Idaho Transition Framework

Overview

The Idaho Transition Framework provides structure and cohesion to transition efforts, ensuring that youth with disabilities, their families, and community partners have access to the knowledge and skills needed for effective transition planning. The initiative is based on the belief that increased interagency collaboration will improve outcomes for these youth. Key principles of this interagency effort include:

  • Shared understanding of transition services
  • Student-driven transition planning process based on the student’s vision
  • Enhanced collaboration with families
  • Common goal of Competitive Integrated Employment for all
  • Shared communication practices to monitor student growth

Designed to guide youth through their transition to adulthood, the framework highlights six core outcome areas that serve as a roadmap for setting and achieving post-school goals. Each outcome is broken down into a set of benchmarks listed across age groups/levels to serve as guideposts. A list of activities and services to consider is included to provide youth, parents, and service providers with a starting point as they move through the transition planning process.

It is important to note that the work on this section is ongoing. ICIE is working closely with our partners to create resources that can be used by youth, families, and service providers in both school and community settings.

Outcomes

Self-determination

Youth will make personal decisions, set goals, and problem solve to build their desired life.

Postsecondary Training and Education

Youth will gain specialized skills to achieve their career and academic goals.

Independent Living Skills

Youth will develop skills and access resources to live independent, self-directed lives.

Self-advocacy

Youth will advocate for their personal rights related to education, employment, and daily life.

Career Development and Employment

Youth will secure, maintain, and advance in competitive integrated employment.

Community Engagement

Youth will engage in activities of choice in their communities, build meaningful relationships, and advocate for inclusion.

Benchmarks, Activities, and Services

Self-Determination

Empowering youth to make their own decisions, set goals, problem solve, and build the life they want.

Awareness

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Personal Needs and Preferences: Youth participate in activities that encourage them to express their preferences and interests.
    • Create opportunities for individual choice making
    • Complete an “All About Me” activity
    • Create or participate in role-playing scenarios to practice expressing personal needs and preferences
  • Basic Decision Making: Youth participate in making age-appropriate decisions related to their daily activities.
    • Practice making pros and cons lists to decision scenarios
    • Provide opportunities for daily choice making (e.g., food, clothing, activities, etc.)
    • Play group decision making games
  • Goal Setting: Youth identify strengths and areas of growth, problem solve and learn to set simple achievable goals.
    • Participate in meetings (i.e., IEP, 504, healthcare, etc.)
    • Set weekly goal challenges
    • Develop SMART goals lessons

Exploration

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Decision Making: Youth plan and participate in meetings, contributing their own perspectives and preferences to the decision-making process in daily activities, education, and health care.
    • Prepare for IEP or 504 meetings
    • Choose classes that support interests
    • Participate in mock meetings
  • Self Management: Youth develop strategies to work towards goals, reflect on progress, and adjust plans to achieve them.
    • Use progress tracking tools
    • Maintain a journal to reflect on progress, changes, and challenges
    • Learn and apply time management strategies
  • Goal Setting: Youth set and pursue short-term goals related to their education, career interests, and personal development, using a structured planning process.
    • Help students identify short-term and long-term goals that align with their aspirations
    • Participate in SMART Goal exercises
    • Complete and reflect on interest and strength assessments

Development

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Informed Decision Making: Youth assess input from a variety of sources to finalize and implement their postsecondary plan.
    • Advocate and apply for adult services
    • Engage in career exploration activities
    • Develop a detailed action plan for achieving postsecondary goals
  • Self-Management: Youth implement strategies to prioritize their time and balance responsibilities.
    • Practice using planners, digital tools, and scheduling techniques
    • Schedule own appointments and meetings
    • Create and manage goal charts
  • Goal Management: Youth regularly reflect on their goals, problem solve, and adjust plans to overcome challenges.
    • Hold regular meetings to reflect on goal progress
    • Maintain a journal to document goal progress and notes on necessary adjustments
    • Provide opportunities to practice problem-solving skills

Implementation

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Decision Making: Youth make autonomous decisions demonstrating control over their life choices and responsibilities.
    • Participate in workshops that focus on informed decision making
    • Engage in exercises that simulate real-life decision making scenarios
    • Visit local Center for Independent Learning (CIL)
  • Goal Attainment: Youth implement and adjust their personal and career plans, making independent decisions regarding their health care, education, employment, and life goals.
    • Create detailed action plans for personal and career goals including health care, education, and employment
    • Attend workshops on independent living skills
    • Schedule and run regular meetings to review progress on personal and career plans
  • Self-determined Life: Youth actively advocate for their needs and preferences ensuring they receive the necessary support to live the life they choose.
    • Develop a Person Centered Plan
    • Make choices on daily activities, food, attire, etc.
    • Build a network of supportive contacts in various settings

Self-Advocacy

Empowering youth to assert themselves, advocate for their rights, and seek accommodations.

