web site of the Minnesota Governors Council on Development Disabilities which has an array of transitional learning opportunities such as E-Learning Courses available on a variety of topics.  http://www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/

Going  to College
This Web site contains information about living college life with a disability. It is designed for high school students and provides video clips, activities and additional resources that can help you get a head start in planning for college.                                                                             
http://www.going-to-college.org/

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Assistive Technology Explained
Technological devices can really make things possible for people with disabilities. This University of Washington site defines and explains what is meant by assistive technology and gives a history of AccessIT (the National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education). There are lots of links to resources, videos and publications you'll find useful whether you need an electronic reading device or just a grabber to reach something more easily. And these are just two examples. There are loads more!
Visit The National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education Website

Funds for Special Education Could Include Assistive Technology
How well are people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or deaf-blind doing with the new total digital broadcasts from television which began on June 12th?  The Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) has lots of useful information on their website and is also asking all those "with ongoing problems with closed captioning" to help the FCC understand "how widespread the problems are."  There are many different options for taking the survey.  This is your chance to let you voice be heard about captioning. 
Find Out More from CSD

Family Center on Technology and Disability
FCTD is funded by the US Department of Education's Office of Special Education, and has a web site with information on assistive technology, related links, success stories and you can also submit your own story. There's also information on the Summer Institute this organization runs and some data on summer camps.
Visit the FCTD Website

EMPLOYMENT

AmeriCorps
This link connects to the official Web site of AmeriCorps which provides information on volunteering with communities across the country while receiving benefits such as money for college.   http://www.americorps.org/Default.asp

The National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP)
This link connects to the NSIP Web site which works to ensure meaningful service experiences and inclusion for people with disabilities that are interested in volunteering with various programs.  http://www.serviceandinclusion.org/index.php

Workforce Investment Network Job Centers
This Web site provides locations and information about WIN Job Centers in Mississippi which assist people of all ages in locating and preparing for employment opportunities.  http://www.wininmississippi.org/

Job Accommodation Network
This Web site from the Office Disability Employment Policy provides youth and others with disabilities information related to job accommodations.  www.jan.wvu.edu

Accessible Employment
This link connects to the Accessible Employment Web site which provides job searches, resume postings, information on disability awareness, and more. 
http://www.accessibleemployment.org/index.asp

HEALTH AND HEALTHY LIVING

Healthcare Transition Training
This Web site provides health-related training, resources, and information for those who are transitioning to various life stages such as from high school to college and/or work.  http://hctransitions.ichp.ufl.edu/ddcouncil

Kids Health-For Teens Section
This link connects to the Teen Health section of Kids Health.org which provides information on health related issues for teens and young adults.  http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/

Curriculum on Abuse Prevention and Empowerment (CAPE)
This link connects to CAPE which explores fundamental issues of abuse, best-practices training approaches, and stories of people with disabilities confronting and resisting abuse.  This site provides learning tools including stories, movies, comic book scenes, quizzes, and games.  http://www.wid.org/programs/health-access-and-long-term-services/curriculum-on-abuse-prevention-and-empowerment-cape/curriculum-on-abuse-prevention-and-empowerment-cape

TRANSITION

National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET)
This link connects to the NCSET Web site which provides transition related resources, publications, Web sites, technical assistance, and other relevant information on transitioning for people with disabilities.  http://www.ncset.org

Transition Coalition
This Web site provides online information, support, and professional development on topics focusing on the transition from school to adult life.  www.transitioncoalition.org

Guideposts for Success for Youth
This Web site assists youth with disabilities in developing individualized plans, such as Individualized Education Programs, Individualized Plans for Employment, and service strategies as required by the Workforce Investment Act. 
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/guideposts/

Making Dreams a Reality: Using Personal Networks to Achieve Goals as You Prepare to Leave High School
This article, found on the Institute for Community Inclusion's Web site, tells the stories of students who used their personal networks to exercise self-determination and follow their goals.  Also, this Web site includes worksheets that assist students in building and using their own networks.  http://www.communityinclusion.org/article.php?article_id=80&type=audience&id=1

Youthhood
This Web site is for youth as they explore community and build a future.  Resources and information are provided to help youth plan for college, work, and future aspirations.  http://www.youthhood.org

The Forum for Youth Investment
This link connects to a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping young people become ready by 21-ready for college, work and life. This organization provides youth with information, technical assistance, training, network support, and partnership opportunities needed to increase the quality and quantity of youth investment and youth involvement.  http://www.forumforyouthinvestment.org

Fact Sheet for Youth by Youth on Self-Determination
This fact sheet explains self-determination so youth can become more independent in their choices and decisions.  http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/advisory/youth/yac_selfdetermination.htm

Build Your Own Care Notebook
This link connects to a section of the National Center of Medical Home Initiatives for Children with Special Needs Web site.  This section gives information on how to build a Care Notebook which has multiple uses such as assisting parents/caregivers in maintaining an ongoing record of their child's care, services, providers, and notes. 
http://www.medicalhomeinfo.org/tools/care_notebook.html

Moving On to High School: A Tip Sheet for Parents of Children on Individualized Education Plans
This tip sheet, found on the Institute for Community Inclusion's Web site, is based on the experiences of high school students with disabilities transitioning into high school students and their family’s experiences.
http://www.communityinclusion.org/article.php?article_id=148&type=audience&id=1

RECREATION

The National Arts and Disability Center
This Web site assists youth and others with disabilities that are interested in the arts find information on how to connect with the larger art community.  Links are provided for visual and performing arts organizations with a disability or accessibility focus along with Web sites for individual artists with disabilities.  http://nadc.ucla.edu

National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
This Web site provides information and resources on physical activity so that people with and without disabilities can maintain a healthy lifestyle.  http://www.ncpad.org

Technology Learning Center (TLC)
This link connects to a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing education and the quality of life for person with disabilities.  TLC offers training, lending of assisted technology, and various adapted recreation equipment such as beach wheel chairs, fishing, tennis, golf, bowling, swimming and other adapted equipment.  http://www.usm.edu/ids/tlc/index.php

The Family Village
This link connects to a global community of disability-related resources, in particular, there is an extensive listing of recreational and leisure resources.  http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/

Social Networking Sites (PDF)
Social networking sites have become an integral part of today's culture, especially for teens. That's why it's important for parents
to consider the special concems and benefits involved for teens with disabilities using the sites.