It’s back to-school-week for students across the country.  For youth with disabilities and their families, transitioning into adulthood requires more careful planning.  These resource links support workforce professionals and others to help ensure that youth with disabilities and their families have access to services that can facilitate a seamless transition during the formative years of development. 

• WIOA Desk Reference: Serving Youth in an Integrated American Job Center Network - There are multiple one-stop partner programs that may be appropriate for providing services to youth depending upon an individual’s needs and whether or not they meet eligibility criteria for specific programs. This desk reference provides an overview of potential one-stop partner programs that may be appropriate for youth, including youth with disabilities.
• Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) - State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies are required to set aside 15 percent of federal funds to provide Pre-ETS to students with disabilities who are eligible or potentially eligible for VR services. This link to the Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center (WINTAC) site provides comprehensive resources on Pre-ETS.

• Youth Apprenticeship - Apprenticeship is a work-based learning opportunity that can provide youth with academic and workplace skills that lead to post-secondary education opportunities and careers. This link includes resources to help grow the apprenticeship initiative targeted towards the youth and young adult populations.
• Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) - The WRP is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private sector employers nationwide with college students and recent graduates with disabilities seeking to prove their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs.
• Inclusive Internship Programs: A How-To Guide For Employers - An internship provides students and recent graduates with the opportunity to expand and connect classroom learning under supervision in a work-based learning environment. This ODEP guide provides a road map for employers, but can also be a resource for the American Job Center.
• Youth Summer Jobs - Summer is a great season for youth and young adults to learn new skills outside of the classroom. ETA has developed a list of technical assistance resources to help states and local workforce leaders, and youth program practitioners implement high-quality summer youth employment programs.

• What to Know About Youth Transition Services for Students and Youth with Disabilities - This fact sheet link from a Federal Partners in Transition workgroup highlights resources on youth transition services in areas such as education, employment, and other support services.
• Job Accommodation Network (JAN) - JAN’s Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) link to explore accommodation options for youth with disabilities in work and educational settings.