Awareness

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Understanding Needs: Youth identify their personal needs and preferences in various settings.
    • Review IEP accommodations and identify how they can be used in various settings
    • Create a checklist for self-care activities
    • Take an interest inventory and share results
  • Understanding Rights: Youth learn about personal rights, responsibilities, and accommodations.
    • Implement voting systems for classroom decisions
    • Involve students in creating classroom rules
    • Work collaboratively in groups and build in choice making
  • Basic Advocacy Skills: Youth clearly and respectfully communicate their needs and ask for help.
    • State needs to friends, teacher, parents
    • Practice asking for help
    • Create checklist for self-care activities

Exploration

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Communication Skills: Youth develop assertive communication skills to clearly and respectfully advocate for themselves.
    • Assign peer leadership roles in small group activities
    • Practice student led meeting for person centered planning, IEP, 504, etc.
    • Encourage email communication to ask questions of teacher, parent, etc.
  • Disability Rights: Youth understand their rights and how to request reasonable accommodations available in various settings.
    • Invite guest speakers from Centers for Independent Living (CIL) or Disability Rights Idaho
    • Visit eXploreWork for online activities to improve students’ self-advocacy skills
    • Speak up at medical appointments
  • Advocacy Skills: Youth practice advocacy that promotes inclusion and disability awareness within their community.
    • Learn and use “I” statements
    • Create a slide for student led meeting about how they advocate for themselves at school
    • View the Moving On Binder

Development

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Self-advocacy Skills: Youth enhance their self-advocacy skills by navigating complex systems and advocating for their needs effectively.
    • Map support circle
    • Work in Moving On Binder
    • Assign a project that requires student to advocate for a cause
  • Accessing Accommodations: Youth identify and request disability-related accommodations in various settings.
    • Introduce Job Accommodations Network
    • Map community services in local area
    • Engage in interactive decision making games
  • Preparation for Transition: Youth lead their transition planning by advocating for services and activities that will lead to post-school success.
    • Review IEP and/or 504 and identify rights
    • Learn how educational accommodations are different in high school and postsecondary settings
    • Complete person centered planning workshop

Implementation

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Utilizing Accommodations: Youth effectively request and utilize accommodations and support services to achieve their personal and professional goals.
    • Research available accommodations and support services
    • Request accommodations effectively and utilize accommodations
    • Access disability services
  • Effective Self-advocacy: Youth confidently advocate for their needs and rights in various settings demonstrating self-awareness and assertiveness.
    • Advocate across settings and take the lead in conversations
    • Oversee disability documentation and paperwork
    • Exercise right to vote
  • Advocacy Leadership: Youth take leadership roles in advocating for themselves and others and influence positive changes in their communities.
    • Participate in disability rights organizations or initiatives
    • Promote inclusion and accessibility through leadership roles
    • Attend disability rights workshops

Postsecondary Training and Education

Supporting youth to plan for and engage in postsecondary training and/or education beyond high school.

Awareness

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Academic Skills: Youth develop foundational academic work habits.
    • Develop organizational skills (i.e., planners, to-do lists, digital tools, etc.)
    • Revise work based on feedback
    • Prioritize activities to create schedules
  • Exploring Postsecondary Options: Youth gain a basic understanding of various postsecondary education and training opportunities.
    • Complete First Steps online or in person course
    • Identify and complete career pathway workshops
    • Tour school district CTE programs
  • Postsecondary Skills: Youth explore skills and requirements necessary for their postsecondary interests.
    • Develop a presentation on a career of interest
    • Complete interactive interviews with career professionals
    • Engage in simulations of job tasks and responsibilities

Exploration

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Academic and Vocational Planning: Youth work with advisors to identify resources, requirements, coursework and activities that align with their postsecondary plans.
    • Complete academic goal setting activities and course of study alignment to reach post school goal
    • Explore and apply for services to support goals (i.e., Vocational Rehabilitation, Centers for Independent Living, TRIO, Fast Forward, Educational Access Centers, College Prep Programs, etc.)
    • Engage in scholarship and financial aid sessions
  • Research Postsecondary Training and Education Options: Youth actively research various postsecondary training and education programs specific to their interests.
    • Explore inclusive postsecondary education programs
    • Attend virtual or in-person educational/training institution tours, fairs, information sessions, etc.
    • Research program entrance requirements
  • Preparation for Training: Youth gain hands-on experience to build skills, determine their interest in specific training programs, and begin developing a portfolio.
    • Participate in and explore Work-Based Learning Experiences (e.g., job shadowing, paid/unpaid internships, registered apprenticeship)
    • Engage in project-based learning through simulatation of real-world tasks and skills relevant to students’ chosen fields
    • Develop a portfolio of work and/or skills

