Post-Secondary Transitions
Overview
In this Curriculum Jams process, the group focused on materials that adults could use to support youth in making the transition out of high school. Our goal was to identify resources that could be used by youth coming from foster care, youth with disabilities, and all other youth transitioning to independent living.
Scope
Early on, the planning team identified a need for materials to address several aspects of post-secondary transition:
- Developing social, emotional, and leadership skills:
- Self-confidence and strengths identification
- Self-advocacy skills beyond the IEP
- Leadership
- Life skills:
- Writing
- Financial management
- Goal-setting and planning
- Securing disability acommodations
- Connecting to community
- Understanding available resources
The planning team also identified some criteria for how the content should be delivered:
- Youth empowerment:
- Hands-on learning
- Student-focused curriculum that supports youth decision-making
- Highlights youths’ strengths and makes those clear to adults
- Supporting diversity:
- Supports youth belonging just as they are
- Follows best practices for accessibility and Universal Design
- Connects with adults and community:
- Includes field trips and guest speakers
- Engages parents and guardians
How were these recommendations developed?
3 interviews with individuals with lived experience and/or specialized background related to youth leadership.
9 content sub-themes and 8 delivery sub-themes formed the basis for criteria the group applied to a curriculum search process. The criteria were used to pre-screen and filter identified curriculum resources.
4 training curriculums were selected for further review and discussion.
4 youth, community adults, and educators with lived experience and/or specialized background with facilitation and youth leadership made the following curriculum recommendations.
Deep gratitude to all the youth, community adults, and educators who served as Interviewees, Jam Team Members, and Reviewers!
Resources
Based on the criteria above, the reviewers recommended the following resources:
Educator Toolbox
The toolbox is made up of recommended resources that youth and adults can use to develop background knowledge on the topic.
Before Age 18: Action Steps and Transition Guide
Action Steps and Transition Guide
Author: Before Age 18
Description: The Before Age 18 website includes action steps grouped by age and a written transition guide that can be used without facilitation by youth with disabilities. Topics include:
- Transition partners (parents and guardians, school, work, and community resources)
- Essential services (advocacy, benefits, money, health and wellness, and job skills)
- Additional resources (accommodations, community living, employment, foster care, guardianship, health and mental health, social security benefits and health insurance, transportation, and voting)
Audience: Youth and adults
Recommendation: We recommend this website and guide as additional resources to support youth transitions to post-secondary life. We appreciate the clear and readable layout, that transition steps are grouped by age and include steps for younger children, and that key points are simplified. We should also note that these resources offer a very general overview and could be paired with additional content that goes more in-depth.
