| Statewide Transition Resources
Individual's With Disabilities Education Act Post School Activities
“As used in this part, transition services means a coordinated set of activities for a student with a disability that-Is designed within an outcome-oriented process, that promotes movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational training, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation”
— Individuals with Disabilities Education Act '97
What is the Wisconsin Statewide Transition Initiative Statewide Clearinghouse?
The Statewide Clearinghouse is a list of post-school activities that will assist students, parents, teachers and individuals who are designing coordinated sets of activities for student's with disabilities in the following transition post-school areas:
Post-Secondary Education
Where can I go for help if I want to attend college, technical college, or get special training?
Opening Doors to Post–Secondary Education [PDF]
The Opening Doors handbook has been created to assist you, your parents, school counselors, and others on your IEP team in planning for your postsecondary experience. It includes information to help you understand your strengths and identify the support and resources you will need to be successful at the postsecondary level. This document lists all the post-secondary institutions in the state of Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin Independent Learning
UW Learning Innovations Independent Learning is a part of the University of Wisconsin Extension. Independent Learning has offered courses since 1892. Independent Learning’s university-level courses are developed and taught by faculty and instructors affiliated with UW institutions, accredited by the North Central Association of colleges and Schools. We offer anywhere, anytime learning and have a long history of successful distance education behind us. Independent Learning offers over 300 university, high school, vocational, and continuing education courses.
Wisconsin Colleges and Universities
Wisconsin Technical College System
Youth Options
The program is an opportunity for students in grades 11 and 12 currently enrolled in a Wisconsin public high school to attend a postsecondary institution for the purpose of taking one or more courses for high school and college credit.
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Community Participation
Where can I go for help with: transportation, recreation and leisure activities, organizations, clubs, volunteering, and voting?
The Arc
The Arc is the national organization of and for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families. It is devoted to promoting and improving supports and services for people with mental retardation and their families. The association also fosters research and education regarding the prevention of mental retardation in infants and young children.
Special Olympics Wisconsin
Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) is a statewide organization providing persons with cognitive disabilities year-round sports training and competition. With seven Area offices throughout the state, Special Olympics Wisconsin serves nearly 10,000 athletes in nearly 220 communities statewide.
VSA arts
VSA arts is a nonprofit organization that creates learning opportunities through the arts for people with disabilities. We believe that the arts are an avenue to learning and a universal language that all of us can understand.
WI Independent Living Centers
Independent living centers (ILCs) provide assistance to people with all kinds of disabilities. These agencies were created to promote independence and self-determination for individuals, as well as to offer support and information to families and communities. Services provided by ILCs include: peer support, information and referral, independent living skills training, coordination of personal care and other services, advocacy and community education.
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Vocational Training
Where can I go to get help with vocational training?
AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that engage more than 50,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve through more than 2,100 nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based organizations. They tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs, and help communities respond to disasters. Created in 1993, AmeriCorps is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. Together these programs engage more than 2 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service each year.
Designated Vocational Instruction
How can you improve the school-to-work transition for students with disabilities? This resource and planning guide shows you how to build stronger relationships between special and vocational educators and families to meet students' needs. Chapters include assessment techniques, instructional strategies, implementation of the designated vocational instruction approach, and in-service training.
Supported Employment
Supported employment is a unique employment service for individuals who, because of disabilities, need ongoing support services in the competitive workforce. Staff from private, non-profit rehabilitation agencies statewide provide services to both the employer and the employee, including:
- recruitment, matching an employee to tasks and duties within the company.
- assistance in training the employee and co-workers/mentors in working most effectively with the employee.
- assisting the individual in work-related needs such as transportation, counseling, and living in the community.
- Most supported employees work 20 hours or more per week, at or above minimum wage.
Wisconsin Technical College System
Workforce Investment Act
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 represents a national consensus to consolidate and coordinate all of the workforce preparation and development programs into a unified workforce investment system. In Wisconsin, programs for employment placement/retention, job training, and education-related training programs are delivered through Job Centers. While individual programs still retain their own service and funding requirements, those programs must also participate in the Job Centers, with local policy oversight provided through 11 Workforce Development Boards across the state. These boards are led by the private sector, which represents the majority of board members. Other required representatives include all of the WIA partner programs.
