Preparing Youth with Disabilities for the Workforce
ODEP works to influence national policy and promote effective workplace practices to ensure that today's — and tomorrow's — workforce engages all people, including people with disabilities. As a result, one important policy focus area is youth transitioning from school to adulthood and the world of work. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 enacted an extensive employment program for serving eligible youth – ages 14-24.
One of the ways ODEP works to influence national policy is through various initiatives. These initiatives for youth with disabilities include: Apprenticeship Inclusion Model, Guideposts for Success, Federal Partners in Transition, Policy Development Center, and SSI-Youth. Also, ODEP provides additional resources for Youth, Policymakers, Youth Service Professionals, and Families.
Resource Highlights
- Connecting Ticket to Work and Apprenticeships [PDF]
- Emerging Lessons for Inclusive Apprenticeship Programs: Managing Through the COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond [PDF]
- Funding Inclusive Apprenticeships: Strategies for Braiding, Blending, and Aligning Resources [PDF]
- Strengthening Supports for People with Disabilities in Pre-Apprenticeships Through Policy, Design, and Practice [PDF]
- Using Universal Design for Learning in Apprenticeship [PDF]