Students Helpful Tools
If you are a student with a disability, then you will have a transition plan within your Individualized Education Plan (IEP) by the time you turn 16 years old. It is very important that you are educated about what this plan is and that you are involved in creating YOUR transition plan. The transition plan details the goals that you would like to achieve after high school in the areas of work, education and possibly independent living. So when you become involved in transition planning process, you will be thinking about questions like: Where will I work? What will I do to earn money? Will I go to school, like college or a vocational training program? What will I study? Will I live on my own and handle all the tasks that go along with that, like budgeting, finance, cooking, and transportation?
To find many of the answers to the questions above, your IEP team (including yourself), will most likely ask you questions in the form of interviews, assessments, surveys, and questionnaires. To make a plan meaningful for you, it’s important that you are involved and tell the team your interests and preferences. You will definitely want to include the things you are good at in your plan. If you don’t understand any part of the plan, make sure you ask questions. It is also very important that you go to your IEP meetings and participate at those meetings.
Look through the tools below to get a better understanding of the transition plan and to help you make progress toward your goals for AFTER high school.
Click on a topic below for more information!
Find out more about what transition plans in Arkansas look like and what they mean; click on each form for more information.
Required IEP Forms - Spanish Version Here or Marshallese Version Here
Permission for consent to Invite an Agency
Summary of Performance (SOP)
Sample Letter to Accompany SOP
My IEP Owner's Manual - a guide to help you prepare for your IEP
Transition Considerations Timeline - use this short list of general considerations to start planning for your future!
Interested in participating in your transition planning? Check out these tools that can help you get more involved in the planning process and in the meeting.
Learn more about yourself and your strengths here and share that information with your teachers and IEP team!
Invite people to your meeting by inviting them with your own invitation that could look similar to this one!
These movies feature disability issues but some may have adult themes. Check with your teacher or parents to make sure it's okay for you to watch the movie. You might ask your teacher if it's possible to watch the movie with your class or ask your parents and siblings if they would like to watch with you. Find more movies featuring disability issues here.
Get basic information on different kinds of disabilities here…you might learn something about yourself!
NTACT: the Collaborative is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Office of Special Education Programs and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (H326E20003) to improve the implementation of effective practices including pre-employment transition services, dropout prevention interventions, engagement in career and technical education, interagency collaboration, and other education and VR transition services for all students and youth with disabilities. Visit their site www.transitionta.org for resources and guidance on transition planning, graduation, post-school success, data analysis and use, and effective practices and predictors of post-school success.
If you want some help in being more active at your IEP meetings and in your transition planning, take a look at this helpful guide and ask your teacher for help! A Student's Guide to the IEP
An important part of improving outcomes for students with disabilities is collecting information after they have left high school to see what services have been used and how programs in high school may have helped them be successful. If you have a student who has recently left high school or will soon, please read more on Post School Outcomes Data Collection. We need your participation when it’s time to collect the data.
Take this assessment and find out how you learn best and improve your study skills! Share this information with your teachers too! This information is too important not to know about yourself!
Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology in Post-Secondary Education - use these guidelines to help yourself be your best advocate and help those who will work with you at the post-secondary education level to make the smoothest transition possible while you have the assistive technology supports you need! For more information on quality indicators for assistive technology, click here.
Student Self Evaluation Matrix - The self-evaluation matrix is intended to measure and improve assistive technology transfer to higher education settings.
Transition Skills Checklist - use this assessment to determine what skills you demonstrate and what skills you need to acquire.
Assistive Technology Implementation Plan - use this template to develop a plan to implement assistive technology.
Family Information Guide to Assistive Technology and Transition Planning - this guide will provide you with information on transition, how to ensure your assistive technology needs are supported in the transition from high school to adult life, and information on laws related to transition and accommodations. There are many tools and valuable resources within this guide to help include consideration of assistive technology in the transition process.
Mobile Apps to Support Transition-Age Youth - many free and low-cost apps are available to support transition-age youth with disabilities as they embark on their journey towards post-secondary education, job training, employment and independent living. This list includes apps that have been reviewed by parents and professionals and found to be useful and well-designed.
What kind of work interests you? These tools can help you explore what’s available!
Career Infonet - find out options available to you for a career that interests you AND the education and/or training you might need.
Career Key - get help and advice on exploring and choosing a career for yourself!
Resumes and Cover Letters - A resume is a concise, informative summary of your abilities, education and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and skills, and differentiate you from other candidates seeking similar positions. This resource will give you tips to tailor your resume to the type of position you are seeking.
Live Career - take a career test or get help writing a cover letter or resume!
Career Alternative Resource Evaluation System - take this FREE, online career assessment and find out what interests you most!
Transition Training Resources: Test Prep Review - Your source for FREE online practice tests.
America's Service Locator - Looking for a job or training in order to prepare for a job? Find the nearest One-Stop Career Center that can provide the services you need.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN) - free consulting services for individuals with physical or intellectual limitations that affect employment. Services include one-on-one consultation about job accommodation ideas, requesting and negotiating accommodations, and rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related laws.
