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Youth in Transition Toolkit:

Youth in Transition Toolkit

  1. Educate yourself
  2. Engage families
  3. Support youth
    1. My best life
    2. Independent living
    3. Employment
    4. Postsecondary education and training
2

Independent living

Daily life

Digital literacy

Digital literacy is having the skills to communicate and access information through digital technologies, including devices, internet platforms and social media.

Does the youth:

  • Know how to use personal devices such as computers and tablets, and use the devices as independently as possible?
  • Have a personal email account that they manage independently, including sending and responding to emails in a professional manner?
  • Know what social media is and how to use it, including the benefits and consequences?

Computer-related technology

  • Awareness: Understand different types of devices (such as a laptop, personal computer and tablet) and how to use them.
  • Exploration: Identify personal strengths, preferences, interests and needs in using computer-related technology.
  • Preparation: Practice using computer-related technology at home, school and in the community.
  • Implementation: Use computer-related technology as independently as possible.

Email

  • Awareness: Understand how to send and respond to emails in a professional manner.
  • Exploration: Identify personal strengths, preferences, interests and needs related to email.
  • Preparation: Practice sending and responding to email.
  • Implementation: Send and respond to email as independently as possible.

Social media

  • Awareness: Understand the use of social media, including what it is, how to create a personal "online brand," and potential benefits and consequences of social media.
  • Exploration: Identify personal strengths, preferences, interests and needs related to the use of social media.
  • Preparation: Practice using social media.
  • Implementation: Use social media as independently as possible.

Workplace readiness training

Lightbulb LEARN

LEARN: Develop your knowledge

Learn how to support youth in developing digital literacy.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education offers the digital literacy and citizenship curriculum, which emphasizes ways youth can leverage the positive aspects of digital media while protecting themselves and making socially responsible, ethical decisions.

Resources DO

DO: Work with youth

Find resources to help youth develop digital literacy.

Use the digital citizenship curriculum from Common Sense Education to help youth participate fully in their communities and make smart choices online.

Digital citizenship curriculum webpage from Common Sense Education
Digital citizenship

Applied digital skills from Google provides resources on how to teach and learn practical digital skills.

Digital citizenship for youth with IDD from the Family and Youth Services Bureau teaches youth to identify online risks and develop healthy online relationships.

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