Transition: Education Resources
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“What’s New in the 2020 ISBE Parent Guide on Understanding Special Education in Illinois?”
Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center provides a summary of the key updates in the Illinois State Board of Education’s 2020 Parent Guide on Special Education.
The U.S. Department of Education Department provides this transition guide to help students with disabilities and their families understand the years-long process and the options available to them as they prepare to leave public education.
The guide addresses transition planning, transition services and requirements, education and employment options for students and youth with disabilities and how to support the decisions made by students and youth with disabilities.
Advocating for LGBTQ Students With Disabilities
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students with disabilities face unique challenges as a result of their disability status and potential bias related to their sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression. Educators, counselors, parents/guardians and other adult allies play an important role in ensuring the safety, inclusion and well-being of these students.
This Human Rights Campaign Foundation guide provides educators and parents/guardians an overview of the rights of LGBTQ students with disabilities as well as actionable recommendations on how to best support them.
Bilingual Parents Video Library
The Illinois Resource Center has put together a library of videos for bilingual parents with videos in French, Tagalog, Urdu, Arabic, Polish, Spanish and English.
Each video showcases subjects and information relevant to parents, caretakers and community members, such as the role of Bilingual Parent Advisory Committees, financial aid for college, tenant rights, multilingual student rights and more.
Center on Technology and Disability Family Portal
The Center on Technology and Disability Family Portal provides information about assistive technology devices and services to help parents and caregivers support their children in reaching their full potential. Learn more about how AT devices can help your child complete classroom activities and homework and promote a positive, inclusive school experience.
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by advancing innovative research and improving quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis.
The website includes the ability to search by zip code or location to find local resources and organizations that support people living with paralysis at www.christopherreeve.org/get-support/resources-in-your-area.
Information about college scholarships available to students with disabilities.
During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, individualized education program (IEP) teams have a unique educational opportunity to create meaningful distance learning activities at home for transition-age students. The PACER Center provides this handout for how parents can help their children practice and learn new skills to prepare for adulthood.
DSCC and Illinois LEND’s Transition Resources for Hispanic Teens in the Chicago Area
The transition to adulthood can be a challenging time for both adolescents and their parents. These challenges can be more difficult when the adolescent has a disability.
Illinois LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities) and the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) partnered to provide helpful information about the unique challenges Hispanic families can face during the transition to adulthood. This resource list is aimed at transition-age teenagers and their families in the Chicago area:
Transition Resources for Hispanic Teens (English)
Transition Resources for Hispanic Teens (Spanish)
DSCC’s Paying for College Tip Sheet
The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) created this tip sheet to help youth with special healthcare needs and their families learn more about available resources to help pay for college. The tip sheet includes details about possible funding sources and scholarship opportunities:
Paying for College tip sheet in English
Paying for Collect tip sheet in Spanish (Coming soon)