Young people need clear pathways to navigate from K-12 education into careers that align with their interests, strengths, and life goals. But they often lack the information, support, and access to choose and complete postsecondary pathways that are right for them. The federal government can play an important role in bridging this gap, by…

Transitioning from high school to the next phase of life can be especially challenging for youth with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (IDD). Federal mandates are in place to provide individualized transition services to students with disabilities up to age 22; however, there is variability in the location of service delivery. A…

With increased emphasis on improved postsecondary outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities, it is critical to extend effective practices identified through rigorous research to the practitioner level. Recent policies and initiatives can feel overwhelming to school staff (i.e., ESSA, IDEA, CCSS), thus there is a need for a…

This chapter provides an overview of theories of the transition to young adulthood. It sets out the argument for conceptual renewal and discusses some implications of new patterns of transition for adult education.

Educational and vocational research shows that there are considerable numbers of adolescents and young adults in the European member states who are failing to make the transition from school to vocational education and training (VET). In many European countries the formal educational systems, have made considerable progress in meeting the demand…

Poor transition outcomes for youths with emotional and behavioral disabilities beg for the development of effective intervention models. After reviewing the limited empirical support for seven current intervention models, a critique is conducted that can serve as the foundation for modifying current practices toward building successful…

The "Youth Villages Transitional Living Evaluation" is testing whether the "Transitional Living" program, operated by the social service organization Youth Villages, makes a difference in the lives of young people with histories of foster care or juvenile justice custody. The program, which was renamed "YVLifeSet" in…

Introduction: The purpose of the study presented here was to identify and synthesize studies of transition interventions to improve the employability and employment outcomes for youths with visual impairments. Methods: An a priori protocol was followed in conducting a systematic review of the literature, including criteria for selecting studies,…

This article, written by Ewelina Rydzewska, a PhD student and associate lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland, draws upon a range of research evidence in order to explore the process of transition to adulthood for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It provides a brief overview of extended and complex youth transitions in…

This article provides an overview of promising essential elements for fostering vocational success among students with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFASDs) by drawing literature from the fields of school-to-work transition for post-secondary students and vocational rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities. We highlight seven…

Today, young people are transitioning to adulthood later in life than they were in the 1960s and 70s. Why has this change occurred and what does it mean for young adults, their families, and the larger society? This article discusses the transition to adulthood from an historical perspective. It then explores the challenges of this later…

Young people who are leaving the foster care and juvenile justice systems often experience a difficult transition to adulthood that is characterized by a number of troubling outcomes, including poverty, low levels of education and employment, and housing instability. While some services are available for these populations, there is little evidence…

This book examines the transition of young adults with disabilities from school to tertiary education and work. It analyses the policy experiences of several OECD [Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development] countries and identifies recent trends in access to education and employment as well as best transition policies and practices.…

For many years, the General Educational Development (GED) credential has been viewed as the high school dropout's safety net. Though not as well regarded as the high school diploma, the GED has opened up educational and economic opportunity for millions of young people and adults who did not finish high school. Nearly 680,000 people take the full…

Students in Finland are obliged to apply for upper secondary education during their 9th year. The main divisions occur between general (academically oriented) and vocational upper secondary education, and within vocational education between female and male dominated sectors. In this article we discuss the tension between these options and explore…