VideoExternalNationalParent / Guardian
PACER National Parent Center
What Is Transition Planning, Really?
A short, calm explainer for families hearing 'transition plan' for the first time.
Transition Planning Basics
6 min watch middle, 9, 10
The Resource Library
A Curated Knowledge Hub for the Transition Years.
Videos, podcasts, books, assessments, online tools, downloadable worksheets, and Connecticut-specific agency contacts — organized by audience, topic, and how much time you have. Save what matters, build collections, and connect resources straight to a student's pathway plan.
Ten Core Categories
Tap a category to filter the library. Each one is curated for the questions families, students, and educators actually ask.
Featured This Week
Editors' picks
VideoExternalNationalStudent
CPIR Center
Inside a Student-Led PPT Meeting
Watch a real student lead her own planning meeting. The shift is quiet and total.
IEP & PPT Meeting SupportStudent Self-Advocacy
9 min watch 10, 11, 12
Online ToolExternalNationalStudent
U.S. Department of Labor
O*net Interest Profiler
Free 60-question inventory that suggests careers matching your interests.
Career Exploration
20 min 9, 10, 11, 12, 18-22
Online ToolExternalNationalStudent
Think College
Think College: Inclusive Postsecondary Programs
Searchable directory of college programs for students with intellectual disability.
Postsecondary Education & Training
20 min 11, 12, 18-22
AssessmentExternalNationalStudent
Casey Family Programs
Casey Life Skills Assessment
Free assessment covering money, daily living, work, education, and relationships.
Independent Living Skills
45 min 10, 11, 12, 18-22
AgencyExternalConnecticutParent / Guardian
CT State Department of Education
Connecticut Secondary Transition Resources
The official CSDE hub for secondary transition guidance, forms, and trainings.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesTransition Planning Basics
Reference
Videos
7 resources
VideoExternalNationalParent / Guardian
PACER National Parent Center
What Is Transition Planning, Really?
A short, calm explainer for families hearing 'transition plan' for the first time.
Transition Planning Basics
6 min watch middle, 9, 10
VideoExternalNationalStudent
CPIR Center
Inside a Student-Led PPT Meeting
Watch a real student lead her own planning meeting. The shift is quiet and total.
IEP & PPT Meeting SupportStudent Self-Advocacy
9 min watch 10, 11, 12
VideoExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
IRIS Center, Vanderbilt
Writing Postsecondary Goals That Actually Mean Something
What separates a measurable postsecondary goal from a wish.
IEP & PPT Meeting SupportTeacher & Case Manager Tools
12 min watch
VideoExternalNationalStudent
Mike Rowe Works
Careers in the Trades: a Visual Tour
Plumbing, electrical, HVAC, welding — what the day actually looks like.
Career Exploration
8 min watch 10, 11, 12
VideoExternalNationalStudent
Project SEARCH
Workplace Soft Skills: a Visual Guide
Showing up, communicating, asking questions, and bouncing back.
Employment Readiness
7 min watch 11, 12, 18-22
VideoExternalNationalStudent
AHEAD
How College Disability Services Actually Work
The difference between IDEA and ADA, and what to do in the first month on campus.
Postsecondary Education & Training
10 min watch 11, 12, 18-22
VideoExternalNationalStudent
Tasty
Cooking 10 Meals with a Microwave
Real recipes for dorms, apartments, and group homes — no oven required.
Independent Living Skills
12 min watch 11, 12, 18-22
Guides
13 resources
GuideExternalNationalParent / Guardian
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition
The Transition Timeline: Age 14 to 22
A grade-by-grade map of what should happen, when, and who is responsible.
Transition Planning Basics
15 min read middle, 9, 10, 11, 12
GuideExternalNationalParent / Guardian
Understood.org
Plain-Language Special Education Glossary
100+ acronyms and terms decoded — FAPE, LRE, PLAAFP, BRS, and more.
