PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment

PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment encourages families to dream big about the future of their youth with disabilities. We “inspire possibilities” by sharing success stories and useful strategies to help families and youth achieve their independent living, employment and post-secondary education goals. In order for this to happen, it is important that both transition planning and classroom and community inclusion be a part of a student’s middle and high school education.

The philosophy of inclusion is at the core of our work at PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment (NPCTE). Including children and young adults with disabilities in communities as well as academic activities has been at the heart of disability policy from 1973 to the present. Inclusion is a key concept underlying transition planning for students with disabilities age 16 to 26. Transition planning required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides a structure to help students set a course to achieve inclusive post-school goals. Laws such as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act also support inclusion and help ensure that youth with disabilities have full access to postsecondary education, employment, public services, transportation, and community life after they leave high school

We invite you to visit the NPCTE website at pacer.org/transition and to explore our Learning Center resources “Middle and High School Transition Planning.” Here is a sampling of the resources written specifically for parents available on our website.

• High Expectations: A Most Valuable Tool
• Making the Move to High School: Tips for Parents of Students with Developmental or Intellectual Disabilities
• Extracurricular Activities for Students with Disabilities
• Help your Young Adult Learn about Accessing Accommodations after High School
• Helping Youth Build Work Skills for Job Success: Tips for Parents and Families
• Transition to Postsecondary Education or Training: What Parents Can Do Now