Independent Living
Transition Planning
- Managing Your Own Personal Assistance Services (PAS): A Toolkit for Youth with Disabilities Transitioning to Adulthood
- Transition Planning Student Questionnaire
- Transition Planning Checklist for Students and Parents
- Transition Planning Guide: Home Living
- Transition Planning Guide: Recreation/Leisure
- Adolescent Autonomy Checklist
- Becoming More Independent Self Assessment
- Independent Living Activities Skills
- Families in Transition Guide
- Families in Transition Guide (Spanish)
Agency Resources
- Transition Resources Easy Reference Guide Lists a variety of local support agencies.
- Orange County Community Resource Guide
- Orange County Strong Families 2-1-1
- By dialing 2-1-1, you reach a free, 24-hour information and referral helpline linking you to thousands of local health and human service programs in Orange County, CA. Staffed 24 hours per day by caring, experienced and trained specialists, and available anytime through our online resource database, 2-1-1 Orange County can help you connect with resources.
- Brochure for Area Board XI: California State Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Department of Rehabilitation Information
- Department of Rehabilitation FAQ
- Department of Rehabilitation website
- How to apply for services
- Department of Rehabilitation Online Application
- Department of Rehabilitation Consumer Handbook
- Dayle McIntosh Center is a consumer-driven organization serving all disabilities. Their mission is to advance empowerment and inclusion of all persons with disabilities. Two offices service over 500,000 people in Orange County and surrounding areas with disabilities.
- OC One Stop Center is designed to meet the needs of the employer and job seeker. These Centers are intended to provide a more coordinated, customer-friendly, locally driven workforce development system. Most of the services and resources are free due to federal funding; however, some services could be offered on a fee basis.
- Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC)
- RCOC Brochure
- RCOC FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
- Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC) - Description of Services
- RCOC Comfort Connections - Family Resource Center
- Adult Program Visitation Guide - This document is from the resource listed above and is a list of suggested questions that a Regional Center of Orange County consumer and/or parents might ask adult service providers when visiting adult day programs.
- Adult Agency Chart List of programs with contact information and types of services offered.
- Orange County Programs for Adults with Developmental Disabilities: Transition Planning Resource Directory
- The purpose of this directory is to acquaint students, consumers, parents, instructional staff, and service providers with post-school training options for adults with developmental disabilities.
- State Council on Developmental Disabilities The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) is established by state and federal law as an independent state agency to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families receive the services and supports they need. Consumers know best what supports and services they need to live independently and to actively participate in their communities. Through advocacy, capacity building and systemic change, SCDD works to achieve a consumer and family-based system of individualized services, supports, and other assistance.
- Local Office: 2000 E 4th St Ste 115, Santa Ana, CA 92705 Phone: (714) 558-4404
- SOY (Save Our Youth) is a violence prevention center serving at-risk youth in Costa Mesa. SOY's Academic and Scholarship program assists SOY members, grades 7th-12th, with homework.
- ICI Institute for Community Inclusion
- ICI strives to create a world where all people with disabilities are welcome and fully included in valued roles wherever they go, whether a school, workplace, volunteer group, home, or any other part of the community.
- Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.
- Braille Institute The Braille Institute provides education and counseling services for people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired. The Institute also has a talking book library, Braille and recording services, and low vision consultants.
- Disability Benefits 101
- (DB101) helps workers, job seekers, and service providers understand the connections between work and benefits. DB101 brings together rules for health coverage, benefit, and employment programs that people with disabilities use. The site has benefits planning calculators to use with all kinds of benefits planning strategies. DB101 calculators help with transitions to and from working while having a disability. Experts at DB101 will also respond to your questions on benefits.
Conservatorship Resources
- Conservatorship Information Superior Court of California County of Orange Information on Conservatorship. What is it? How to begin a Conservatorship? Where to file?
- Conservatorship Resources
- Limited Conservatorship Facts (State Council on Developmental Disabilities: Area Board XI Brochure)
- Handbook for Conservators (California Courts Self-Help Center) This handbook begins at the point where you have been appointed conservator of person, estate, or limited conservator of a person or estate. It is not a do-it-yourself handbook. It explains what is expected of you and suggests resources to help.
Student Resources
- Personal Learning Profile PPT_Template
- Department of Rehabilitation FAQ for Students
- Department of Rehabilitation Students Services
- NMUSD TPP Students Services
- Becoming 18 A Survival Guide for Teenagers
- Becoming 18 A Survival Guide for Teenagers Spanish
- Males 18 years of age need to register for selective service more information
- Selective Service online registration
- Register to vote
- To Obtain a Paper Voter Registration Application
- You can pick one up at your county elections office, library, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, or U.S. post office. It is important that your voter registration application be filled out completely and be postmarked or hand-delivered to your county elections office at least 15 days before the election
- Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities As a student with a disability, you need to be well informed about your rights and responsibilities, as well as the responsibilities postsecondary schools have to you. This information is provided in this pamphlet by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in the US Department of Education.
- Self-Directed IEP: 10-Step Guide for Students
- Student-Led IEP Template
- Student's Guide to the IEP
- Disability Disclosure The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities
- This workbook is designed for youth (and adults who work with them) to help learn about disability disclosure. The workbook helps young people make informed decisions about whether or not to disclose their disability and understand how that decision may impact education, employment, and social lives. Based on the premise that disclosure is a very personal decision, the Workbook helps young people think about and practice disclosing their disability.
- YO! Youth Organizing: Connecting, Organizing, and Educating Youth with Disabilities
- YO! assists youth with disabilities to learn about the disability rights movement, disability history, disability pride, disability organizing and advocacy. Youth with disabilities can build community with each other, develop a sense of history, leadership, a positive disability identity, and to organize and mobilize each other on issues that affect their lives.
