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In most states, 22-year-olds begin to age out of the programs designed to support students throughout their educational journey. However, many states, regions, and communities have organizations and agencies that can help support young adults in the transition from high school to postsecondary education, workforce programs, and/or independent living. To help navigate the available resources, we’ve compiled a list of organizations below in Ohio that specialize in transition services for adults with disabilities.

• Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities: Offers support across the lifespan of people with developmental disabilities, including overseeing a statewide system of supportive services that focuses on ensuring health and safety, supporting access to community participation, and increasing opportunities for meaningful employment. Watch videos, read articles, and learn about programs to assist with transition here.
• Ohio Means Jobs: Provides career exploration and assessment tools, resources for funding continuing education and employment training, jobs, and more. Learn more here.
• Easterseals: Provides vocational and career training to support young adults in transitioning into the workforce. Find programs offered in Northern Ohio here and Central or Southeast Ohio here.
• Ohio Guidestone: Provides training programs that prepare individuals for careers in several business sectors, like construction, manufacturing, customer service and healthcare. They also offer wraparound services that support success in the training program and in a career including training in skillets such as interviewing and creating a strong résumé. They also have relationships with over 300 nearby employers to facilitate a next step into the workforce.
• Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE): The only national organization focused exclusively on Employment First to facilitate the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace and community. Explore APSE’s resource guide here.
• The Arc of Ohio: Provides resources that may be helpful to young adults looking to transition to independent life. Learn more here.

For Educators and Administrators Interested in Bolstering their Transition Services

• Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) Lifespan Transitions Center: Equips communities to support the successful and unique transition of individuals with disabilities including offering resources, training, and technical assistance to create successful support systems that incorporate community living and employment. Find informational webinars, online guidebooks, customized employment guides and more housed here.
• Ohio Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD): Offers disability resource professionals, student affairs personnel, ADA coordinators, diversity officers, AT/IT staff, faculty and other instructional personnel, and colleagues resources to create welcoming higher education experiences for disabled individuals. Explore AHEAD’s postsecondary and workforce transition resource list here.

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