About HS/HT
Guideposts
The HS/HT Guideposts are a statement of principals that provide direction for young people transitioning into adulthood. They encompass five major areas, based upon research, that are proven to help youth with disabilities prepare for their future.
- School Based Preparatory Experiences
Preparatory experiences include the activities and services the students partake in while at the program site and at school settings. These experiences are designed to prepare students to perform at optimal levels in all education settings. They are to be conducted in a friendly and safe environment where youth feel accepted and nurtured by staff. Some examples of preparatory experiences are:- Career assessments including interest inventories and formal/informal vocational assessments
- Learning environments that are small and safe, including extra supports such as tutoring, as necessary
- Graduation standards that include options
- Knowledge of reasonable accommodations that they can request and control in educational settings
- Support by highly qualified transitional support staff that may or may not be school staff.
- Career Preparation & Work-Based Learning Experiences
Work-based experiences create an opportunity for the student to learn about workplace culture and expectations and to make what they are learning in school more meaningful through real-world applications. They also provide a forum for youth to learn about disability disclosure and to develop self-advocacy ability regarding their on-the-job support and accommodation needs. Some examples of work-based experiences are:- Site visits to diverse corporate locations
- Post secondary education visits and information
- Training designed to improve job-seeking skills and work-place basic skills (sometimes called “soft skills”)
- Job shadowing opportunities
- Unpaid or paid internships
- Entrepreneur activities
- Youth Development & Leadership
Youth development and leadership activities help students become self-sufficient and productive members of society. Structured relationships with adults and peer-centered activities broaden personal leadership skills and positive social behaviors. Examples of ideal activities are:- Mentoring, which provides a structured relationship with an adult in an formal or informal setting
- Peer-to-peer mentoring opportunities
- Self-advocacy training
- Youth development, community service and service learning activities
- Connecting Activities
Connecting activities for HS/HT students are vital to the program, ensuring that the participants transition properly into the next phase of their lives. The focus is on services and activities requiring support from other organizations. Here are a few examples of those types of activities:- Tutoring
- Assistive Technology
- Transportation
- Post Program Support Systems
- Financial Planning
- Family Involvement & Support
Parents and caregivers play a vital role in transitioning the student to the next phase of his or her life. These students not only need their primary caregivers, but also the support of their whole family and other caring adults who understand the student's disability and how it affects his or her education, employment or daily living activities. Here are a few ways families can get involved to facilitate a positive outcome for the student:- Keep high expectations for the student, building on his or her strengths, interests and needs
- Give the student access to information about higher education, employment and community resources
- Talk to school officials and community partners about planning the transition process
- Stay knowledgeable about the rights and responsibilities under disability-related legislation
- Communicate with medical, professional and peer support networks
These evidence-based guideposts illustrate what youth need to transition to adulthood successfully. The activities are recommended ways to expose HS/HT students to a vast amount of resources while promoting the transition process. It is important that each student be involved in every guidepost to best prepare for his or her future.
* Adapted from The Guideposts for Success, National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth.
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