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Educators and Service Providers

As someone who works with teens with disabilities, you are in a position to help guide them in considering their future possibilities and explore their independence. Parents and family members may seek you out for guidance or seek help in finding information and resources.

On this page we will highlight some resources, access to training, and other information you may find helpful in working with teens and families.

Education

High school may not be the end of many teens’ educational experience. Many may decide to go for more education or training. Here’s some resources that may be helpful.

Maryland’s Transition Guide: Read about Maryland’s transition process in the Secondary Transition Planning Guide for individuals with Disabilities. Link Secondary Transition Planning Guide to: http://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/Special-Ed/147362_MdSecondaryTransitionPlanningGuide.pdf



Helping Teens Prepare for their First Job!


Career Exploration and Job Analysis

O*NET OnLine is an online tool for career exploration and job analysis! It has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, researchers, and more! Visit O*NET

Employment Supports & Services

There are agencies and services available to help your teen find a job. They include: Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), and the American Job Centers. Learn more about these programs and the services they can provide.

Forms of Identification Teens will Need for Employment

Employers will ask for your Social Security number (SSN) and an official identification such as your social security number, certified birth certificate, or Maryland Identification Card. Learn more about these forms of identification and how to obtain them.

Understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Your teen has certain rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). There are laws that protect them from discrimination in the workplace. Learn more about your teen's rights and responsibilities.

The National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials

The National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) is sponsored by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). The NCRTM offers the vocational rehabilitation and education communities an opportunity to contribute new knowledge to their specific fields and gain visibility for their work. Visit National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM)

National Rehabilitation Information Center

NARIC is the library of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) that collects, catalogs, and disseminates articles, reports, curricula, guides, and other publications and products of the research projects funded by NIDILRR. Visit the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC)

Helpful Resources for the Whole Family



Related Resources:


  • Transition planning

    Both the IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act make clear that transition services require a coordinated set ofactivities for a student with a disability within an outcome-oriented process. This process promotesmovement from school to post-school activities, such as postsecondary education, and includesvocational training, and competitive integrated employment. A transition guide to postsecondary education and empoloyment for students and youth with disabiities.

  • Maryland Higher Education Commission

    The Maryland Higher Education Commission’s website provides guides about how elementary, middle, and high school students can prepare for postsecondary education as well as information about college searches and financial planning.

  • Accommodations that are Available in College

    Accommodations are available after high school, but they may be different. Accessing accommodations is the teen’s responsibility. Learn About Accessing Accommodations After High School

  • Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

    Think College publishes personal stories from students, families, and postsecondary education professionals related to postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities.

  • Intervention Fidelity in a Large-Scale Model Demonstration Project: Lessons Learned from Maryland PROMISE

    The Promoting the Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income (PROMISE) project is a 5-year, two-group, randomized controlled trial funded by the U.S. Department of Education in October 2013. Six sites were awarded funding to test the effectiveness of a multicomponent experimental intervention for improving academic, career, and financial outcomes for youth with disabilities receiving supplemental security income (SSI) benefits and their families. Awardees include Arkansas, ASPIRE (a consortium of six western states), California, Maryland, New York, and Wisconsin. Intervention Fidelity in a Large Scale Model Demonstration Project