- A new service - YO! runs a youth oriented toll-free information line that provides information, resources and opportunities for YOUTH with DISABILITES. The YO! Line is answered by youth with disabilities Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. We can provide information on IHSS, Education (Pre-K to Post Secondary), Self Esteem, Jobs, Disability History, Disability Rights, Leadership Opportunities throughout the State and much more.
- YO! Disabled & Proud is a project of The Californian Foundation for Independent Living Centers, 1234 H Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Banking - Hands on Banking Hands on Banking® is designed for both self-paced, individual learning and classroom use. There are resources to help you share this fun, free, and valuable program with groups of any size in four age groups.
Teacher Resources
- NASET Question and Answer on Transition
- Transition Resources Easy Reference Guide
- New CCC Priority Registration Requirements
- A Guide to Assessing College Readiness
- Skills to Pay the Bills - Dept of Labor
- Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
- As a student with a disability, you need to be well informed about your rights and responsibilities, as well as the responsibilities postsecondary schools have to you. This information is provided in this pamphlet by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in the US Department of Education.
- Guiding Questions for Postsecondary Goals
- Postsecondary Transition Planning and IEP Goals: Factors to Consider
- Study Guides and Strategies is a website with many resources on studying and learning to learn.
- Student-led IEPs: A Guide for Student Involvement
- This guide is a CEC publication and is designed to help teachers plan for and implement student-led IEPs.
- CEC Article: How to Help Student's Led Their IEP Meeting
- CEC Article: Student Led IEPS: Take the First Step
- Student-Led IEPs PPT for Teachers
- Student-Led IEP PPT (Sample 1)
- Student-Led IEP Template (Sample 2)
- Personal Learning Profile PPT_Template
- Career Preparation Curriculum The Teacher's Guide provides clear objectives, age-appropriate objectives, and measurable outcomes. Through a step-by-step process, students compile important personal, educational and career information, and incorporate this information into the Career Portfolio. The topics included in this curriculum Introduction to the Career Portfolio, Self-Assessment and Career Exploration, Job Seeking Skills, and Career Management and Personal Development.
- Teaching Networking Skills: Paving the Way to Jobs and Careers This manual from the Institute for Community Inclusion (U Mass Boston) provides a curriculum for students to practice and put into use networking skills such as: identifying their own network, approaching others, talking about their skills and interests, learning about what employers look for, exploring careers and job options, and exhibiting good business etiquette. Activities vary to accommodate diverse learning styles, and the trainer can select the lessons that best fit the needs of the group.
Parent Resources
- NCSEY - Parent Brief - Information on Promoting Effective Parent Involvement in Secondary Education and Transition
- Life After High School
- “The Journey to Life After High School: A Road Map for Parents of Children with Special Needs”
- This comprehensive guide examines the laws that impact a child with special needs, the importance of the individualized education plan, and the different paths a child with special needs can take after graduating from high school. “The Journey to Life after High School” not only provides the steps that need to be taken prior to graduation but also the preparation required for the new adult’s legal and medical rights.
- Life After High School Guide
- Abilitypath.org Planning Guide year by year
- Transition Resources Easy Reference Guide
- Regional Center of Orange County Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC) coordinates life-long services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The regional center is the first stop for individuals and families seeking to obtain local services and supports to help them live safely and with dignity in the community.
- Tips for Parents: Helping Youth Develop Soft Skills for Job Success
- Tips for Parents: Helping Youth Develop Soft Skills for Job Success Spanish
- Helping Youth Develop Soft Skills for Job Success (Podcast)
- The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth)
- Parent Timeline for Transition Activities
- Parent Timeline for Transition Actions Needed
- Independence Day: An Exercise for Parents
- Foster Independence - Suggestions
- Transition Planning Checklist for Students/Parents
- Transition Planning Checklist for Student and Parents Espanol
- Age of Majority Information for Parents
- Health Care Notebook
- This page includes tools, resources, and links to information that will assist families in successfully partnering with their child’s medical home.
- Kids and the Law: An A-to-Z Guide for Parents is designed to give parents a basic overview of some of the laws that apply to children—laws created, in many instances, to help safeguard your youngsters at school, in part-time jobs and at play. This updated version of the guide can also help you understand your rights and responsibilities as a parent and assist you in answering your children’s questions about the law
- Parenting Post Secondary Students with Disabilities this article addresses the role of parents as mentors, advocates, and guides.
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act for Colleges
- SSI and Self-Sufficiency Information Kit for Teachers, Parents, and Counselors
- SSA Starter Kit for children under 18 and adults The Disability Starter Kit will help you get ready for your disability interview or online application. Kits are available for adults and for children under age 18.
- The starter kits provide information about the specific documents and the information that we will request from you. We will ask for more details during your interview.
- The kits also provide general information about the disability programs and our decision-making process that can help take some of the mystery out of applying for disability benefits.
- California Family Empowerment Centers
- Team of Advocates for Special Kids, Inc. (Anaheim)
- The Parents’ Place Family Resource Center (San Gabriel/Pomona)
- Westside Family Resource and Empowerment Center (LA County)
- Family Resource Center Network of California website includes a listing of Family Support Sites
- California Career Center Resource Network-Education and Training Options
- Education, training, and life experiences you never thought about are waiting for you: start your exploration with options like apprenticeships and national service, then learn about California's college options
- OC ASPERGERS SUPPORT GROUP
- OC Aspergers Support Group With our great resources, activities and events, we help inform, educate and support families affected by Asperger’s and ultimately help improve the quality of life of all our members.
- Transportation/Mobility Questionnaire
- Affordable Housing
Contact Us
Terri Wert
Transition Services at Harper
425 E. 18th Street C-8
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Phone 949-515-5343
twert@nmusd.us