IEP & PPT Meeting Support
Reference
GuideExternalNationalStudent
Office of Disability Employment Policy
Disability Disclosure: Your Choice, Your Words
When and how to talk about your disability at school, work, or college.
Student Self-AdvocacyEmployment Readiness
10 min read 11, 12, 18-22
GuideExternalNationalStudent
Advance CTE
The 16 Career Clusters Explained
A friendly overview of every major career family, from agriculture to IT.
Career Exploration
10 min read
GuideExternalNationalStudent
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
Workplace Accommodations Toolkit
How to request accommodations on the job — examples, sample letters, your rights.
Employment ReadinessStudent Self-Advocacy
15 min read 12, 18-22
GuideExternalNationalParent / Guardian
Federal Student Aid
FAFSA Walkthrough for Families
Plain-language steps for completing the FAFSA, with screenshots.
Postsecondary Education & Training
30 min 12, 18-22
GuideExternalNationalStudent
Easterseals
Public Transportation Practice Plan
How to learn a bus route safely — solo trip in five sessions.
Independent Living Skills
15 min read 10, 11, 12, 18-22
GuideExternalNationalParent / Guardian
Center for Public Representation
Supported Decision-Making Vs. Guardianship
A side-by-side comparison and a values worksheet to use as a family.
Family & Parent Support
20 min read 11, 12, 18-22
GuideExternalNationalParent / Guardian
Harvard Family Research Project
Family-School Partnership Toolkit
Ways to build a relationship with the team that lasts longer than one school year.
Family & Parent SupportTeacher & Case Manager Tools
15 min read
GuideExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
NTACT:C
Age-Appropriate Transition Assessment Toolkit
A vetted menu of free transition assessments mapped to age, ability, and post-school domain.
Teacher & Case Manager ToolsTransition Planning Basics
30 min
GuideExternalNationalSchool Administrator
CEEDAR Center
Building a Transition Program That Actually Works
What principals and special education directors put in place when student outcomes improve.
Teacher & Case Manager ToolsTransition Planning Basics
20 min read
GuideExternalNationalSchool District Administrator
CCSSO / NASDSE
Designing District-Wide Transition Services
How districts structure a coherent 14-to-22 continuum across multiple schools and programs.
Teacher & Case Manager ToolsTransition Planning Basics
25 min read
GuideExternalNationalPartner Organization
Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship
Becoming an Effective Employer Partner for Youth with Disabilities
Practical guidance for businesses hosting internships, job shadows, and first hires.
Employment ReadinessCareer Exploration
15 min read
Articles
11 resources
ArticleExternalNationalParent / Guardian
Center for Parent Information & Resources
How Transition Connects to the IEP
Where transition lives inside the IEP, and how postsecondary goals drive everything else.
Transition Planning BasicsIEP & PPT Meeting Support
8 min read
ArticleExternalNationalStudent
Think College
How to Ask for Help (without Feeling Weird About It)
Scripts and sentence starters for class, work, and life.
Student Self-Advocacy
5 min read middle, 9, 10, 11, 12
ArticleExternalNationalStudent
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Healthcare Career Pathways
From medical assistant to nursing aide — entry points that don't require four years.
Career Exploration
7 min read 11, 12, 18-22
ArticleExternalNationalStudent
Griffin-Hammis Associates
Entrepreneurship for Young People with Disabilities
Real stories of self-employment as a postsecondary outcome.
Career ExplorationEmployment Readiness
12 min read
ArticleExternalNationalStudent
Apprenticeship.gov
Apprenticeships: Earn While You Learn
Registered apprenticeships in trades, tech, and healthcare — what they pay and how to start.
Postsecondary Education & TrainingCareer Exploration
8 min read 11, 12, 18-22
ArticleExternalNationalStudent
Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities
Executive Functioning Strategies That Stick
Calendars, timers, body-doubling, and the case against motivation.
Independent Living Skills
8 min read
ArticleExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
NTACT
Writing IEP Goals Linked to Transition Outcomes
A model and rubric for goals that genuinely move postsecondary outcomes.
