Federal Resources

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.

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 National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability, which is supported by the Department of Labor, 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 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.

In celebration of the fifth anniversary of Let’s Move!, First Lady Michelle Obama is encouraging people to give out high-fives when they see someone making healthy choices. The First Lady is also asking Americans to #GimmeFive for things they are doing lead a healthier life by posting their accomplishments on social media and challenging friends and family to do the same. 

First Lady Michelle Obama invited 50 Girl Scouts from Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Washington, DC, to participate in the first-ever White House Campout on the South Lawn. This event celebrated the National Park Service centennial, and promoted getting kids and families outdoors as part of Let's Move! Outside. 

This website provides a one-stop shop for American Indians and Alaska Natives to access resources available from the federal government. Users can complete a prescreening questionnaire to determine their eligibility criteria for resources and programs and learn how to apply. Resource categories include youth, education, food, employment, loans, and environment. 

Summer is a time for having fun outdoors, but teens must be aware of sun safety and air quality in order to avoid injury and aggravating chronic conditions. These federal resources can help young people — and the adults who work with them — stay safe while enjoying the summer months:

• The Environmental Protection Agency’s ultraviolet (UV) index forecasts can help users prepare for, and avoid excess, UV exposure.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Sun Safety for America’s Youth Toolkit has sun-safe policies for community programs.
• Use Airnow.gov to track local air quality and prepare accordingly for outdoor activities for youth with asthma.

The National Prevention Council released its 2014 Annual Status Report. The report illustrates progress in implementing the National Prevention Strategy and highlights the collective impact of the federal government and its partners to improve the health and quality of life for individuals, families, and communities

This special report on young adults in the United States, ages 18-24, includes data from nationally representative, federally sponsored surveys. Data are summarized under five key themes: education; economic circumstances; family formation; civic, social, and personal behavior; and health and safety. 

Kids.gov is the official kids' portal for the U.S. government. It links to over 2,000 web pages from government agencies, schools, and educational organizations, all geared to the learning level and interest of kids.

This report illustrates how the 17 departments that make up the National Prevention Council are incorporating prevention into their work to improve the health of all Americans and meet the goals set forth in the National Prevention Strategy.