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Youth in Transition Toolkit:

1

Transition framework

Learning expectations

Review a summary of transition planning learning domains and the expected progression within each domain.

Minnesota's learning domains set learning expectations for consistent, high-quality transition programming in the state. Each domain features specific learning stages to support success.

Learning stages include:

  • Awareness: Understand the topics
  • Exploration: Discover strengths, preferences, interests and needs related to the topic
  • Preparation: Practice skills, make decisions and get ready for success within the topic
  • Implementation: Use skills within the topic

Below, explore the four domains and topics and learning stages within each domain — and see how to apply the learning domains to Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS). 

For tools and resources to help you apply the framework, check out the support youth section of the toolkit.

Help youth and families set a vision for what their best life as an adult looks like. Ask: What do they see themselves doing? Where do they want to live? How much will it cost? Then introduce core concepts and tools that will help them build their best lives. This domain establishes the foundation for the other domains.

Learning stages and topics

Awareness: Understand best life concepts and tools to support transition planning. 

Exploration: Identify the youth's strengths, interests, preferences and needs to support their best life vision.   

Preparation: Use tools and strategies that build a foundation for independent living, employment, and postsecondary education or training.  

Implementation: Youth applies skills in their everyday life. 

Self-awareness

  • My strengths, interests, preferences and needs
  • My resources (formal and informal)
  • My team (people who can help me create my best life vision)

Life vision

  • My best life vision
  • Budget for my best life
  • Connection to independent living, employment, and postsecondary education and training

 Advocating for my vision

  • Self-determination and advocacy basics
  • Rights basics
  • Advocating with loved ones and helpers

Planning for a good life

  • Person-centered planning concepts
  • Personal learning plan
  • Individualized Education Program (IEP)
  • 504 plan
  • VRS/SSB employment plan
  • Waiver plan

Tools introduction

  • Charting the LifeCourse
  • Disability Hub MN, including toolkits and My Vault

Independent living, even with supports, involves many skills. Ensure youth and their families understand their options and have the skills they need to meet their goals. Also help youth see how to build connections and make meaningful contributions so they become valued members of the community. 

Learning stages and topics

Awareness: Understand independent living concepts.

Exploration: Learn how independent living concepts relate to strengths, interests, preferences and needs.

Preparation: Practice skills, make decisions and get ready to enter into independent living. 

Implementation: Use skills in independent living settings. 

Daily life

  • Home management
  • Nutrition and meal preparation
  • Transportation
  • Clothing care
  • Appointment management
  • Telephone use and etiquette
  • Digital literacy
  • Recreation and leisure

Community living

  • Home
  • Transportation

Money

  • Income sources
  • Money management

Healthy living

  • Physical and mental well-being
  • Health care and benefits
  • Relationships and sexuality
  • Parenting skills

Advocacy, engagement and supports

  • Self-advocacy for independent living
  • Assistive technology
  • Decision making 
  • Civic responsibility
  • Services and supports

As you help youth and families set a vision for what their best life looks like, make sure to talk about employment.

Help youth define what meaningful work means to them and launch them on the path to get it. If there are concerns about benefits, show them how benefits and work can go together to build the future they want.

Learning stages and topics

Awareness: Understand employment concepts.

Exploration: Learn how employment concepts relate to personal interests and strengths.

Preparation: Practice skills, make decisions and get ready to enter into employment. 

Implementation: Use skills in employment. 

Career exploration

  • Self-awareness of strengths, interests, preferences, and needs
  • Occupations or career possibilities that match strengths, interests, preferences, and needs

Work-based learning

  • Real work experiences

Benefits planning

  • Work and benefits
  • Resources and tools to use
  • How to manage benefits while working

Managing the job process

  • Job search strategies
  • Interview skills
  • Applying for work
  • How to advance at work
  • How to leave a job

Foundational skills

  • Job readiness
  • Work ethics
  • Hygiene
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Communication skills

Advocacy and supports in employment

  • Self-advocacy in the workplace
  • Disability disclosure
  • Accommodations
  • Work and benefits
  • Mentoring experiences
  • Leadership
  • Employment services and supports

Help youth identify continued education and training options that will help them reach their goals. Then, show them how to access the education or training that will prepare them to succeed.

Learning stages and topics

Awareness: Understand postsecondary education and training concepts. 

Exploration: Learn how postsecondary concepts relate to strengths, interests, preferences and needs.

Preparation: Practice skills, make decisions and get ready to enter into postsecondary education or training. 

Implementation: Use skills in postsecondary education or training settings.

Postsecondary education and training options

  • PSEO and concurrent enrollment
  • Certification programs
  • Apprenticeship programs
  • Degree programs
  • Military opportunities
  • Community education

Enrollment

  • Entrance exams
  • Applications
  • Essays and resumes
  • Financial aid

Skills for success in postsecondary education and training

  • Learning strategies
  • Study skills
  • Test-taking skills
  • Organization
  • Time management

Self-advocacy in postsecondary education and training settings

  • Accommodations, modifications and assistive technology
  • On-campus supports
  • Rights and responsibilities
  • Other services and supports

Pre-ETS services include:

Career exploration

  • Self-awareness of strengths, interests, preferences and needs
  • Occupations or career possibilities that match strengths, interests, preferences and needs

Career exploration

  • Work-based learning experiences

Postsecondary education and training options

  • PSEO and concurrent enrollment
  • Certification programs
  • Apprenticeship programs
  • Degree programs
  • Military
  • Community education

Enrollment

  • Exams
  • Applications
  • Essays and resumes
  • Financial aid

Skills for success in postsecondary education and training

  • Learning strategies
  • Study skills
  • Test taking skills
  • Organization
  • Time management

Money

  • Income sources
  • Money management

Daily life

  • Home management
  • Nutrition and meal preparation
  • Transportation
  • Clothing care
  • Appointment management
  • Telephone use and etiquette
  • Digital literacy
  • Recreation and leisure

Healthy living

  • Physical and mental well-being
  • Health care and benefits
  • Relationships and sexuality
  • Parenting skills

Managing the job process

  • Job search strategies
  • Interview skills
  • Applying for work
  • How to advance at work
  • How to leave a job

Foundational skills

  • Job readiness
  • Work ethics
  • Hygiene
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Communication skills

Self-awareness

  • My strengths, interests, preferences and needs
  • My resources (formal and informal)
  • My team (people who can help me create my best life vision)

Life vision

  • My best life vision
  • Budget for my best life
  • Connection to independent living, employment, and postsecondary education and training

Advocating for my vision

  • Self-determination and advocacy basics
  • Rights basics
  • Advocating with loved ones and helpers

Planning for a good life

  • Person-centered planning concepts
  • Personal learning plan
  • Individualized Education Program (IEP)
  • 504 plan
  • VRS/SSB employment plan
  • Waiver plan

Advocacy, engagement and supports for independent living

  • Self-advocacy for independent living
  • Assistive technology
  • Decision making
  • Civic responsibility
  • Services and supports

Advocacy and supports in employment

  • Self-advocacy in the workplace
  • Disability disclosure
  • Accommodations
  • Work and benefits
  • Mentoring experiences
  • Leadership
  • Employment services and supports

Self-advocacy in postsecondary education and training settings

  • Accommodations, modifications and assistive technology
  • On-campus supports
  • Rights and responsibilities
  • Other services and supports
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