Youth Apprenticeship
Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship program is a foundational part of a statewide School-to-Work initiative that has earned Wisconsin national recognition as a leader in education reform. It is designed for high school students who want to experience hands on learning at the worksite in conjunction with classroom instruction. This rigorous two year elective program combines academic and technical instruction with mentored on-the-job learning that makes a real world connection for the students.
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Employment
Where can I go for help with finding a job?
Job Corps
Job Corps is the nation's largest and most comprehensive residential, education and job training program for at-risk youth, ages 16 through 24. Since its inauguration in 1964, under the Economic Opportunity Act, Job Corps has provided more than 2 million disadvantaged young people with the integrated academic, vocational, and social skills training they need to gain independence and get quality, long-term jobs or further their education .
Job Net
Welcome to Wisconsin's JobNet job search system. JobNet contains current job opportunities that employers have listed with the Wisconsin Job Center system. If you see a job opportunity that interests you, read the employer contact information at the bottom of each job page for referral instructions. Selecting an out-of-state location on JobNet will result in out-of-state job listings given to Wisconsin Job Service.
Supported Employment
Supported employment is a unique employment service for individuals who, because of disabilities, need ongoing support services in the competitive workforce. Staff from private, non-profit rehabilitation agencies statewide provide services to both the employer and the employee, including:
- recruitment, matching an employee to tasks and duties within the company
- assistance in training the employee and co-workers/mentors in working most effectively with the employee
- assisting the individual in work-related needs such as transportation, counseling, and living in the community.
Most supported employees work 20 hours or more per week, at or above minimum wage.
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Recruiting People with Disabilities Information and Tools For "Business Smart" Solutions
"According to the 2000 census, one in five people reported having a disability. Wisconsin’s future economic health will demand that employers include this 20% of the available labor pool into tomorrow’s workforce."
—Governor Jim Doyle
Wisconsin Job Centers
Wisconsin Job Centers: Your Wisconsin Employment Connection.
Wisconsin Works (W-2)
Wisconsin Works (W-2) replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) in September, 1997. W-2 is based on work participation and personal responsibility. Under W-2, there is no entitlement to assistance, but there is a place for everyone who is willing to work to their ability. The program is available to low-income parents with minor children. Each W-2 eligible participant meets with a Financial and Employment Planner (FEP), who helps the individual develop a self-sufficiency plan and determine his or her place on the W-2 employment ladder.
Youth Apprenticeship
Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship program is a foundational part of a statewide School-to-Work initiative that has earned Wisconsin national recognition as a leader in education reform. It is designed for high school students who want to experience hands on learning at the worksite in conjunction with classroom instruction. This rigorous two year elective program combines academic and technical instruction with mentored on-the-job learning that makes a real world connection for the students.
Youth to Work Coalition
The Youth to Work Coalition (YWC) was established to assist businesses in creating or enhancing internships and mentoring programs available for youth with disabilities. The YWC connects and strengthens public and private sector programs supporting internships, mentoring, and school-to-work transition; partners with business associations and nonprofits serving youth and disability groups; collects best practices and model programs around the country; and provides technical assistance to businesses that plan to establish or strengthen programs to serve youth with disabilities.
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Continuing & Adult Education
Where can I go to for help with finding out about Adult Basic Education, GED/HSED, US Armed Forces and UW Extension courses?
Adult Basic Education
Adult Basic Education programs include Family Literacy, GED/HSED for completing high school, English as a Second Language (ESL), Workplace Education, and courses to help you succeed in your chosen area of study.
US Air Force
Official web site for the United States Air Force.
US Army
Official web site for the United States Army.
US Marines
Official web site for the United States Marines.
US Navy
Official web site for the United States Navy.
UW Extension Courses
University of Wisconsin-Extension is a unique partnership of counties, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Wisconsin working together to help people put knowledge to work. It reflects the vision that has become known as The Wisconsin Idea. This partnership brings education to people where they live, through Extension offices, in each of Wisconsin's counties. It supports educational programs for farmers, businesses, communities, families and young people.
University of Wisconsin Independent Learning
UW Learning Innovations Independent Learning is a part of the University of Wisconsin Extension. Independent Learning has offered courses since 1892. Independent Learning’s university-level courses are developed and taught by faculty and instructors affiliated with UW institutions, accredited by the North Central Association of colleges and Schools. We offer anywhere, anytime learning and have a long history of successful distance education behind us. Independent Learning offers over 300 university, high school, vocational, and continuing education courses.
WI Air National Guard
Official web site for the Wisconsin Air National Guard.