Teacher & Case Manager ToolsIEP & PPT Meeting Support
12 min read
ArticleExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
TransitionForward Studio
Caseload Sanity: a Weekly Cadence for Transition Case Managers
A working rhythm for tracking goals, agency referrals, and PPT prep without losing your evenings.
Teacher & Case Manager Tools
7 min read
ArticleExternalNationalSchool Administrator
NTACT:C
Post-School Outcomes Data: What to Watch as a School Leader
The five metrics that signal whether your transition program is working — and how to read them.
Teacher & Case Manager Tools
8 min read
ArticleExternalNationalSchool District Administrator
NTACT:C
Indicator 14 Post-School Outcomes — Reading Your District Report
How to interpret your state's Indicator 14 data and turn it into a district improvement plan.
Teacher & Case Manager Tools
12 min read
ArticleExternalConnecticutPartner Organization
CT Department of Labor
How Workforce Boards and Schools Build Pipelines Together
Models of CT workforce boards partnering with high schools to fund summer youth employment.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesEmployment Readiness
8 min read
Worksheets
10 resources
WorksheetExternalNationalParent / Guardian
TransitionForward Studio
Family Participation in Transition: a Conversation Guide
Printable prompts to help families share hopes, worries, and routines before the next meeting.
Transition Planning BasicsFamily & Parent Support
Print & use
WorksheetExternalNationalStudent
TransitionForward Studio
Knowing Yourself: Strengths, Needs, and What You Want
A self-reflection worksheet students can fill out alone or with a trusted adult.
Student Self-Advocacy
20 min 9, 10, 11, 12
WorksheetExternalNationalStudent
TransitionForward Studio
Job Shadow Planning Worksheet
Plan a job shadow, capture what you saw, and decide what to try next.
Career ExplorationEmployment Readiness
2 pages 10, 11, 12
WorksheetExternalNationalStudent
TransitionForward Studio
Interview Practice: 20 Common Questions
Practice answers, sample responses, and tips for what to do with your hands.
Employment Readiness
20 min 11, 12, 18-22
WorksheetExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
TransitionForward Studio
Work-Based Learning Planning Form
For teachers and case managers planning internships and community work.
Employment ReadinessTeacher & Case Manager Tools
2 pages
WorksheetExternalNationalStudent
TransitionForward Studio
Monthly Budget Worksheet for First-Time Earners
Simple, visual budget for students starting a first job.
Independent Living Skills
1 page 11, 12, 18-22
WorksheetExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
TransitionForward Studio
Student Interview Protocol
A structured conversation guide for getting beyond yes-and-no answers.
Teacher & Case Manager ToolsStudent Self-Advocacy
3 pages
WorksheetExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
TransitionForward Studio
Progress Monitoring Tracker
Weekly check-in template that doubles as documentation for re-evals.
Teacher & Case Manager Tools
1 page
WorksheetExternalNationalSchool Administrator
TransitionForward Studio
Interagency Agreements: a Sample Template for Schools and Adult Agencies
Editable language for school-to-agency MOUs covering BRS, DDS, and workforce partners.
Teacher & Case Manager ToolsConnecticut-Specific Resources
Reference
WorksheetExternalNationalPartner Organization
TransitionForward Studio
Community-Based Instruction Site Agreement
A template community partners and schools can co-sign before hosting students on site.
Employment ReadinessTeacher & Case Manager Tools
2 pages
Checklists
4 resources
ChecklistExternalNationalParent / Guardian
TransitionForward Studio
Questions Every Family Should Ask at the Transition PPT
Twelve questions that turn a status update into a planning meeting.
IEP & PPT Meeting Support
1 page
ChecklistExternalNationalStudent
TransitionForward Studio
Meeting Prep Checklist for Students
Six steps to help a student walk into the room ready, not nervous.
