Welcome to MyTransitionIowa.org!
What's transition? It's finishing high school and starting your adult life. Transition is inevitable and in Iowa transition planning needs to begin by age 14. This website can help! Learn about and prepare for transition by exploring:
Getting Started...
Say good-bye to childhood! Get ready for adulthood!
What will you do after high school?
Youthhood can help you plan for transition!!
A
guide to help you start thinking about what you want to do with the rest of your life.
http://www.youthhood.org/
(Teachers; Youthhood provides classroom modules!)
How have others prepared for transition?
Disability Solutions: http://www.disabilitysolutions.org/
The Sept/Oct 2004 newsletter "Thinking About Tomorrow: The Transition to Adult Life" is especially helpful: http://www.disabilitysolutions.org/newsletters/files/six/6-1.pdf
Center for Excellence in Disabilities: http://www.uconnucedd.org/
The Fall 2004 Inclusion Notebook is especially helpful: http://www.uconnucedd.org/Publications/files/TIN_Fall04.pdf
Do you need transition planning tools?
A guide to transition planning and information on preparing for IEP meetings.
tools/transition_where_am_i_going.pdf
Identifying the challenges of adulthood and preparing to successfully meet those demands requires careful transition planning and should begin at the earliest possible age.
http://ici2.umn.edu/ntn/pub/briefs/tplanning.html
Next steps...
Do you want to go to school?
College planning assistance specific to Iowa.
http://www.collegeplanning.org/ChooseCollege/LinkstoIowaColleges.htm
Learn how youth across the country have been able to have a postsecondary experience.
http://www.thinkcollege.net
Do you want to go to work?
Information on accessing high demand jobs with apprenticeship experience, vocational training, 2- and 4-year college degrees.
http://www.careervoyages.gov/
Information to help you decide what job or career path is right for you.
http://www.careerinfonet.org/
Don't plan to go to school or work?
Youth who won’t pursue additional education or enter employment, should connect with the local Central Point of Coordination to access mental health and developmental disabilities services.
http://www.careerinfonet.org/
In Iowa each county has a CPC (Central Point of Coordination) who manages county mental health and developmental disability funds. If you don’t plan to work or go to school, a good place to start transition planning is with your local CPC. Iowa COMPASS can help you connect with your local CPC (Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, 1-800-779-2001 or 1-877-686-0032 TTY).
Continue your transition planning with...
How much do you want to tell others about your disability?
Workbook for youth specific to disclosing disability and understanding the impact of that decision.
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/411.html
Are you ready for adulthood?
Free, easy to use tools for youth and those helping them prepare for transition.
http://www.caseylifeskills.org/index.htm
Do you need health information?
Information for Parents, Kids, and Teens.
http://www.kidshealth.org/
Want to know more about special education?
ASK Resource Center provides a broad range of information, advocacy, support, training, and direct services for children and adults with disabilities and their families.
http://www.askresource.org
Iowa Department of Education, Special Education
http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/574/591/
Not finding what you're looking for?
Try Iowa COMPASS!
Iowa COMPASS is Iowa's free, statewide information and referral service for people with disabilities, their families, service providers, and community members.
http://www.iowacompass.org/
Learn how other youth and families prepared for the transition from high school to adult life.
Success Stories
Leah's Success Story
Leah is active in leadership opportunities specific to disability issues. When her family relocated a few years ago, Leah researched their options. Iowa’s system of education and support for persons with disabilities and resources such as Iowa COMPASS and the Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council were significant factors.
Most recently Leah organized families and alumni in lobbying to maintain the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School. Participation in leadership opportunities has benefited Leah, her child and families throughout Iowa impacted by disability.
Leah: I want to affect systems change and serving on the Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council gives me that opportunity. Participating at the state level is my way of having an impact on what affects my child now and down the road. It is important to have the systems in place that allow youth and adults with disabilities to reach their potential. I strongly encourage youth and family members to participate in the various leadership opportunities.
