ODEP - Office of Disability Employment Policy
Disability Employment Policy Resources by Topic
Youth
From School to Adulthood and the World of Work
ODEP works to influence national policy and promote effective workplace practices to ensure that today's — and tomorrow's — workforce is inclusive of 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 Guideposts for Success — What All Youth Need to Successfully Transition into Adulthood
ODEP's work in the youth arena is based on the Guideposts for Success. The Guideposts represent what research and practice has identified as key educational and career development interventions that make a positive difference in the lives of all youth, including youth with disabilities. They were developed by ODEP in collaboration with one of its research and technical assistance centers, the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth), following an extensive review of research and best practices in education and workforce development.
The five Guideposts are as follows:
- School-Based Preparatory Experiences
- Career Preparation and Work-Based Learning Experiences
- Youth Development and Leadership
- Connecting Activities
- Family Involvement and Supports
The complete Guideposts for Success document as well as an explanation of their underlying key principles and who should use them and how, is available on the NCWD/Youth website.
Soft Skills
"Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success," is a curriculum developed by ODEP focused on teaching "soft" or workforce readiness skills to youth, including youth with disabilities. Created for youth development professionals as an introduction to workplace interpersonal and professional skills, the curriculum is targeted for youth ages 14 to 21 in both in-school and out-of-school environments. The basic structure of the program is comprised of modular, hands-on, engaging activities that focus on six key skill areas: communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, networking, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism.
- Soft Skills to Pay the Bills — Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success
- Habilidades sociales para salir adelante — Dominar habilidades sociales para tener éxito en el trabajo y un futuro seguro
- View Secretary Solis' video on the Soft Skills curriculum
- Read the Training and Employment Notice (TEN) on the Soft Skills curriculum
- Listen to Assistant Secretary Martinez's interview on the Bloomberg EDU Podcast
Additional ODEP youth in transition resources and initiatives include:
- Apprenticeship
- 'Your Job Search' Video Series
- DOL Blog — International Year of Youth
- Youth Employment Data
- Schedule A Hiring Fact Sheet for Youth (PDF)
