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Youth in Transition Toolkit:

Youth in Transition Toolkit

  1. Minnesota’s Youth in Transition Framework
  2. Educate yourself
  3. Engage families
  4. Support youth
    1. My best life
    2. In(ter)dependent living
    3. Employment
    4. Postsecondary education and training
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My best life

Advocating for a best life

Leadership experiences

Has the youth been given opportunities to gain leadership skills?

Leadership isn't about a title or authority. It's about leading from where you are. Encourage youth to take leadership roles and learn leadership skills.

  • Awareness: Understand options for leadership experiences.
  • Exploration: Identify strengths, preferences, interests and needs related to leadership experiences.
  • Preparation: Explore leadership opportunities.
  • Implementation: Participate in leadership experiences.

Instruction in self-advocacy

LEARN: Develop your knowledge

Learn how to support youth in exploring leadership opportunities.

The Youth Leadership Toolkit (PDF) provides the fundamentals of meaningful youth engagement strategies. Created by the National Resource Center for Youth Development (NRCYD) in collaboration with FosterClub, the toolkit stems from the belief that youth should be involved in the design and implementation of programs, policies and practices that impact their lives. This toolkit was created for youth in out of home placements, former foster youth, and other youth in at-risk situations. However, most of the included topics are applicable to all students.

Inclusive youth leadership occurs when students with and without intellectual disabilities work together to lead and plan advocacy, awareness, and other inclusive activities throughout the school year.

Developed by Special Olympics Project UNIFY, Inclusive Youth Leadership Guidelines (PDF) is a guide that will help school staff achieve authentic inclusion within schools. It provides school staff with tools to help create the conditions necessary for youth to understand how to effectively lead and acquire the skills required for leadership.

The guide contains information about:

  • Characteristics and descriptors of youth leaders.
  • Indicators for adult allies who support and guide the youth.
  • Examples of “Social Inclusion in Action” to identify how the leadership characteristics are realized in an inclusive situation.
  • Examples at elementary, middle and high school levels.
  • Reflections that provide questions to identify if your school is at the “Novice,” “Emerging,” “Accomplished” or “Highly Inclusive” level, allowing school stakeholders to identify the school’s level of implementation.
  • Rubrics that provide a quick overview of each element of inclusive leadership.

DO: Work with youth

Find resources to help youth explore leadership opportunities.

Inclusive youth leadership occurs when students with and without intellectual disabilities work together to lead and plan advocacy, awareness, and other inclusive activities throughout the school year. Special Olympics has gathered resources to assist individuals who are beginning to implement inclusive youth leadership at their school (see the LEARN section above), and resources for more advanced leadership opportunities such as Youth Summits, Youth Leadership Experiences, and Inclusive Youth Leader Training.

Inclusive Youth Leadership

Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) involve over 20,000 Minnesota students annually as members. These organizations engage community and local businesses to help students understand career pathways while bringing relevance to the classroom that prepares students to be career and college ready. Student organizations also provide industry-based competitive events and leadership experiences at school, state and national levels. In addition, embedded student leadership development and career preparation experiences offer opportunities for students to develop 21st century skills that are focused on creativity, problem-solving, teamwork and goal setting.

CTSO available to Minnesota students, include:

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