Development

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Application and Enrollment Process: Youth navigate postsecondary application and enrollment processes.
    • Create application checklist and deadlines calendar
    • Attend application practice and review workshops
    • Complete financial aid and/or scholarship applications
  • Support Services Access: Youth access postsecondary training and education support services.
    • Complete K-12 vs postsecondary accommodations training
    • Research application and eligibility requirements for postsecondary disability services
    • Attend in interactive question and answer sessions
  • Transition Planning: Youth manage a detailed transition plan that outlines necessary training and/or education for their career path.
    • Organize and track activities from transition plan
    • Utilize goal setting and tracking activities
    • Create and practice schedules that balance academic work, personal commitments, and self-care

Implementation

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Support Utilization: Youth advocate to utilize necessary support services to meet postsecondary training and/or education goals.
    • Communicate your need for accommodations and work with support services to advocate for yourself
    • Evaluate the need for and write or communicate a disability disclosure script
    • Attend resource appointments to gain and/or maintain services
  • Program Completion: Youth complete their degree, certification, and/or training successfully.
    • Attend regular check-ins with supports
    • Engage in internships
    • Complete industry certifications
  • Career Integration: Youth effectively integrate their postsecondary training and/or education into their careers.
    • Access career services and job placement assistance
    • Engage in resume building workshops
    • Participate in on-the-job training

Career Development and Employment

Engaging youth in career planning and activities to develop job-specific skills and essential workplace competencies necessary for obtaining competitive integrated employment.

Awareness

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Exploring Interests: Youth identify their strengths and interests and begin to understand how these translate into potential career paths.
    • Develop career interest projects
    • Engage in interactive interviews and invite in career guest speakers
    • Complete career interest inventories
  • Career Exploration: Youth participate in activities to explore careers.
    • Write career research projects
    • Complete career exploration online resources (e.g., O*Net, My Next Move, NextSteps Idaho, etc.)
    • Complete interactive interviews with guest speakers and community resource partners
  • Workplace Readiness: Youth identify and practice foundational workplace skills.
    • Role-play or use direct instruction for problem solving and conflict resolution instruction
    • Use planning tools like organizer, calendar, etc.
    • Develop time management activities/develop homework schedule

Exploration

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Academic and Career Goals: Youth work with school counselors or career advisors to identify resources that support their career aspirations.
    • Attend SMART goal workshops
    • Engage in high school course planning
    • Complete academic progress tracking over time
  • Career Exploration and Planning: Youth actively explore specific career interests and start to formulate a career plan.
    • Engage in job shadowing with reflection activities
    • Complete work based learning experiences
    • Develop career-focused research projects and/or college and career research
  • Workplace Readiness: Youth participate in workplace experiences that focus on building essential skills.
    • Attend career specific/technical skills workshops
    • Engage in durable skills training
    • Complete job applications, cover letters, and resume

Development

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Support Services: Youth access available services to assist in their job search and retention.
    • Collaborate with service providers during transition planning
    • Attend Support Services Fair
    • Attend Vocational Rehabilitation information sessions
  • Career Decision Making and Planning: Youth finalize their career path choices with support and establish detailed postsecondary plans.
    • Engage in career assessments, counseling, and decision making workshops
    • Attend career panels, Q&A sessions, interactive interviews, etc.
    • Participate in interest and aptitude assessments
  • Employment Readiness: Youth gain practical job seeking and workplace readiness skills.
    • Attend workplace safety training
    • Engage in job simulation exercises, role-play, job readiness training
    • Participate in professional training in workplace expectations (i.e., etiquette, communication, and behavior)

Implementation

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Securing Employment: Youth successfully obtain employment in competitive integrated settings.
    • Use secure responsible methods of digital communication
    • Develop a customized resume and/or cover letter
    • Attend job fairs
  • Job Retention: Youth maintain competitive integrated employment and utilize support services when needed.
    • Build on workplace communication skills
    • Prepare for performance reviews
    • Adjust professional behavior based on feedback
  • Career Advancement: Youth engage in ongoing education, training, and/or professional development to ensure long-term career growth.
    • Engage in professional development
    • Enroll in continuing education courses
    • Engage in job rotation and cross-training

Independent Living

Supporting youth to develop the skills needed to live independently, such as managing finances, maintaining a household, managing their mental and physical health, and accessing resources.

