Secondary Transition Resources

General Resources

• Fast Facts: Secondary Transition: Why it is important to plan early? (PDF)
• Personal Living and Finances (3120) course materials, used as a credit accommodation, are available through the CTE Resource Center. This course may be used in lieu of Economics and Personal Finance (6120) for eligible students.
• Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
  • Virginia DARS Policy and Procedure Manual – Transition Services
  • Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center provides comprehensive medical, assistive technology and vocational rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities to help them gain increased independence and employment.
• Office of Career and Technical Education Services of the Virginia Department of Education 
  • Career and Technical Education Resource Center.
• Parent Education Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
  • PEATC assists the families of children with disabilities through education, information and training and builds parent-professional partnerships to promote success in school and community life through:
    • Information and assistance to families in understanding and negotiating the education and service systems for their children with disabilities;
    • Training for families and professionals that model partnerships and encourage active learning; and
    • Collaboration with and technical assistance to schools, state and local agencies, parent resource centers and community organizations.
• Virginia' s Community Services Boards provide mental health services to the residents of Virginia.
• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
• Courses and Training
• Institute on Community Integration - All people have the right to live, learn, work, and play. The Community Living and Employment area works to ensure that public policy and services are helping people with disabilities live their best lives in inclusive communities.
• The Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment provides information about the TAGG Assessment and Goal Generator as well as information on self determination and general transition information.
• PowerUp WHAT WORKS – find evidence-based technology-enhanced practices in the content areas of reading, writing and math. 
• The IRIS Center at Vanderbilt University offers some online modules to help people understand Secondary Transition. Some topics include: the school counselor's role, transition assessments, Preparing for postsecondary education and employment, preparing for independent living, and agency referrals.

Career Assessment

Vocational assessment and evaluation are invaluable pieces to complete the transition process. An appropriately provided vocational assessment helps to guide the process of discovery for an individual seeking direction in their future career path. A wide range of options can be provided through these services including career screening assessments, career exploration, interest and aptitude testing, hands-on work sample exploration, situational assessment and community based exploration. Through these varied processes, vocational evaluation personnel can help students recognize their strengths, talents, interests and unique abilities as they relate to future career training, transition and employment opportunities.

• The Vocational Evaluation and Career Assessment Professionals Association – This nonprofit organization is committed to advancing and improving the fields of vocational evaluation and career assessment and represents the needs of professionals who provide those services. Its scope of services encompasses individuals who need assistance with vocational development and/or career decision making.
• Career Exploration
  • Virginia VIEW Career Information System – Virginia's comprehensive career resource.
  • The Internet's Online Career Center – A national connection for job preparation, salary information and job opportunities.
  • Kiersey Temperament – A resource for assessing temperaments.
• Career OneStop – This site has information on all the tools you need to find a career, where to find training and skills needed for various careers.  Career videos are available in English and Spanish.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics – Decide what you are interested in and find a career, learn more about the Bureau of Labor Statistics and how they can help with a job search. 
• Livecareer – Build your resume, write a great cover letter, master the interview, learn about employment in various career areas, and the companies that hire people.

• Center on Transition Innovations – The vision of the Virginia Department of Education is to create a centralized statewide portal for information, resources, demonstration, and research for educators and other stakeholders in the transition of youth with disabilities. The Center on Transition Innovations (CTI) at Virginia Commonwealth University provides evidence-based resources and information along with emerging practices in the field. The results of research studies and demonstration projects conducted here in Virginia help us shape the ongoing work of CTI.
  • Includes fact sheets, videos, online courses for teachers and other providers, a virtual course for students, and work based learning projects.
• National TA Center on Transition – The Center has had a name change, now called NTACT:C.  C is for "The Collaborative."  Their purpose is to assist State Education Agencies, Local Education Agencies, State VR agencies, and VR service providers in implementing evidence-based and promising practices ensuring students with disabilities, including those with significant disabilities, graduate prepared for success in postsecondary education and employment.
• National Dropout Prevention Center  – The National Dropout Prevention Center provides resources on best practices for preventing dropouts and assist in building states' capacity to increase school completion rates for students through knowledge synthesis, technical assistance, and dissemination of interventions and practices that work. 
• Transition Coalition  – This site offers training, tools, and resources for providing transition services to  young adults with disabilities in secondary special education Features include free publications, training, and  information for parents and service providers.
• Zarrow Center – The Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment facilitates successful secondary and postsecondary educational, vocational and personal outcomes for students and adults with disabilities. ZC faculty, staff, and students do this through self-determination oriented evaluation, research, development, transition education instruction, and dissemination of best educational and support practices. The ZC also prepares undergraduate and graduate students to assume leadership roles in schools, universities, and support organizations
• Division on Career Development and Transition – The mission of DCDT is to promote national efforts to improve the quality of, and access to, career/vocational and transition services, increase the participation of education in career development and transition goals, and to influence policies affecting career development and transition services for persons with disabilities. It is a subdivision of the Council of Exceptional Education.