What is the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth?

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) is composed of partners with expertise in disability, education, employment, and workforce development policy and practice. The Collaborative, funded through the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, is charged with assisting state and local workforce development systems to integrate youth with disabilities into their service strategies.  You can read more about NCWD/Youth here.

Critical Guideposts For Youth Programs

Successful programs for youth help them learn to make informed choices about their future through standards-based education and work experiences, have high expectations for youth, and have strong connections to adults who care about them. Youth with disabilities sometimes - although not always - simply need additional and specialized support services in order to transition into the world of work.

NCWD/Youth has identified certain guideposts that are central to designing successful programs and supports for all youth, including youth with disabilities, as they transition to adulthood. These guideposts were developed through evidence-based research and are designed to address the stubborn dilemma that despite legislation and identification of effective practices, youth with disabilities continue to experience lower educational attainment and higher unemployment than their peers without disabilities. Consequently, they have fewer opportunities to gain competitive employment with the potential of career growth.

The key guideposts or components are: preparatory experiences; career preparation and work-based learning experiences; youth development and leadership activities; and, connecting activities.

Two of these guideposts (Preparatory Experiences & Work-based Learning) have been featured on the website as Jump Starts.   In upcoming newsletters, NCWD/Youth will be exploring these guideposts in greater detail and the role of programs and organizations.

New Freedom Initiative Award

The Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor is soliciting nominations for the Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award. This award is made annually to individual(s), non-profit organization(s), or business(es) that have, through programs or activities, demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the employment objectives of President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative. Nominations are due at the Office of Disability Employment Policy, Room S-1303, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20210 by 4:45 p.m. on May 28, 2004. More information is available at http://www.dol.gov/odep/newfreedom/extend.htm & http://www.dol.gov/odep/newfreedom/main.htm.