Awareness

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Basic Self-care: Youth learn and practice basic self-care skills.
    • Create a hygiene routine chart for hand washing, brushing teeth and bathing
    • Practice making simple recipes and kitchen safety skills
    • Participate in self-care workshops
  • Introduction to Money Management: Youth are introduced to basic money management concepts.
    • Play money games
    • Discuss needs vs. wants
    • Role-play shopping scenarios
  • Home Safety: Youth develop an understanding of basic home safety practices.
    • Perform simple household tasks
    • Identify household hazards and practice emergency drills
    • Learn first aid basics

Exploration

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Advanced Self-care: Youth demonstrate self-care skills, manage daily routines, and maintain mental and physical health.
    • Plan and prepare meals
    • Maintain personal hygiene
    • Practice basic household task (e.g., laundry, mop, sweep, dishes, etc.) skills
  • Financial Literacy: Youth engage in financial literacy activities.
    • Create a personal budget
    • Open a savings account
    • Practice online banking and budgeting tools
  • Household Management: Youth learn and practice household management tasks and basic home maintenance.
    • Organize personal space
    • Practice meal prep
    • Learn basic home repairs

Development

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Independent Living Skills: Youth increase independence in self care, daily routines, household management, mental and physical health.
    • Create a transition plan
    • Begin making own appointments
    • Develop a monthly budget
  • Financial Skills: Youth make financial decisions and manage a budget.
    • Open a checking account
    • Practice budgeting
    • Attend financial literacy classes
  • Resource Access: Youth learn how to access independent living resources and support services.
    • Document and safely store important medical information
    • Access social services
    • Learn about disability services

Implementation

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Self-sufficiency: Youth access available resources and implement their independent or interdependent living plan.
    • Create a living budget
    • Manage personal and mental health
    • Plan for emergencies
  • Financial Planning: Youth apply their financial management skills to support their independent living plan.
    • Manage checking account
    • Set financial goals
    • Track and plan expenses
  • Personal Fulfillment: Youth pursue goals that contribute to personal fulfillment and a balanced lifestyle.
    • Pursue new hobby
    • Develop a fitness routine
    • Take continuing education classes of interest

Community Engagement

Encouraging youth to participate in their communities, fostering a sense of belonging and contribution.

Awareness

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Community Exploration: Youth learn about their community and participate in activities.
    • Attend school performances
    • Attend community events
    • Volunteer for projects
  • Building Relationships: Youth identify how to safely develop and maintain friendships and social connections.
    • Join a school club
    • Attend after-school programs
    • Join group classes
  • Awareness of Inclusion: Youth learn about the importance of inclusion and diversity, understanding how everyone can contribute to their community in unique ways.
    • Read books on diversity
    • Learn about disability awareness
    • Celebrate cultural holidays

Exploration

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Community Navigation: Youth learn about community navigation resources and increase their level of independence and involvement.
    • Participate in a bike safety class
    • Use personal bike, skateboard, scooter for transportation
    • Practice using maps and/or Google Maps
  • Active Participation: Youth engage in activities that align with their interests, contributing to their communities and gaining a sense of belonging.
    • Join a school club
    • Engage in local events
    • Complete leisure interest inventory
  • Developing Social Skills: Youth develop their social skills in person and online, learning how to communicate effectively, and build appropriate and meaningful relationships with peers and community members.
    • Attend group classes (e.g., fitness, art, theater, etc.)
    • Practice conversation skills (e.g., making phone calls, sending emails, texts, scheduling appointments, etc.)
    • Participate in team-building activities

Development

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Civic Responsibility: Youth engage in civic duties and promote accessibility and acceptance for all individuals.
    • Enroll in a government class
    • Read through the 18 In Idaho Website
    • Attend “Tools for Life Fair” or local transition fair to learn about adult services
  • Community Networking: Youth build a network of connections in person and online, expanding their opportunities for engagement and involvement.
    • Volunteer for local organizations
    • Attend community fairs
    • Join social clubs
  • Community Navigation: Youth utilize community navigation resources for independence and involvement.
    • Learn public transportation and/or ride share options
    • Participate in curriculum based field trips (e.g., shopping, banking, swimming, etc.)
    • Use Google maps for route planning with multiple stops

Implementation

Benchmarks with Activities

  • Building Lasting Relationships: Youth enhance long-term relationships and professional networks to support a sense of purpose and belonging in their community.
    • Participate in local community education or Parks and Recreation classes
    • Join professional or civic organizations
    • Participate in local community groups of interest (e.g., gaming, sports, arts, music, etc.)
  • Meaningful Engagement: Youth engage in sustained and meaningful community activities that reflect their personal interests and values.
    • Attend workshops regularly
    • Volunteer for a cause
    • Participate in community arts
  • Community Inclusion: Youth engage in inclusive activities within their communities and workplaces.
    • Obtain an application for scholarships to participate in adult community activities/groups (e.g., YMCA, Parks and Recreation)
    • Participate in curriculum based field trips (e.g., shopping, banking, swimming, etc.)
    • Make contact with Disability Rights Idaho