Career One Stop's Video Collection - Visit this website to learn about careers, industries, skills and abilities, or work options and education levels.
Arkansas Career Fields, Clusters, and Pathways Chart
Arkansas Career Clusters Descriptions
Real Life Arkansas - Don't know how much money you will need to earn in the future? Don't know which occupation to choose? No problem! This site has three options to help you select the right career for your spending needs.
50 Questions Asked in Interviews - read these commonly asked questions to prepare for your interview.
No One Does it Alone - this activity is designed to help young people learn research and make informed decisions regarding their futures.
Sample Job Application - Use this sample job application to practice memorizing personal information, work history and references.
Online Job Application - This online application can be used to practice job readiness skills during remote learning.
SparkNotes - this is a great tool to help you understand books, write papers, improve your study skills and even prepare for the ACT and SAT.
AHEAD – find answers to many FAQs that you might have about going to college.
Financial Help - check out the financial resources that might be available to you in Arkansas!
The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid - find information about scholarships and fellowships for students with disabilities.
ADHE Financial Aid Search - search through the Arkansas Department of Higher Education's available scholarships.
College 4 U! - independent college counseling for high school students
ACT Test Preparation - provides additional practice wherever and whenever you want it
Accuplacer Preparation - free practice tools and resources to help you prepare to succeed on each of the ACCUPLACER tests
Getting Help for the Transition to College - Some students with disabilities may not be totally aware of the support services available at the college level. To provide more information of how to go about getting more information when considering post-secondary education options, the Disability Services Office at NC State University created this video that shows a current college student receiving supports and offering help to a current high school student who isn’t so sure he can make it at college. Students, watch the video and learn how you can get the supports you need to succeed in college!
Going to College - This site has lots of information about going to college and being successful with a disability. A section of the site is for students interested in going to college. It has videos and other tools that can get students on the right track in planning for college. It also has a Portfolio section to help students really get the important pieces organized so they are ready to be successful in college!
Testing Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities from the U.S. Department of Justice - This provides information on the obligation of testing entities, both private and public, to ensure that the test scores of individuals with disabilities accurately reflect the individual's aptitude, achievement, or the skill that the exam purports to measure, rather than his or her disability. The document discusses who is entitled to testing accommodations, what types of testing accommodations must be provided, and what documentation may be required of the person requesting testing accommodations.
Services for Students with Disabilities - If you have a documented disability, you may be eligible for accommodations on SAT Program tests. Visit this site for information about accommodations, the request process and required documentation.
Arkansas Next - Find out more about how you can make life after high school more exciting for you. Learn more about apprenticeships, colleges in Arkansas, dorm life, and the hottest jobs in Arkansas! You can also read stories from actual students in Arkansas and how they are making the right decisions for the life they want to have after high school!
Arkansas Apprenticeship - Visit this website to view a list of Arkansas' apprenticeship schools and find out how to become an apprentice.
Jobs Made Real: By Teens for Teens - This website was designed to aid teens in discovering their career path. It features thousands of videos of people doing their jobs and provides statistical data on job forecast and career information.
NICHE Best Colleges understands that what makes a college the "best" looks different to every student, and each college search comes with its own unique challenges. They aim to help prospective students find the school that best meets their needs through proprietary research, user-friendly guides, and hundreds of independent college rankings.
Tips for Talking to your Professors - If you choose to talk to your professors about your disability, follow these tips.
Self-Determination (these are tools to help you advocate for yourself and set goals)
www.imdetermined.org - Whether you're a teacher, parent, friend, OT, or just someone who loves a young person with a disability, your support is vital. I'm Determined knows that everyone is at different points of their journey to self-determination. Find tools to support the one you love in the best way for both of you.
Youthhood - this site can help you plan take the lead in planning for YOUR future!
411 on Disability Disclosure Workbook for Youth with Disabilities - Educate yourself about your disability and how sharing that information can affect different aspects of your life.
18 & Life to Go - a legal handbook for young Arkansans covering topics like marriage & family, insurance, lease agreements, owning a car, personal injuries, employment, medical & privacy rights, and more!
Arkansas A.B.L.E. - a program that allows tax-advantaged investment accounts that help qualified individuals with disabilities and their families save for disability-related expenses.
Transitioning from high school to adult life often makes individuals think of where they will live, go to school and work. Something that is often overlooked is healthcare transition. This is an important piece to a successful transition. After all, where would we be if we didn't have the ability to take care of our health needs? Take the Healthcare Transition Readiness Assessment.
Got Transition - This website aims to improve transition from pediatric to adult healthcare through the use of new and innovative strategies for health professionals and youth and families.
Transitioning from Independence: How Ready Are You? - This FREE assessment from Shriners Hospital will help you build the skills you need to make a successful transition to adult care and independent living.
Health Care Transition Guide for Teens in Middle School - This is a handbook for younger teens, written for middle school students with medical and/or developmental needs.
Now that You're in High School - This is a handbook for older teens. It covers many transition topics important to teens.
