Students: High School
By high school, transition focuses on what you want to do when you graduate from high school. Do you want to continue your education or do you want to start working? Regardless of your choice, do you know what types of support programs are available to you? Do you know what natural supports are available to you? Do you know where you might live? Do you know what types of community activities are available that might match your interests? Are you registered to vote? Are you registered for selective service?
Your maturing self-determination will help you to advocate for your wants and needs and navigate the support services that are available to assist you to meet your goals. When you graduate you are no longer entitled to any services. When you graduate from high school you must apply for support services to determine whether you will qualify. Therefore, you will be expected to be able to tell others about your goals, your strengths and your needs. You must know how to explain your disability, provide current documentation proving that you have a disability, and understand how to request any accommodations you might need. You should learn about the legal protections that are available to people with disabilities. It may seem overwhelming, but developing a circle of support will help ease your transition to your life after high school.
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In This Section: In this section, you will find resources to help you to prepare for your life after high school. The resources examine independent living, education, and employment. Resources include documents, videos, and websites to help you to develop your transition plan, to understand the legal protections that are available to people with disabilities, and to understand the supports that are available to help you to meet your goals. |
Tools for High School Students and Their Parents/Guardians
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Additional Resources
Additional Resources for High School
General Information
On the KASA (Kids as Self-Advocates) website, you will find links to resources, tip sheets, and guides that are written for youth with disabilities. Categories include civil rights and advocacy, education, work, technology and more.
Independent Living
Independent living (IL) services help people with disabilities achieve greater independence in the home and community. IL services provided by centers for independent living (CILs), which are located across the state. CILs are nonresidential, private, nonprofit organizations that help people with disabilities achieve their independent living goals. This page tells you the type of services CIL’s can provide and links to every CIL in Texas.
This page from Disability Rights Texas lists Texas resources that support independent living for individuals with disabilities.
This page from the Texas Health and Human Services explains that Texas' Promoting Independence initiative supports allowing an individual with a disability to live in the most appropriate care setting available. On the left side of the screen you can see the categories under the Promoting Independence initiative.
Education
Transitioning to College with a Disability
This short, captioned video from the PACER Center focuses on the differences between accommodations in high school and college.
This site allows you to search for the best college for you. You can search colleges nationwide based on 2- or 4-year university, major, location, disability service, and many other categories. You will also find information on financial aid and the application process. There is also a student lounge with chats, blogs, and forums.
Postsecondary Programs and Services for students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
This page has links to over 20 colleges in Texas that offer programs for student with Intellectual Disabilities.
The Bridge to Career in Human Service Program is a summer program offered by the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University. This program works in collaborations with the Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living to provide qualifying students with developmental disabilities access to a post-secondary education program along with special educational supports, which will prepare them for employment in the field of health and human services, specifically to become Direct Support Professionals.
Looking for an internship? Internships help you explore career opportunities, network with employers, and earn a salary or school credit. This site helps you explore available internships and connects you to the opportunities that interest you.
Employment
JAN-The Job Accommodation Network
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability, and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace.
Career Possibilities: Discover, Explore, Dream
This video explores different careers. In addition, the web page also includes links to additional career information, including a free interest inventory that matches your preferences to potential careers. To see captions, press the “cc” button that is in the lower right part of the video player.
From Disability Benefits to Benefits Counseling: Michele’s Ticket to Work Success Story
This short, captioned video from the PACER Center, focuses on how Ticket to Work can help you to get a job.
Ticket to Work service providers offer Social Security disability beneficiaries (persons who receive SSI or SSDI) age 18 through 64 who want to work with free job support. This link takes you to an introductory page that has a video that lets you know how to get started. The page also has links to other parts of the site.
Your Bright Future- Welcome K-12 Students & Parents
This webpage from the Texas Workforce Commission has a self-assessment to help you to understand career possibilities that match your interests, what different jobs pay, and links you to Texas Career Check to explore careers and schools in Texas. Another link opens the Texas Consumer Resource for Education and Workforce Statistics (Texas CREWS), which is an interactive dashboard tool providing comparative information about Texas public 2-year and 4-year postsecondary institutions. Other links include Money Matters, Employability Skills, and a parent’s toolkit.
This page searches the Directory of Workforce Solutions Offices & Services based on your zip code to find the office nearest you.
Looking for an internship? Internships help you explore career opportunities, network with employers, and earn a salary or school credit. This site helps you explore available internships and connects you to the opportunities that interest you.
TWC’s page for Job Seekers and Employees
TWC’s Internship Challenge Page
Employability Skills Framework
Directory of Centers for Independent Living in Texas
Career and Technical Education in Texas
Career Exploration, Training, and Jobs
Online College and Career Readiness Resource Center for educator section