Supporting students with disabilities during the transition to adulthood is most effective when educators stay connected to high-quality resources and supports. National organizations offer tools that help teachers understand best practices in transition planning, from employment preparation to independent living skills. Explore the websites listed below for strategies, materials, and training opportunities that will strengthen your transition programming.
The resources below will also help you stay informed on evolving policies, supports, and inclusive postsecondary opportunities. Whether you are developing transition IEP goals, coordinating work-based learning, or helping students explore postsecondary options, these national agencies offer reliable guidance. Integrating these tools ensures that students with disabilities receive the support they need to thrive in adulthood.
The list below includes key agencies and online supports. Use it as a starting point to build your own teaching toolkit.
- Boston Children’s Hospital — Transition planning supports for youth with complex medical needs, preparing for adult health care systems.
- Charting the LifeCourse — Planning tools and frameworks that help individuals with disabilities and their families map goals across the lifespan.
- Center on Community Living and Careers (CCLC) — Supports transition, employment, and community living through training, resources, and technical assistance for educators and families.
- Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT) — A division of the Council on Exceptional Children (CEC) that promotes effective transition services through research, professional standards, and educator support.
- Florida Youth to Adult Transition (FLY2AT) — Health-care transition tools and guidance for youth with disabilities moving from pediatric to adult medical systems.
- Job Accommodation Network (JAN) — Free, expert guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment rights.
- National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C) — Evidence-based practices, tools, and training to improve postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities.
- PACER Center — Family-friendly transition resources on employment, education, housing, and self-advocacy.
- Transition Coalition — Professional development, online courses, and transition planning resources for educators.
- Transition Tennessee — Free, high-quality online training modules, toolkits, and resources to support educators, families, and students in all aspects of transition planning from school to adulthood.