Transition Resources

This page is dedicated to providing transition resources to parents.

Employment

Ability Jobs:  Job site for people with disabilities helping to connect businesses, governments and non-profits with talented job seekers.

AHEDD:  is a private, non-profit organization that provides employment services for people with disabilities. They contract with the Social Security Administration (SSA) under the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (WIPA) and the Ticket to Work Program (TTW).
Phone:(866) 902-4333   Email: [email protected]

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network: When is an employer required to make a reasonable accommodation? Refer to the Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace handout for a brief overview.

Spanish Resources

Employment Resource Hub: Addresses specific themes and commonly asked questions related to employment and the ADA (including fact sheets, handbooks, guides, etc.)

Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE): Organization focused on inclusive employment and career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Career OneStop: Your source for career exploration, training and jobs (Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor)

Google Career Certificates:  Professional-level training from Google. Earn professional career certificates while learning at your own pace, all online. Cost is dependent on type of certificate and/or exams.

Job Accommodation Network :  guidance on job accommodations and disability employment issues with the assistance of JAN consultants and employment specialists.  Resources available for employers, employees, and others (legal/union/specialists)

PA Career Link - Bucks County:  The PA CareerLink provides personalized assistance with finding jobs. The center can help individuals with determining their skill set, planning their career path, building of a resume and interviewing skill practice, obtaining information about job fairs and recruitment opportunities, connections with training programs, and information about financial aid options.

Skills Up PA:  free, online job skill training for PA residents. Includes training for career pathways, industry training recommendations, badges and certificates of completion, etc.

Employment Transition Resources:  Through OVR, students with disabilities may be eligible for Pre-ETS to improve the transition of students with disabilities to postsecondary education or employment outcomes.

PA Website for Transition

Transition Discoveries

Explore Work Topics


Financial Support

Achieva Family Trust:  a non-profit organization that provides financial planning through the support and empowerment of people with disabilities and their families through education, outreach, networking and future planning services.

Benefits Counseling Toolkit for Educators and Families:  provides information about understanding the differences between  Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), waiver funding, and medical assistance, in addition to understanding how to access the different benefits. 

Community Health Choices:  Medicaid's Managed Care program for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid and individuals with physical disabilities.  Coordinates physical health care and long-term services and supports (LTSS).

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:  Money As You Grow: Help for Parents and Caregivers to help your children's money skills, habits, and attitudes grow.

FDIC's Money Smart for Young People:  Age-appropriate curriculum with lesson plans and guides for educators and caregivers (i.e. Digital Toolkit, lesson plans for K- Grade 2/ Grades 3-5/ grades 6-8/ Grades 9-12).

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA):  provider of student financial aid services through loans, financial aid processing, outreach, and other student aid programs.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI):  Application for benefits based on adult eligibility. (For individuals over the age of 18, eligibility is based upon the applicant's income and resources (not parent's income/resources).)  They can begin the application process at https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/ or by calling 1-800-772-1213. 

SSI in Pennsylvania

Independent Living

Autism Housing Network: Database of user-generated resources and residential opportunities.

Center on Youth Voice: Resource Center for youth with disabilities. Research, advocacy, and education about alternatives to guardianship. 

Turning 18: What Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Should Know:  One-to-three-minute videos with self-advocates who explain about the transfer-of-rights, transition planning, turning 18, alternatives to guardianship, self-advocacy, decision-making, etc.

Getting Ready for When Your Teen Reaches the Age of Majority: A Parent's Guide:  Learn about who decides the age of majority and what the age of majority is in different states, what the transfer of parental rights means, tips for parents, concerns for competency, guardianship, and other resources. 

Guardianship:  in the state of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA):  Works to provide affordable homeownership and rental apartment options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs.

Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA):  Supportive housing rental assistance for extremely low-income persons with disabilities. 

Promoting Independent Living While Still in School:  Activities that can be done in the home, community and school to promote independent living. 

Services and Supports Directory:  Home and Community Services Information System:   The HCSIS Services and Supports Directory is a tool for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism (ID/A), their families, and circle of support to locate services and service providers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The directory can help you locate particular service providers or search for services and supports provided in an individual's community. This directory does not include information on all providers but only of those that have chosen to be listed in it. This directory also provides information about specific services funded by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) under the home and community-based waiver programs.  

OVR (Office of Vocational Rehabilitation)

OVR Brochure

Pre-Application to OVR directions

Why Work with OVR?

Post Secondary Education and Training

  Autism-Specific College Support Programs (ASPs): Free database to identify programs (sponsored by the College Autism Network)

Best Value Schools: Colleges Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities

CeDaR: Campus Disability Resource Database: Search for disability-related information from degree-granting post-secondary institutions.

College Autism Network: Advocacy, research and training for higher educational professionals, employers, researchers, family members, and educators.

Accommodations on College Board Exams:

College Consensus: 30 Best Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities 

College Planning Checklist: Grades 9-10

College Planning Checklist: Grade 11

College Planning Checklist: Grade 12

Schools

Bucks County Community College's AACHIEVE Program:  For students with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Chestnut Hill College: Neurodiversity Initiative: For degree-seeking students designed to support a student’s journey to reach the pinnacle of their college experience, emerging prepared to be an independent, innovative thinker, contributing to and engaging with a global society using their unique skills. 

Drexel University's Center for Autism and Neurodiversity (CAN): A fee-based student-centered program for current neurodivergent Drexel students, with the goal of promoting academic and social competency, self-advocacy, interpersonal skills, independent living, and social integration. Staff may assist students with self-advocating, course registration, securing tutoring, time management, organization, and communicating with instructors.  

East Stroudsburg University's CILLS: (Career, Independent Living, and Learning Studies): A non-degree certificate program that operates on a three-year cycle; designed to provide individuals with intellectual disabilities learning experiences within a university setting, off-campus housing, and vocational training
Eastern University's College Success Program:  For students with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Gwynedd Mercy University's Integrated Studies:  For students with intellectual disabilities

Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Labyrinth Center for Autism Spectrum Support: A multidimensional program for students with Autism Spectrum Diagnosis plus students with related disabilities. Program components include a one-credit course taken each semester, academic and life coaching, supervised study sessions, and peer/faculty mentoring. 

Kutztown University's My Place:  For students who have a diagnosis of autism, autism spectrum disorder, or pervasive developmental disorder.

Millersville University's Integrated Studies: For students with an intellectual disability

Villanova University's VUnited Scholars: For students with an intellectual disability


Additional Links

 NOVA/ASD Programs:   Personal safety/rights/abuse prevention

Leahy Life Plan:  Specializes in aligning with other professionals such as financial advisors, special needs estate attorneys, special education professionals, and governmental and community agencies to maximize the disability benefits and quality of life available to you and establish the best long-term plan.

Bucks County Hub

Bucks County Center for Independent Living

PA Autism Resource Guide




  





 
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