IEP & PPT Meeting SupportStudent Self-Advocacy
1 page 10, 11, 12
ChecklistExternalNationalStudent
TransitionForward Studio
Campus Readiness Checklist
A summer-before-college packing list that goes beyond bed sheets.
Postsecondary Education & TrainingIndependent Living Skills
2 pages 12, 18-22
ChecklistExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition
Indicator 13 Checklist for Transition Ieps
The federal compliance checklist case managers use to make sure every transition IEP holds up to audit.
Teacher & Case Manager ToolsIEP & PPT Meeting Support
2 pages
Assessments
2 resources
AssessmentExternalNationalStudent
TransitionForward Studio
Self-Advocacy Questionnaire
Twenty quick questions that show students where they are confident and where to build skill.
Student Self-Advocacy
10 min 9, 10, 11, 12
AssessmentExternalNationalStudent
Casey Family Programs
Casey Life Skills Assessment
Free assessment covering money, daily living, work, education, and relationships.
Independent Living Skills
45 min 10, 11, 12, 18-22
Online Tools
6 resources
Online ToolExternalNationalStudent
U.S. Department of Labor
O*net Interest Profiler
Free 60-question inventory that suggests careers matching your interests.
Career Exploration
20 min 9, 10, 11, 12, 18-22
Online ToolExternalNationalStudent
Indeed Career Guide
First Resume Builder
Free guided builder designed for students with little or no work history.
Employment Readiness
30 min 11, 12, 18-22
Online ToolExternalNationalStudent
Think College
Think College: Inclusive Postsecondary Programs
Searchable directory of college programs for students with intellectual disability.
Postsecondary Education & Training
20 min 11, 12, 18-22
Online ToolExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
Zarrow Center, University of Oklahoma
Transition Assessment Library
Free formal and informal transition assessments organized by domain.
Teacher & Case Manager Tools
Reference
Online ToolExternalNationalStudent
National Center for Education Statistics
College Navigator
Federal database — search any U.S. college by major, location, size, and cost.
Postsecondary Education & Training
20 min 11, 12
Online ToolExternalNationalStudent
Practical Money Skills
Mango Money: Budgeting Game
Interactive budget simulator built for teen and young adult learners.
Independent Living Skills
15 min 10, 11, 12, 18-22
Podcasts
5 resources
PodcastExternalNationalParent / Guardian
TransitionForward Studio
Age of Majority, in Plain English
What changes the day your student turns 18, and what you can decide together long before.
Family & Parent Support
19 min listen 11, 12
PodcastExternalNationalParent / Guardian
TransitionForward Studio
Letting Go on Purpose: a Parent Conversation
Two parents share what changed when they stopped doing it for them.
Family & Parent Support
28 min listen
PodcastExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
Teach Me, Teacher Podcast
Teach Me, Teacher: Special Ed Transitions
Conversations with educators about real classroom transition practice.
Teacher & Case Manager Tools
45 min listen
PodcastExternalNationalStudent
Disability Visibility Project
Disability Visibility: Stories About Work
First-person stories about employment with a disability.
Employment ReadinessStudent Self-Advocacy
32 min listen
PodcastExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
MCIE / ThinkInclusive
ThinkInclusive: Transition to Adulthood
Educators and self-advocates on what inclusion looks like after high school.
Postsecondary Education & TrainingFamily & Parent Support
38 min listen
Agencys
12 resources
AgencyExternalConnecticutParent / Guardian
CT State Department of Education
Connecticut Secondary Transition Resources
The official CSDE hub for secondary transition guidance, forms, and trainings.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesTransition Planning Basics
Reference
AgencyExternalConnecticutParent / Guardian
CPAC
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (cpac)
Free, family-led support for navigating special education. Trained parents on the phone before your next meeting.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesFamily & Parent Support
Reference
AgencyExternalConnecticutParent / Guardian
CT Aging & Disability Services
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (brs)
Vocational rehabilitation for eligible students. Job coaching, training dollars, on-the-job supports. Door opens at 16.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesEmployment Readiness
Reference
AgencyExternalConnecticutStudent
BRS Level Up Program
Level Up CT
Pre-employment transition services for CT students with disabilities, ages 14–21.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesEmployment Readiness
Reference 9, 10, 11, 12, 18-22
AgencyExternalConnecticutParent / Guardian
State of Connecticut
Department of Aging and Disability Services
The umbrella agency for BRS, services for the blind, deaf, and older adults in Connecticut.
