Federal Resources

MilitaryKidsConnect.org, a Department of Defense-sponsored website, features content for children, tweens, and teens of military families. The site provides an online community that allows these young people to support one another while learning coping and resilience-building skills

The Volunteer Clearinghouse serves the Corps of Engineers nationwide to link potential volunteers with Park Rangers at lakes and waterways that need them. It provides information about the volunteer program and directs people to the point of contact, usually a Park Ranger, at the lake or location of interest.

This clearinghouse helps providers identify, select, and implement evidence-based programs and practices to address wide-ranging family and mental health issues. The searchable database includes effective and promising intervention programs as well as resources and strategies to ensure the welfare of military families. 

This program connects federal and private sector employers with college students and recent graduates with disabilities seeking summer or permanent employment. WRP recruiters from federal agencies conduct personal interviews with interested candidates, who are then included in a searchable database that is available to hiring officials in federal agencies. Colleges and universities can apply to host interviews with WRP recruiters, and students and employers can apply to gain access to the database.

This blog post provides highlights from an interview with autism advocate, author, professor, and scientist Dr. Temple Grandin, in which she shares insights about autism, what parents can do to help their children, and the importance of learning life skills. 

This best practices guide  funded in part under a grant/contract supported by the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U. S. Department of Laborh and the Technology Opportunities Program of the U. S. Department of Commerce,
National Telecommunications and Information Administration aims to help communities to  start mentoring programs or expand a program to include youth with disabilities.

This Guide was developed to help youth service professionals better understand issues related to learning disabilities so that they can help youth with learning disabilities develop individual strategies that will enable them to succeed in the workplace.

Developed as part of the “What can YOU do?” initiative, The Department of Labor launched the “Because” public service announcement (PSA), which features stories of real people with disabilities who have been able to achieve their goals because of the positive support they received from caring adult mentors, such as parents, friends, employees, and teachers.

This webpage from the Office of Disability of the U.S. Department of Labor offers guidance on emergency preparedness at the workplace.

The Employment and Training Administration site provides information about summer youth jobs, the Workforce Investment Act, and other employment and training programs related to youth .

EEOC and multiple federal partners have released Recruiting, Hiring, Retaining, and Promoting People with Disabilities (PDF, 26 pages), a new guide for employers that compiles key federal and federally funded resources related to the employment of people with disabilities. 

The Guideposts for Success are a framework to assist the multiple organizations that need to be involved to meet the needs and improve the transition outcomes of all youth, including youth with disabilities. The guideposts discuss school-based services, career preparation, leadership opportunities, community services, and family involvement supports for youth with mental health needs. These documents were developed by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability, which is supported by funds from the Department of Labor.

The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy features information on its website that answers the question, “What is an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP)?” Readers can learn when an ILP is used, what information it contains, and how students can use ILPs to map interests and goals as they relate to future education and employment opportunities.

This blog post describes efforts of federal agencies and departments to support the employment of individuals with disabilities and action steps to increase access to jobs and job skills. 

NCWD/Youth is your source for information about employment and youth with disabilities. Our partners - experts in disability, education, employment, and workforce development - strive to ensure you will be provided with the highest quality, most relevant information available.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) was authorized by Congress in the Department of Labor's FY 2001 appropriation. ODEP provides information for families, professionals, and communities on transitioning youth with disabilities into training and employment opportunities.

The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy released this collection of career development exercises that aim to improve the "soft skills" of young workers, including those with disabilities.

This guide provides practical information and resources for youth service professionals. In addition, it provides policymakers, from the program to the state level, with information to help them address system and policy obstacles in order to improve service delivery systems for youth with mental health needs.

This brief highlights an ODEP-commissioned study that aimed to improve understanding of the relationship between disability, health and wellness, and transition and employment outcomes for youth with disabilities (PDF, 13 pages), as well as the role health care providers play in establishing employment expectations. The brief also includes recommendations for promoting purposeful health care transition planning for all youth, including those with chronic health conditions and other disabilities. 

WRP is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private sector employers with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are seeking summer or permanent jobs. 

This guide describes strategies postsecondary professionals can use to assist all students, including those with disabilities, to develop personal competencies that will increase their chances of success. 

This resource (PDF, 36 pages) provides a summary of the recent online event “YouthACT Transition Truths,” which provided an opportunity for youth with disabilities, as well as allies of the disability community, to virtually share ideas about the strategies and supports that can help young people with disabilities successfully transition to adulthood. 

This special feature describes the impact of school violence, proven prevention strategies, and federal efforts to improve the safety of schools. It also includes links to additional resources on related topics such as bullying and safety training.

This webpage, developed by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability, provides multiple resources on the mental health needs of youth, especially as they relate to employment. Youth service practitioners can use this information to better understand the needs of youth, and policymakers can utilize it in their work to address system and policy obstacles and improve service delivery systems for youth with mental health needs.