Finding Adult Providers - It is important to find your adult doctors early - around age 18 to 21.
Being a Healthy Adult - This is a resource for the youth and their family. This adds role-playing activities and checklists to help families find their transition strengths.
Vital Records Log - Arkansas Guide to services for children with disabilities
Online Medical Notebook Template - Use this care organizer to store your child's information.
Got Transition Medical Summary and Emergency Care Plan - This is a printable summary including daily care information and information needed in an emergency.
Emergency Information Form for Children with Special Needs - A quick reference guide regarding emergency preparedness for individuals with special healthcare needs.
Health Passport - This booklet that can be carried with you when attending hospitals or other providers of health and disability services contains information about how you want people to communicate with you and support you.
My Med Schedule - Use MyMedSchedule to manage meds and labs on the go, set reminders, and make it easier to communicate with their healthcare providers.
The Wallet Card App - The Wallet Card is a free tool for teenagers and adults who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is designed to help them communicate clearly with law enforcement or first responders.
Medicaid Transportation Brokers
Smart 9-1-1 - When you dial 9-1-1 from a mobile phone, the 9-1-1 call takers have very little information to help you. Users of this service provide vital information to call takers, including information regarding your household members, address and location, vehicle(s), emergency contacts and communication preferences.
The Healthy Bodies Toolkit - A guide on puberty for students with disabilities
Building Self-Advocacy and Self-Care Management Skills - Learn what families can do at home to help students build self-care, self-management, and self-advocacy skills and become more involved in managing their ongoing health and wellness.
Mental Health Basics - Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Families Healthcare Transition Infographic - This tool can help students and families learn more about moving from pediatric to adult healthcare.
Printable version of the most current Arkansas Driver's License Study Guide • Spanish Version
Arkansas State Police Driver Testing 1-2-3 Checklist (UNDER the age of 18)
Arkansas State Police Driver Testing 1-2-3 Checklist (OVER the age of 18)
ASP Driver Skills Test Checklist (all ages)
Online Quizzes and Flash Cards
Printable Flash Cards for driver's test prep
Official Arkansas Driver License Practice Test - The practice test generates 25 questions randomly chosen from a larger group of questions extracted from the Arkansas State Police driver license knowledge test and questions from the Arkansas State Police Driver License Study Guide. You can repeat the practice test as often as you want. Each new test will generate another set of 25 questions.
Arkansas Driver Practice Test App (for iOS) (for Android) - This app generates 25 questions extracted from the Arkansas State Police driver license knowledge test and questions from the Arkansas State Police Driver License Study Guide. It is a great resource for life-long learning and can be used to help you prepare for the knowledge test that all new drivers must pass to obtain a learner's permit. *This app is NOT a substitute for the Driver's License Study Guide.*
The "You Got This: Educational Pathways for Youth Transitioning from Juvenile Justice Facilities" packet for empowering justice-impacted youth with the information, tips and resources they need to plan for their future after leaving a facility. The packet provides checklists, guidance, lists of resources, and templates of commonly required documents to help students prepare for a successful re-entry.
You Visit Virtual College Tours
It's time to apply for college, but you don't know where to start. Perhaps you live far away from prospective colleges, or your family doesn't have enough money for you to look at every school you're interested in. Wouldn't it be nice if there were a way you could magically look at schools from home? This is a real possibility, and YouVisit works their own magic by bringing college campus tours right to the convenience of your computer screen. Click on a school below to view the virtual tour!
University of Arkansas - Fayetteville
Arkansas Technical University
Harding University
University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas's Makerspace - UCA's Makerspace, powered by the Conductor, is a collaborative, interdisciplinary work space with tools to prototype concepts, make new things, and take ideas to the next level.
Virtual Field Trips
12 Famous Museums with Virtual Tours - Experience the best museums from London to Seoul in the comfort of your own home!
Over 30 Virtual Field Trips with Links including the San Diego Zoo, Yellowstone National Park, U.S. Space and Rocket Museum, Mars, the Great Wall of China, Boston Children's Museum and more!
NASA at Home - NASA is exploring our solar system and beyond, uncovering worlds, stars and cosmic mysteries near and far with our powerful fleet of space and ground-based missions. Explore our facilities. View our laboratories. Tour the Moon. Enter a clean room. Experience the James Webb Space Telescope – the most powerful space telescope ever built – and more! We invite you to tour NASA virtually from the comfort of your home or convenience of your mobile device. Virtual tour experiences range from actual video tours, or 360° virtual tours, inside our laboratories and facilities to curated photo galleries of images and video playlists.
Virtual Experiences in Arkansas - You can still visit some of your favorite Arkansas attractions via virtual efforts across the state to keep the community connected to the many places that make Arkansas unique. Many attractions are keeping their experiences open to the public through creative virtual efforts that range from interactive tours to virtual safaris to ballet performances.
The Ultimate List of Virtual Experiences in Arkansas - Museums, educational centers, and downtown networks across the state are establishing virtual experiences through mobile devices, apps, and videos.
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