Susan's Success Story
Susan joined Hands & Voices after learning of her child’s hearing impairment. The opportunity to find a true peer group and the philosophy that there isn’t one right communication method appealed to Susan. She learned that Hands & Voices values the unique experience of each family and strives to empower each family by encouraging independent thinking. The sensitivity of members toward one another, the belief that what’s right for the child is the right choice, and access to information such as how to prepare for an IEP meeting, are a few reasons why Susan actively promotes Hands & Voices.
Currently Susan is coordinating a weekend experience for families with deaf or hard-of-hearing children, one of many programs sponsored by Iowa Hands & Voices. Susan also attends conferences on childhood deafness, assists with sign language classes, and participates in a Centers for Disease Control parent group.
Susan: Deafness is a low-incident disability. Pair that with living in the rural state of Iowa, and families with deaf children really don’t cross paths often enough. Iowa Hands & Voices brings families together regardless of the level of hearing loss, mode of communication, or choice of amplification strategy. Hands & Voices has been good for me, good for my family, and good for my child.
Nichole's Success Story
Nichole is a young adult with a disability who has been active in many different advocacy programs as both a student and a staff person. She was a delegate to and then returned as a staff member for Youth Leadership Forum; she was a delegate to College Leadership Forum. Nichole is currently a staff person and board officer for SALYD (Self-Advocacy and Leadership for Youth with Disabilities). She actively recruits other youth with disabilities for Youth and College Leadership Forums and SALYD.
Nichole: I think these organizations are great because everyone can get something unique out them. Being involved in these organizations has not only taught me a lot of valuable skills (like self-advocacy), but they have given me the opportunity to give back. As a staff person, I have been able to share all of the things I’ve learned with other youth.
Joel and Neal's Success Story
Joel and Neal are youth with disabilities that joined SALYD (Self-Advocacy and Leadership for Youth with Disabilities) upon its conception in March of 2005. They have contributed greatly to the group via discussion during regular meetings as well as serving as officers for the SALYD board. They go beyond their officer roles in making sure events sponsored by the SALYD organization go as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
Outside of SALYD, they are both active in extracurricular activities as well as hold after school jobs. They have contributed to their school and community by bringing speaker Norman Kunc to their high school. Both cite SALYD as being crucial in building their advocacy skills and allowing them to network with other youths with disabilities.
Joel: I didn’t know many people within the disability community. I joined SALYD to be part of something where kids with all kinds of disabilities could come together and find resources they may not have known were out there.
Neal: Before SALYD, I wasn’t connected with any other youth with disabilities. I joined SALYD to meet new people and learn how to speak up about issues. Being in SALYD has been a benefit in building youth into the disability networks.
Jason's Success Story
Iowa Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (IAPVI) is a parent support group directed entirely by parents. IAPVI provides the opportunity for parents to get support and ideas from other parents who are raising a child with a visual impairment and going through many of the same experiences. It’s also an opportunity for the children to get together and share some of their concerns, accomplishments, and advice.
Jason: Together with a few families, in 2004 my wife, Anita, and I helped create Iowa Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (IAPVI), the Iowa chapter of the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments. A colleague and I traveled across the state to recruit members and within a year more than thirty families were participating. Since that first meeting, we have written by-laws, incorporated, started the process for becoming a non-profit group, and produced a newsletter for parents and kids. IAPVI currently supports a mentoring program created by a youth in our group and another youth designed our IAPVI logo.
Rachel's Success Story
Rachel joined Pathfinders Mentoring Program sponsored by the Iowa Department for the Blind with two goals. She wanted to become more involved and increase her network by meeting successful adults who have a visual impairment. She wasn’t disappointed. In Pathfinders Rachel found a support group that’s available to help her problem solve when needed.