WI Army National Guard
Official web site for the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
WI GED/HSED Program
If you have not completed high school and want to seek more education and/or improve your employability, you have some choices that can open the doors to your future. First, you can take the General Educational Development (GED) tests, pass them, and receive a GED Certificate. Or, better yet, you can go further by taking all of the GED tests and a health, citizenship, employability skills, and career-awareness program – or courses explained below – and receive a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED).
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Independent Living
Where can I go for help with finding a place to live, parenting, family planning, nutrition, personal care, money management, health care, self-advocacy, and house keeping?
Center for Self-Determination
The Center for Self-Determination is not a place. It is a highly interactive working collaborative of individuals and organizations committed to the principles of self-determination. The purpose of the collaborative is to change the nature of the support and service system for individuals with disabilities, using the principles of self-determination to help all persons create the lives they want, connected to and with their communities.
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation Services (Title 1 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended i.e., the Act) aim to empower individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, economic self-sufficiency, independence, inclusion and integration into society through work. The Act ensures that Government plays a leadership role in promoting the employment of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with significant disabilities, in fulfilling their aspirations for meaningful and gainful employment and independent living.
Medicaid
You may qualify for Medicaid if you are a citizen of the United States or an "eligible" person, meet the financial eligibility requirements, and are in one of the following categories: A.) A relative caretaker of a deprived child. B.) Pregnant C.) Under age 19 D.) Age 65 or older E.) Blind or disabled.
WI Independent Living Centers
Independent living centers (ILCs) provide assistance to people with all kinds of disabilities. These agencies were created to promote independence and self-determination for individuals, as well as to offer support and information to families and communities. Services provided by ILCs include: peer support, information and referral, independent living skills training, coordination of personal care and other services, advocacy and community education.
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Adult Service Agencies
Where could I get help with contacting adult service agencies?
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation Services (Title 1 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended i.e., the Act) aim to empower individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, economic self-sufficiency, independence, inclusion and integration into society through work. The Act ensures that Government plays a leadership role in promoting the employment of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with significant disabilities, in fulfilling their aspirations for meaningful and gainful employment and independent living.
FACETS
Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training & Support, Inc. (WI FACETS) is a nonprofit organization serving Wisconsin children and adults with disabilities, their families and those who support them. We were founded in 1995 by parents who believed that parents are the best advocates for their children. WI FACETS operates these programs to help parents support and enrich their children's lives.
Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration web site provides information about Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance Benefits, and Supplemental Security Income. The site also provides wage reporting information for employers.
Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative
The Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative is a statewide project funded by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to help all school districts develop or improve their assistive technology services. WATI also works with Birth to 3, early childhood, Child Care Centers, Head Start programs and struggling students through additional grants.
WI Parent Educator Initiative
The Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative (WSPEI) is a service for parents, educators, and others interested in parent-educator partnerships for children with disabilities.
Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services
This is the official web site for the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services.
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services - Addiction Services
Addiction services are services relating to substance use and abuse, gambling awareness, reducing tobacco sales to minors, and recovery events.
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services - Blind/Visually Impaired
Welcome to the "Guide to Selected Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons in Wisconsin." Compiled by the State of Wisconsin Bureau for the Blind, this Guide is a reference for anyone who needs information about resources to serve our blind and visually impaired population.
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services - Centers for People with Developmental Disabilities
The Division of Disability and Elder Services, under the auspices of the Department of Health and Family Services, currently operates three centers for people with developmental disabilities in Wisconsin: Central Wisconsin Center; Northern Wisconsin Center; and Southern Wisconsin Center.
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services - Community Mental Health
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services - Deaf & Hard of Hearing
ODHH's mission is to ensure that the variety of life's choices and equal opportunities are available to all deaf, deaf blind and hard of hearing people. In carrying out our mission, we provide leadership, information and assistance, education, and prevention through:
- collaboration with customers and agencies leading to informed and supportive community environments
- community outreach and educational efforts
- promotion of the utilization of qualified interpreters
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services - Developmental Disabilities Services and Programs
The Department of Health and Family Services is the primary state agency responsible for the development and implementation of statewide policy, services and supports for people with developmental disabilities. Specifically, the Department administers programs that promote children living with their families, prevent individuals from moving to institutions, and move individuals who have lived in institutions to the community. This also includes providing leadership and assistance throughout the system in promoting best practice to improve the overall quality and safety of services and supports.
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services - Physical Disability Programs
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