Employment

Free Transition Tools

Employment

Career development is an ongoing process that begins in childhood and continues throughout life.

Kids and young adults with disabilities need multiple opportunities to research and try-out various careers through job shadowing, assessment, career research, volunteering, interning, community-based work experience and paid employment.

They also need to learn the academic, functional, job-specific, and “soft” skills needed for success on the job. The transition to employment also involves connecting with agencies that can fund and provide services such as job training and job coaching after high school graduation.

Tools in this section can support your child in each step of the transition to employment process.

How this works

We’ll add new tools regularly. Want to know about new additions? Sign up for our transition news and resources (see blue arrow upper right).

When you click on a link below, you’ll go to a post that will explain the tool. The post will include a free download link.

A Surprising Way to Grow Employability Skills and Networks

Vocational Rehabilitation & Transition Planning

Teaching Employment “Soft Skills”

Going to Work video series (by youth for youth)

What’s the 411 on Disability Disclosure?

Job Shadow Resources

Resources for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

New Pathways to Employment

OCALI Guides (for youth w/ intensive support needs)

JobTIPS

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

Research Careers Using My Next Move

Reading-Free Career Interest Assessments

Why Volunteer? + 2 Ways to Get the Most Out of Volunteering

Summer Internships

Questions or suggestions?

Perhaps you’re wondering which tool to choose, or how to use a particular tool. Or maybe you’d like to suggest a tool for us to add here.

You can email me by clicking on the white envelope in the “Let’s Connect” section of the sidebar. Or you can use the comment section below so we can all join the conversation. I look forward to hearing from you!

Enjoy the journey!

This is an exciting time for your child. Sure, there will be bumps along the way. But there’s much joy, too! As you listen to and learn from one another, your relationship with your child will grow in new ways. Enjoy the journey!

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Photo credit: Toolstop at Flickr