Connecticut-Specific Resources
Reference
AgencyExternalConnecticutParent / Guardian
State of Connecticut
Department of Developmental Services (dds)
Adult services for individuals with intellectual disability and autism. Apply early — eligibility can take a year or more.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesFamily & Parent Support
Reference
AgencyExternalConnecticutParent / Guardian
United Way of CT
211 Connecticut
One number for housing, food, transportation, mental health, and crisis support statewide.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesIndependent Living Skills
Reference
AgencyExternalConnecticutStudent
CT State Community College
Connecticut Community Colleges (ct State)
All twelve campuses now unified — programs, disability services, and admissions in one place.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesPostsecondary Education & Training
Reference 11, 12, 18-22
AgencyExternalConnecticutParent / Guardian
CT Technical Education
Connecticut Technical Education and Career System
CT's 17 technical high schools — apply in 8th grade for trades, healthcare, automotive, culinary.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesCareer Exploration
Reference middle
AgencyExternalLocalStudent
CT Department of Labor
Connecticut Workforce Development Boards
Find your regional workforce board — youth programs, training dollars, and summer employment.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesEmployment Readiness
Reference
AgencyExternalConnecticutEducator / Case Manager
Connecticut training arm
SERC — State Education Resource Center
Workshops, family nights, and educator institutes on transition throughout the year.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesTeacher & Case Manager Tools
Reference
AgencyExternalConnecticutSchool District Administrator
CT State Department of Education
Connecticut Special Education Director Resources
CSDE's hub for district-level special education leaders — guidance, fiscal, and compliance.
Connecticut-Specific ResourcesTeacher & Case Manager Tools
Reference
Books
6 resources
BookExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
Edge Enterprises · Anthony Van Reusen et al.
The Self-Advocacy Strategy for Education and Transition Planning
The original I-PLAN curriculum — teach students to drive their own meetings.
Student Self-AdvocacyTeacher & Case Manager Tools
Book
BookExternalNationalParent / Guardian
Guilford Press · Richard Guare, Peg Dawson, Colin Guare
Smart but Scattered Teens
Executive functioning skills, framed for the teen who keeps losing the planner.
Independent Living SkillsFamily & Parent Support
Book
BookExternalNationalParent / Guardian
Harbor House Law Press · Pam & Pete Wright
Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy
The classic plain-language playbook for navigating special education.
Family & Parent SupportIEP & PPT Meeting Support
Book
BookExternalNationalStudent
Free Spirit Publishing · Susan Yellin & Christina Cacioppo Bertsch
Life After High School: a Guide for Students with Disabilities
A teen-friendly walkthrough of what comes after a diploma or certificate.
Transition Planning BasicsPostsecondary Education & Training
Book 11, 12, 18-22
BookExternalNationalStudent
Free Spirit Publishing · Elizabeth Verdick & Elizabeth Reeve
The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Strategies for friendships, school, and growing up — written for students themselves.
Student Self-AdvocacyIndependent Living Skills
Book middle, 9, 10
BookExternalNationalEducator / Case Manager
Pearson · Robert Flexer et al.
Transition Planning for Secondary Students with Disabilities
The textbook used in graduate programs — comprehensive professional reference.
Teacher & Case Manager ToolsTransition Planning Basics
Book
Connect Resources to a Real Plan.
Start a student profile and the library can recommend videos, worksheets, and agencies that match their goals, grade, and interests — and add them straight to a pathway plan.