PACER Center partnered with State Services for the Blind (SSB) of Minnesota to improve outcomes for students who are blind, visually impaired, or DeafBlind as they transition from high school to postsecondary education or employment. As part of this partnership, PACER provided parent trainings, professional in-services, and developed new resources for families and youth.
Self-Advocacy and Secondary Transition
As a young adult who is blind, visually impaired, or DeafBlind, you will hear words or phrases during the transition to postsecondary education and employment that may be new or confusing. Click the links in the story below to read a simple description of each of the terms that will be important to understand as you advocate for yourself in school, on the job and in the community.
Additional resources
Blind Abilities: Letting Them Grow – Transitioning from Youth to Adulthood – A Conversation with Parents Barb Ziemke and Kate Reinicke
Barb and Kate sit down with Jeff Thompson of Blind Abilities. Barb talks about her role as Co-Director of the National Parent Center on Transition and Employment and her experiences in advocacy that led her to PACER Center. Kate shares her experiences from her journey through her kids’ transition from youth into adulthood, including what worked and where she found answers.Blind Abilities: Learning the Skill of Self-Advocacy: Meet PACER Center’s Transition and Employment Specialist Erika Theiler
Erika, a former high school special education teacher and access assistant at the University of Minnesota, sits down with Jeff Thompson of Blind Abilities to talk about the importance of self-advocacy, soft-skills, the family’s role in building a young adult’s advocacy skills and the importance of knowing your rights as a person with a disability.Transition in the IEP for Students with Vision Loss: What Parents Need to Know
Find out what’s on the transition services “menu” of options for transition-age students with vision loss, learn how to effectively use the Individualized Education Program (IEP) secondary transition process to help your child succeed in school and in life, discover the power of parent involvement and advocacy, and receive practical tips, tools and resources.
For more information, explore PACER’s Middle & High School Transition Planning Learning Center.
The Transition to Postsecondary Education
Discover how students and families can prepare now for a successful transition to postsecondary education in this 3-part video series.
Meet Rakeb, a senior in high school who is blind and touring potential colleges. Take a sneak peek at her visit to a disability service office where she learns more about how to access needed accommodations.
View an audio-described version of this video
Kathy McGillivray, Director of the Center for Learning and Accessible Student Services at Augsburg University, shares her expertise about the transition from high school to college for individuals with vision loss.
View an audio-described version of this video
Rakeb, a high school senior who is blind, shares her insight into how she has prepared to make a successful transition to college.
View an audio-described version of this video
Additional resources
- Tips for College Students with Visual Impairments: Questions to Ask about Disability Services
- Going to College: Tips for Parents of Students with Visual Impairments
- Going to College: Tips for Students with Visual Impairments
For more information and resources, explore PACER’s Postsecondary Education Learning Center.
The Transition to Employment
Getting a first job and working towards a career is an exciting time of life for youth and their parents. When the young person is blind, visually impaired, or DeafBlind, there will likely be challenges to overcome as well. Follow the tips in this guide to provide the support your son or daughter needs to launch into the world of work.
Additional resources
Ins and Outs of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Benefit Planning for Youth with Vision Loss
Wondering what help is available for transition age youth who are blind, visually impaired, or DeafBlind who want to prepare for a career or find a job? This workshop will provide an overview of SSI and discuss how youth can work while preserving benefits.
For more information, explore PACER’s Employment Learning Center.
Disability Laws and Rights: What Youth with Vision Loss Need to Know
As youth with vision loss transition out of high school, it is important for families to know about the laws protecting individuals with disabilities from discrimination in postsecondary education, employment, and the community.
Learn the basics of important federal laws and the rights and services they can provide to individuals who are blind, visually impaired or DeafBlind.
Additional resources
Blind Abilities: Self-Advocacy, Self-Awareness and the ADA: A Visit with PACER Center’s Transition Coordinator Deborah Leuchovius
Deborah talks about preparing youth for the responsibilities of adulthood and the protections of the ADA, including how self-advocacy and self-awareness can help one self-determine and understand their accommodation needs. The podcast covers the history of ADA, examples and the impact of the ADA and where you can learn more about the ADA and its importance during the transition years.
For more information, explore PACER’s Laws & Rights Learning Center.
Mental Health, Anxiety and Vision Loss
Anxiety is the most common mental health challenge experienced by youth. For students with vision loss who face communication barriers, managing a school setting can be even more stressful. Research suggests that adolescents with visual impairments experience anxiety at a significantly higher rate than their sighted peers.
Additional resources
Anxiety at School: Making a Plan that Works for Students with Vision Loss
The most common emotional difficulty experienced by youth in school is anxiety. For students with vision loss who may also face challenges with non-verbal communication, managing a school setting can be even more difficult. Watch this archived live stream event to learn about the following topics:- Understanding behavior as communication
- Learning about behaviors that may reflect anxiety
- Discovering alternatives to consequences and punishment
- Exploring effective interventions for support at school
Blind Abilities: PACER Center: Promoting Awareness and Understanding of Mental Health – Children’s Mental Health and Emotional or Behavioral Disorders Project
Renelle Nelson, parent advocate and the coordinator of the Children’s Mental Health, Emotional or Behavioral Disorders project at PACER Center, sits down with Jeff Thompson of Blind Abilities to talk about the misconceptions surrounding mental health and how PACER Center can provide support to parents of children and youth with mental health, emotional or behavioral challenges.Blind Abilities: A Visit with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center Director Julie Hertzog
Jeff Thompson from Blind Abilities visits with Julie Hertzog to discuss bullying, bullying of students with disabilities, and the National Bullying Prevention Center.
For more information, explore PACER’s Children’s Mental Health and Emotional or Behavioral Disorders Project and PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center.
Assistive Technology
APPy Hour: Apps to Support Youth with Vision Loss in the Transition to Adulthood
This workshop provides an overview and demonstration of apps that support increased independence for youth who are blind or vision impaired. Apps address accessing print and digital text, identifying objects, and transportation.Blind Abilities: PACER’s Simon Technology Center: Making the Benefits of Technology More Accessible to Children and Adults with Disabilities
An interview with the Director of PACER’s Simon Technology Center (STC), Bridget Gilormini, and Assistive Technology Specialist, Paul Sanft, to provide a look inside the Simon Technology Center and to discover the services and resources they provide to individuals of all ages with disabilities and their families.
For more information and resources, explore PACER’s Simon Technology Center.
Voices of Experience Videos
Meet Rachel Magario, an assistive technology specialist and a person who is blind. In this series of videos, Rachel shares her story, including the impact of assistive technology, parental support, and maintaining a positive outlook for the future.
Meet Rachel Magario (2 min)
Rachel Magario on Postsecondary Education (3 min)
Rachel Magario on Assistive Technology (3 min)
More information about transition for youth with all disabilities can be found on PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment website.