Rachel: I’ve had fun, made new friends, and met good role models. The Pathfinders group steered me toward additional training, which I didn’t think I needed, but I found that I did and that it was good for me. I’m glad I took their advice. It’s really helped build my confidence as an individual and as a blind person to see other successful blind people. Knowing that they are successful, I figured I could be successful too. Opportunities like this are always good. Someday I will probably be a mentor.Transcript of Leah's radio spot
Transcript of Susan's radio spot
Learn more about Susan's experience
Transcript for learning more about Susan's experience
Listen to Nichole's radio spot
Transcript of Nichole's radio spot
Transcript of Neal's radio spot
Transcript of Joel's radio spot
Transcript of Jason's radio spot
Transcript of Rachel's radio spot
Please download and share the MP3 radio spot files with your local radio station, your school, family and friends - with everyone you can!
(some files may be pdf which may or may not be screen reader accessible)
YLF (Youth Leadership Forum) http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/pd/leadership_forum/youth.html
YLF offers a leadership program for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities. The forum focuses on the transition from high school to work and/or college.
CLF (College Leadership Forum) http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/pd/leadership_forum/college_forum.html
CLF is a leadership program for college juniors/seniors and vocational/technical undergraduates with disabilities. The focus is on job search preparation.
JCP (Junior Commission Program) http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/ds/index.html
JCP is for youth grades 7-12 with hearing loss or those who desire experience in the deaf and hard of hearing world. JCP sponsors a leadership program and a one-week summer camp.
Pathfinders Transition Mentoring Program http://www.blind.state.ia.us/Pathfinders/index.htm
Pathfinders Mentoring Program matches young adults ages 16-26 who are blind or visually impaired with successful and competent mentors who also have vision loss.
SALYD (Self-Advocacy and Leadership for Youth with Disabilities) http://www.salyd.org/
SALYD for young people with disabilities instills excitement about advocacy and encourages active civic participation. Youth meet monthly.
Best Buddies http://www.bestbuddiesiowa. org
Best Buddies Iowa is for youth with intellectual disabilities and provides one-on-one mutually enriching friendships and an e-mail pen pal program.
IAPVI (Iowa Parents of Children with Visual Impairments) http://www.spedex.com/napvi/chapters.html#3
The National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI), is for parents of children who have visual impairments, including those with multiple disabilities.
ID Action http://www.idaction.org
ID Action encourages Iowans with disabilities, their families and friends, service providers and others to get more involved in civic activities and the political process.
Iowa Hands & Voices http://www.handsandvoices.org/chapters/iowa.htm & www.HandsAndVoices.org
Hands & Voices is dedicated to supporting all families with children who are deaf/hard of hearing regardless of communication choice. The focus is on access to good information and support.
Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa: www.lda-ia.org
The Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of Iowa focuses on the education and general welfare of persons with learning disabilities. LDA-Iowa provides information, support, and referral for persons with learning disabilities, their families, professionals who work with them, and other interested parties.
Families as Presenters http://www.state.ia.us/earlyaccess/doc/fapm04.pdf
Parents as Presenters participants learn to effectively share their story with college students and community professionals. Contact Mary Schertz at 515-281-5433, Deb Samson at 515-242-5295, Paula Connolly at 515-223-6714 for more information.
PFI (People First of Iowa): http://www.thearcstory.org/peoplefirstPAGE.html
People First of Iowa is an organization for all disabilities and for all ages focused on self-advocacy, self-determination, and self-empowerment. Contact Koki Nakagawa at kcokien@yahoo.com for more information.
NAMI IOWA (Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Iowa): http://www.namiiowa.com
works to raise awareness of and provide information on mental illness. NAMI IOWA has affiliates throughout the state and offers several peer-to-peer opportunities.
Iowa Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health (IFFCMH) http://www.iffcmh.org
A statewide advocacy organization that believes most families are "multi-stressed" rather than "dysfunctional" and that parents know their children best. They assist parents of children with behavioral, emotional, mental and/or social disorders, receiving mental health and/or special education services, at risk services or in the juvenile justice system.
Elevate: Youth with foster care and adoption experience who seek to inspire others to new levels of understanding and compassion. http://elevate2inspire.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
This document was developed by Improving Transition Outcomes with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, funded by a grant/contract/cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy #E-9-4-3-0093. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply the endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor.