Young adults with disabilities who are getting ready to move on from school to employment may be eligible for several vocational rehabilitation (VR) services.

VR counselors work with you, your parents and/or the school district to develop a coordinated transition plan. This includes your school history, interests, employment goals and your future needs for training.

Pre-employment transition services provide opportunities for students with disabilities to learn through work and education. These services are coordinated by a VR counselor. For more information, see the Pre-Employment Transition Services page at Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Additional resources for youth with disabilities who are in transition

Transition Planning

• "Kickstart Your ILP" Toolkit - You may have heard about something called an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP). Maybe you've even got one! If you do have one, you have a choice: 1) Start it and treat it like any other assignment, or 2) KICKSTART it into an experience that empowers you to take charge of your future.
• "Shelly Saves the Future: A Story of Career Development" Informational Comic - Follow high school senior Shelly as she uses an ILP to take charge of her future.
• A Transition Guide to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Youth with Disabilities - A 62 page PDF for families of transition-aged individuals.
• Exploring College and Careers: Student Workbook - This resource is an introduction to the investigation of careers and college and is designed for 7th through 9th grade students. Many students and their families may not be familiar with the pathways to education after high school, and Navigate provides information to begin preparing for success.
• Guiding Your Success Tool - Use this career planning tool to help youth and young adults think about and plan for the future. Youth can work on this tool by themselves, with peers, or with a caring adult. The tool does not have to be completed all at once or in one day. It can be done in sections or a couple of questions at a time.
• Healthcare Transition Guides - Find information and guidance about gaining healthcare independence.
• Idaho Parents Unlimited a trusted source for information, resources, and supports when navigating complex systems in raising a child with a disability or special health care need in Idaho.
• NCWD for Youth Navigating the Road to Work - find successful strategies for supporting transition-age youth in developing competencies, setting goals, making informed decisions, and accessing and advocating for opportunities and services they need to achieve their education, employment, and independent living goals.
• Idaho Centers for Independent Living provide job coaching, training and information on disability in the workplace to help people with disabilities stay independent. Find your nearest ILC:
  • Disability ActionCenter Northwest (DAC- Moscow, Lewiston, Post Falls)
  • Living Independence Network Corporation (LINC- Boise, Caldwell, Twin Falls)
  • Living Independently for Everyone (LIFE- Blackfoot, Burley, Idaho Falls, Pocatello)

Transitioning into the World of Work

• By Youth for Youth: Employment - written by youth for youth who want to know more about finding and keeping the right job.
• Get My Future - Helping youth put together a successful job search with resources on resumes, interviewing, networking and finding job openings.
• Job Search: What it Takes - Find tips to make your job search successful. Learn more about getting work experience, writing a resume, interviewing and landing a job.
• My Next Move - Learn more about an industry or the career of your choice.
• MYMoney.Gov provides tips on how to plan and budget so you'll have enough money when you need it.
• Say Yes! To Employment - this website is for job seekers and their families looking for information on what to consider during the employment search process, including learning to be your own self advocate to understanding the Social Security benefits on employments.
• Soft skills are important traits that make you marketable in today's rapidly changing workplace. ODEP has created a set of lessons and videos for youth ages 14 to 21 to learn about the six key skill areas: communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, networking, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism.
  • Skills to Pay the Bills- English PDF
  • Habilidades sociales para salir adelante- Spanish PDF
  • Video Series
• 'Your Job Search' Video Series—Addressing various topics to help young people with disabilities navigate the job search process.

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