Project Description:
The Youth Transition Project (YTP) assists young adults with disabilities, helping them transition to work and Post Secondary Education (PSE). There is an extreme need for this project because the outcomes for youth in NV with disabilities is bleak, resulting in the young adults living in poverty and relying on governmental assistance. The overall goals include empowering the youth with self-determination skills, helping identify their skills, interests, and passions, and help carving positions in community businesses. The unusual feature of this project is that uses a Customized Employment philosophy, and is evidence-based. The expected benefits include decreasing the unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities, particularly significant disabilities, increasing the number of individuals that attend a PSE, and increasing awareness of people's strengths rather than focusing on their disabilities or what people cannot do.
The activities of the Youth Transition Project are conducted by ten VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) members throughout the state. These VISTA members work with transition age youth with disabilities in their area to form support teams that engage in the customized employment model. VISTA members lead the teams in individualized career planning, which includes discovery, vocational profile, customized employment planning meetings and vocational portfolios.
The ten Youth Transition Project VISTA members are located in Reno, Las Vegas, Carson City, Elko and Fallon. Each works closely with the People First VISTA member to bring self-advocacy and self-determination training to transition age high school students with disabilities.
Keyword(s):
Transition, Employment, Post Secondary Education,
Core Function(s):
Performing Research or Evaluation
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Transportation-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Specific Groups
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
