Post-Secondary Education, Employment & Independent Living.
What we Do.
We are committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have full access to meaningful post-secondary education, training, and competitive integrated employment. Through innovative tools, targeted training, and person-driven approaches, we help young adults and the professionals who support them plan for a thriving future. We work in collaboration with students, families, educators, agencies, and institutions of higher education to reimagine what transition to quality adulthood can and should look like.
At the core of this work is Transition CA, a statewide initiative advancing inclusive practices in transition planning and building capacity across systems. Our work centers on assuring the voice and goals of the individual while supporting collaborative planning that leads to real-life outcomes in collaboration with community partners
How We Do It.
Person-Driven Planning.
We equip educators, providers, and families with tools and strategies to center transition planning around the individual’s strengths, preferences, and goals while identifying and promoting access to needed services & supports.
Life-Care Portfolio.
We provide training and resources for building a personalized toolkit (electronic or hard copy) meant to provide an organized approach to sharing critical life information with designated family member(s)/ Primary Caregivers for early childhood through adult life. Contents include medical, financial, housing, transportation, education, employment, community resources, disability services, and legal documents.
Support Inclusive Post-Secondary Education.
We promote access to college, career training, and independent living programs for students with disabilities by: 1) providing PSE programming information for universities, community colleges, adult education, and other vocational training programs, 2) identifying funding sources, and 3) supporting inclusive practices across California’s higher education institutions.
Partner with PK–12 Schools on Transition Planning
We work cooperatively with school districts and other PK-12 providers to embed high-quality transition planning into the IEP process, strengthen career and college readiness, and create inclusive pathways to adulthood that begin early and are sustained through graduation. Additionally, provide support to Adult Transition Programs (ATP 18-22) in connecting students and families to services and programming options following exit from the school district.
Prepare for Competitive Integrated Employment.
We partner with individuals with disabilities (IWD) with a wide range of disabilities, families, education, and workforce systems to increase opportunities for IWD to prepare for careers, participate in work-based learning, secure employment in integrated settings, while earning a competitive wage, and receiving the necessary supports to succeed in their jobs.
Build Cross-Agency Collaboration.
We facilitate collaboration among schools, agencies, families, and employers to improve coordination and ensure seamless transitions from school to adulthood. This, in part, is accomplished through the operation of the Orange County Local Partnership Agreement (OCLPA) Steering Committee and its Work Teams.
Lead Statewide Innovation through Transition CA.
We serve as a statewide hub for professional development, community building, systems change, and implementation support around inclusive transition programming.
