Youth Transition Program
School Districts
This program assists students with disabilities 5 to 24 to prepare for their future careers by focusing on interests and abilities. Our services assist youth in making transition elementary to secondary to post -secondary education to empower students to realize their full potential. We assist the youth early on in their development in order for them to acquire knowledge, and learn skills they will need to maximize their independence, and self-efficiency in their communities.
This process may involve accessing educational and employment opportunities including career and technical education, obtaining employment related services and supports, finding stable housing, and acquiring health insurance coverage, transitioning from pediatric to adult health care, financial aid, and other supports and services to assist in their future planning and development towards adulthood.
Being connected to programs, services, activities, information, and supports help to maximize youth’s success. Learning about education, competitive integrated employment, and disability related programs and services, helps youth and their parents become more aware of their options and make informed choices. Areas of importance include civil rights, community life and integration, education, emergency preparedness, employment, benefits, work incentives, health, housing, technology, and transportation.
To be eligible for the program: students need to be 5 to 24 years of age and that are currently receiving services under the Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan.
Ability 1st Utah’s Youth Program Services are provided during the school year at Nebo, Provo, Alpine, Wasatch and North and South Sanpete school districts. Our services are free to all of the students that we serve.
We assist students in achieving their goals by providing the following services:
• Assist Life Skills classes
• We tailor the classroom classes to the teacher’s curriculum
• IEP Advocacy
• Money and time management
• Healthy relationships/Socialization
• Shopping
• How to look for housing
• How to look for and maintain a job
• Community safety/emergency preparedness
- Completing forms for jobs
- General hygiene
- Riding the bus, trax, and reading bus schedules
- Employment skills/resumes & application, looking for the right job
- Individual advocacy skills
- Effective communication skills
- Confidence/self-esteem
- Technology
Youth Transition to Adulthood:
The Youth Transition to Adulthood serves students 18 to 30 year old who are in need of independent living skills to assists them with the transition from high school to community living. These specific skills teach youth how to live as independently as possible. Some of the highlighted skills classes are:
- Cooking & Meal Preparation
- Advocacy
- Peer Support
- Health & Safety
- Communication/ Social Participation
- Recreation/ Socialization
- Money Management
- Grooming/ Hygiene
- Household Management
Youth Summer Program:
Ability 1st Utah has a Youth Summer Program between the ages of 17-30 that runs during the months of June, July, and part of August. Youth have opportunities to participate in social activities, as well as Independent Living Life skills classes.
An activity calendar for the summer program is in our newsletter, which is available on our website, or a physical copy can be provided upon request.
Additionally, youth are invited to participate in an annual Youth Leadership Conference sponsored by the Utah Statewide Independent Living Council and supported by the center’s emphasis on independent living.
This conference provides youth with disabilities the opportunity to network with other youth statewide and gain necessary leadership skills. They also receive guidance and support for successful transitions from school to achieve their individual education, employment, recreational, and housing goals.
Youth Program Success Story:
Suzy struggled with expressing her needs and to ask questions when she wasn’t understanding a particular topic.
Throughout the year during our self-advocacy lessons and community integration. Suzy picked up practical strategies to communicate effectively, such as using “I” statements and learned how to self-regulate under pressure.
Throughout the youth program, Suzy has shown significant growth, especially with her leadership skills.
Suzy would practice asking for accommodations for herself and others confident of her supportive environment.
Suzy would also join in to offer her teacher help in some lessons throughout the year, and assisted in de-escalating some potential arguments among her peers. I have seen and noticed a lot of growth in Suzy!
For more information, please contact:
Youth Program Coordinators
Brandon Duncan
Utah and Wasatch Counties
Email: [email protected]
Direct Line: 801-850-5562