Youth in Transition Toolkit:
Planning allows youth to establish goals and identify steps to reach those goals.
Youth may use various planning documents from different services and programs, especially while they're in school. The key is to ensure that planning is driven by what's important to (and for) the youth. It's also helpful to coordinate the plans and save them in a central location.
Instruction in self-advocacy
Planning for a best life includes use of school-supported plans, employment plans and waiver plans. These plans can be saved and shared through My Vault.
School-supported plans include:
Youth eligible for vocational rehabilitation will work with a Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) counselor to complete an employment plan that lists a job goal and the services that will be provided to help the youth achieve that goal. Read about VRS student career services and State Services for the Blind from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Youth can use My Vault to save and share planning documents. Help youth create their own My Vault accounts, using their own email addresses (not school email addresses, which will end when they graduate). If the youth doesn't have their own email address, assign "homework" that involves parents.
Share My Vault: How to create an account guide (PDF) with parents and ask them to help their youth create a My Vault account.
To learn more about My Vault, watch the video below and check out Using My Vault to support people.
I get to decide is a My Vault activity that helps youth learn about their right to control their own life. The activity features a short animated video on rights and then a series of questions about informed choice.