This page provides a wide range of tools, guides, and videos to support families, educators, and service providers in planning successful transitions for youth with disabilities into postsecondary education, employment, and independent living. It includes materials on healthcare, legal and financial planning, housing, and access to services, as well as links to partner organizations and transition consultants across Kentucky.
Transition from School to Post-Secondary Life Planning Resources – a centralized hub of resources supporting Kentucky youth with disabilities and their families in planning for life after high school, covering areas such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, advocacy, assistive technology, and independent living.
Transition Resource Sheet (PDF) – created by the Kentucky Advisory Council on Autism, with help from statewide partners.
Journey to Adulthood (PDF) – a transition guide for young adults.
Mapping Your Future – Guide to Life After High School – an interactive guide to help you prepare for higher education.
Life After H.S. (PDF) – a collection of stories about eight young adults in Kentucky and their journeys.
After High School (YouTube) – a 9-minute video providing advice for young adults with disabilities.
Transitioning from High School (YouTube) – this 3-minute video discusses options after high school and what your school is supposed to do to help you with your transition. The video was created in Texas, but the same information is true in Kentucky. For Kentucky-specific information, you may contact us at information@kypso.org.
Kentucky Parent Guide for Special Education (PDF) – a special education guide for parents developed by the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute.
KDE & OVR Transition Overview for Families (PDF) – a clear, accessible guide for parents and students with disabilities about the transition process from high school to adult life.
Where to Live (YouTube) – a 9-minute video discussing various adult residential programming available to people with disabilities
Employment Checklists – helpful information for children and youth with disabilities to start planning for employment.
Community Work Transition Program (CWTP) – provides individualized vocational rehabilitation services to students with significant disabilities.
Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) – a state agency under the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet that helps Kentuckians with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain competitive, integrated employment.
The Truth About Working While Receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in 2025 (PDF) – an infographic highlighting how you can work and earn money while receiving SSI.
Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Programs (PDF) – an infographic highlighting how WIPA programs can help people with disabilities understand how working can impact their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
Pre-Employment Transition Services (YouTube) – this 5-minute video explains Pre-Employment Transition Services available through the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
KnowHow2Go KY – information on how to get ready and motivated for college
Kentucky Students’ Right to Know – this resource links college majors to the most in-demand jobs in the state, along with typical education requirements, wages, and institutions offering these majors
ThinkCollege – a national technical assistance, research, and evaluation center dedicated to developing, expanding, and improving higher education options for students with intellectual disability
Kentucky Supported Higher Education Partnership (KSHEP) – a network of Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) across the state offering inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) programs. This 6-minute CTP video discusses what a CTP is and outlines key points for students.
Campus Disability Resource Database (CeDaR) – find disability-related information from degree-granting colleges and universities across the United States.
National Center for College Students with Disabilities (NCCSD) – the only federally funded national center in the U.S. with information and resources for future and current college students.
Access to Postsecondary Education (PDF) – an excellent resource for parents of students considering going to college.
My Choice Kentucky – a statewide initiative that promotes and supports the use of Supported Decision-Making (SDM) as an alternative to guardianship for individuals with disabilities. The project empowers people to make their own life choices with the help of trusted supporters—such as family, friends, or professionals—rather than having decisions made on their behalf through legal guardianship. Supported Decision-Making Resource Guide
Self-Advocacy Online – an educational networking tool that includes multi-media lessons on living self-determined, healthy, contributing lives.
Kentucky Protection & Advocacy (P&A) – resources about transitioning to adulthood, such as self-advocacy, disability disclosure, going to work and keeping benefits, and going to college or vocational school.
Pacer Center (Champions for Children with Disabilities) – information to help you develop self-advocacy skills and gain a better understanding of how you can increase your success in the classroom, at home, and in the community.
TASH – a non-profit corporation and international leader in disability advocacy.
Legal and Financial Planning (YouTube) – an 11-minute video discussing how to plan for changes as a child with a disability becomes a legal adult.
STABLE Kentucky – this website provides information about STABLE accounts, which are tax-advantaged savings and investment accounts that help Kentuckians with disabilities save for qualified expenses without losing eligibility for needs-based government benefits.
Life After High School Resources Flyer – provides guidance and tools for youth with disabilities in Kentucky to plan for adulthood, including financial planning, employment, supported decision-making, and navigating benefits.
Healthcare (YouTube) – a 6-minute video showing ways in which young adults with disabilities can be more involved in their healthcare
Stigma Silenced [Stories Spoken]: A Mental Health Podcast – a mental health podcast that amplifies the voices of Kentuckians with highly stigmatized mental health conditions, aiming to foster honest conversations about lived experiences, treatment, systemic barriers, and disability-related marginalization.
Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health and Developmental & Intellectual Disabilities (KDBHDID) – a division within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. KDBHDID provides leadership and collaborates with communities to ensure access to quality care and support systems across Kentucky.
Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) – provides leadership, resources, and support to ensure every student in Kentucky is empowered and equipped for a successful future through vibrant learning experiences, innovation, and community collaboration.
Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky (UK-HDI) – a statewide Center on Disability that advances inclusive communities and improves the lives of people with disabilities across the lifespan through research, education, advocacy, and partnerships.
KY-SPIN – connects Kentucky families and individuals with disabilities to training, resources, and support systems that empower them to lead productive, fulfilling lives through education, advocacy, and collaboration. Check out the KY-SPIN YouTube Channel for helpful videos on topics such as navigating IEP meetings and advocating for your child.
Transition Consultants in Kentucky (PDF) – a comprehensive list of transition consultants for each district.
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C) – provides tools, training, and resources to help educators, service providers, and families improve postsecondary outcomes for students and youth with disabilities through evidence-based transition practices.
National Longitudinal Transition Survey (NLTS) – a major research initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education to examine the experiences and outcomes of youth with disabilities as they transition from secondary school into adulthood.
Kentucky Disability Resource Guide – a handbook of program descriptions, eligibility criteria, and contact information.