Guideposts for Success
About the Guideposts for Success
The transition from youth to adulthood is challenging for almost every young person. This is particularly true for young people with disabilities. Yet, it is in those crucial transition-age years that a young person's future can be determined. Part of a successful future includes finding and keeping work. The total employment rate is projected to increase by 15% in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Employment in occupations that generally require a college degree or other postsecondary credential is projected to grow much faster than other jobs across all occupations. Jobs requiring work-related training will still account for the majority of the new positions. An extensive literature review of research, demonstration projects and effective practices covering a wide range of programs and services -- including lessons from youth development, quality education, and workforce development programs -- has identified core commonalities across the disciplines, programs, and institutional settings. The review also points out that no one institution or organization can provide the full range of services; thus, highlighting the interdependence of agencies that requires communities, states, the federal government and multiple organizations at all levels to collaborate with one another in order to help assure quality transitions for all youth. The applicable literature suggests that all youth need:
The Guideposts can help steer families, institutions and youth themselves through the transition processes and are built on the following underlying assumptions:
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Also Read |
The Guideposts & Specific NeedsEach of the five guideposts are listed below along with the corresponding specific needs for each guidepost. School-Based Preparatory ExperiencesCareer Preparation & Work-Based Learning ExperiencesYouth Development & LeadershipConnecting ActivitiesFamily Involvement & Supports |
Supporting EvidenceAll the work of the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth is research-based. Acting on behalf of the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition and the Collaborative, IEL’s Center for Workforce Development took the lead in collecting and compiling the research for the Guideposts and the corresponding NASET transition standards and indicators. The research summary is a living document and will be updated periodically. The research summary and citations are available in Adobe PDF and Microsoft Word format.
Full reference: National Alliance for Secondary Education and Transition. (2005). National standards and quality indicators: Transition toolkit for systems improvement. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota, National Center on Secondary Education and Transition. |
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