Transition and Employment Resources

The Family Guideposts - Engaging In Youth Transitions - This tool is designed specifically for families of youth in transition and highlights specific action steps that parents and other adult caregivers can take to support their youth in transition in alignment with the Guideposts for Success.

Tips on How Parents Can Put Their Children With Disabilities on the Path to Future Employment - The U.S. Office of Disability Employment Policy created these helpful tips for parents of youth with disabilities.

The Transition to Employment: What Parents Can Do Now - PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment created this tool on how parents can help their children find work.

Center for Family Support - CFS provides job development for individuals. Job Coaching staff can help with on-the-job training as well as assistance with daily living skills, travel training, and health and safety oversight.

Career Planning - Career planning resources created by the New York State Department of Labor to help job seekers take the right steps for life success.

Resources for Parents of Youth with Disabilities

Center for Parent Information and Resources - The Office of Special Education at the U.S. Department of Education created this Parent Center network. This website supports the role that Parent Centers play in educating parents and improving outcomes for youth with disabilities.

PACER Center - This organization enhances the quality of life and access to opportunities for children, youth, and young adults with all disabilities and their families so that each person can reach his or her highest potential. PACER operates on the principles of parents helping parents, supporting families, promoting a safe environment for all youth, and working in collaboration with others.

Family Voices - This national organization and grassroots network of families of children and youth with special health care needs and disabilities promotes partnerships in order to improve healthcare services and policies for children.

Families Together in New York State - This family-run organization represents families of youth with social, emotional, behavioral, and cross-systems challenges. Their goal is to ensure that ALL youth have the support they need in order to succeed.

Parent to Parent of New York State - This organization connects families of individuals with special needs and the professionals who serve them through one-to-one support, information and referrals, and trainings.

Transition Partners - New York State Transition Partners is a six-year collaborative project funded by Rehabilitative Services Administration to help New York State youth with disabilities navigate the transition to productive, independent, and meaningful adult lives. Their purpose is to help youth with disabilities and their families, especially in underserved communities, to access and navigate vocational rehabilitation and other public systems that can help with financial stability, meaningful employment, and post-secondary education in New York State.

ACCES-VR - ACCES-VR assists individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living through training, education, rehabilitation, and career development.

General Disability Resources

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) - This organization is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and managed by the Institute for Educational Leadership. It assists state and local workforce development systems to better serve all youth, including youth with disabilities and other disconnected youth.

Resources on Different Mental Health Agencies - National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health created this comprehensive list of national resources.

New York State Multiple Systems Navigator - Access helpful health, education, human services, and disability information on one user-friendly website. Built for youth, parents, family members, and caregivers that rely on supports from multiple youth and family serving systems.

ACCES-VR - ACCES-VR assists individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living through training, education, rehabilitation, and career development.

Legal Advocacy

Disability Rights New York (DRNY) - DRNY provides free legal and advocacy services to individuals with disabilities. This organization works tirelessly to protect and advance the rights of youth and adults with disabilities.

Advocates for Children of New York - This organization has been protecting and promoting the educational rights of youth with disabilities since 1971. As a result, they have unparalleled experience and expertise in special education, particularly in the New York City schools.

Wrightslaw - Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys visit Wrightslaw for accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.

Financial Resources

ABLE National Resource Center - The leading, comprehensive source of objective, independent information about federal-and state-related ABLE programs and activities, including guidance on tax-advantaged ABLE savings accounts.

Saving Money While on SSI - What can the ABLE Act do for me? This document explains how youth living with mental health conditions can save money with ABLE accounts and create more independence and a better quality of life for themselves.

Hands on Banking - This online learning center offers resources for anyone who wants to learn more about money management. Their financial articles can help you find answers to your questions, from budgeting tips, to buying a home, to improving your credit. Learn more with this Hands on Banking Tutorial.