Guideposts for Success
Strategic Service Delivery Component
Disability Employment Initiative
The following chart highlights the core elements associated with this
service delivery component and includes the names of the states that
will be implementing this approach:
Arkansas
Delaware
New
Jersey
Strategies
School-based Preparatory Experiences
Career Preparation and Work-Based Learning Experiences
Youth Development and Leadership
Connecting Activities to Programs, Services, and Supports
Family Involvement and Supports
Access the following link to learn what each DEI project proposed in their statement of
work around this component: http://dei-ideas.org/chapter2-1/page6a_gfs.cfm
Guideposts for Success

Developed by the National Collaborative on
Workforce and Disability for Youth
(NCWD/Youth)
 NCWD/Youth helps state and local workforce
development systems improve outcomes for
youth with disabilities.
 NCWD/Youth is comprised of partners with
expertise in disability, education, employment,
and workforce development policy and
practice.
 Website:
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/guideposts
Five Guideposts
1.
School-Based Preparatory Experiences
2.
Career Preparation and Work-Based
Learning Experiences
3.
Youth Development and Leadership
4.
Connecting Activities
5.
Family Involvement and Supports
Related Resources—Guideposts for:

Employers Success

Youth Involved in the Juvenile
Corrections System

Youth with Mental Health Needs

Youth in Foster Care
Addressing the Needs of Youth

Research has identified educational and
career development interventions that
can make a positive difference in the
lives of youth including:
Work-based learning experiences,
preferably connected to curriculum content;
 student-centered individualized education
programs that drive instruction;

Addressing the Needs of Youth

Educational and career development
interventions that can make a positive
difference in the lives of youth, cont:


Family involvement in and support of education and
career development activities; and
linkages to individually determined support services
have all been proven, by both practice and
research, to lead to the education and employment
success of all youth, including youth with
disabilities.
All Youth Need

Access to high quality standards-based
education regardless of the setting;

Information about career options and
exposure to the world of work, including
structured internships; and

Opportunities to develop social, civic,
and leadership skills.
All Youth Need

Strong connections to caring adults;

Access to safe places to interact with
their peers; and

Support services to allow them to
become independent adults.
The Guideposts Provide

A statement of principles;

A direction that will lead to better
outcomes for all young people including
youth with disabilities; and

A way to organize policy and practice.
Using the Guideposts

In work with youth with disabilities and
service practitioners use the Guideposts
in developing any individualized plans
such as:
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs),
 Individualized Plans for Employment (IPE),
and
 Service strategies as required by the
Workforce Investment Act.

Guideposts are based on…
High expectations for all youth, including
youth with disabilities;
 Equality of opportunity for everyone,
including nondiscrimination,
individualization, inclusion, and
integration; and
 Full participation through selfdetermination, informed choice, and
participation in decision-making.

Guideposts are based on…
Independent living, including skills
development and long-term supports and
services;
 Competitive employment and economic
self sufficiency, which may include
supports; and
 Individualized, person-driven, and
culturally and linguistically appropriate
transition planning.

Guideposts Framework

After providing a detailed list of what all youth
need, the framework describes additional
specific needs pertaining to youth with
disabilities.

By addressing these specific needs
policymakers, program administrators, youth
service practitioners, parents, family members,
and youth will have access to a foundation that
will lead to work, further education, and
independent community living.
Guidepost 1: School-Based
Preparatory Experiences

In order to perform at optimal levels in all
education settings, all youth need:



to participate in educational programs grounded in
standards,
clear performance expectations and graduation exit
options based upon meaningful, accurate, and
relevant indicators of student learning and skills.
This Guidepost identifies what these include
for youth in general plus the needs of youth
with disabilities.
Guidepost 2: Career Preparation and
Work-Based Learning Experiences

Career preparation and work-based learning
experiences are essential in order to form and develop
aspirations and to make informed choices about
careers.

These experiences can be provided during the school
day, or through after-school programs and will require
collaborations with other organizations.

This Guidepost identifies the information all youth
need on career options, including the needs of youth
with disabilities.
Guidepost 3: Youth Development
and Leadership

Youth development is a process that prepares young
people to meet the challenges of adolescence and
adulthood through a coordinated, progressive series of
activities and experiences which help them gain skills
and competencies.

Youth leadership is part of that process.

This Guidepost includes what youth and youth with
disabilities need in order to control and direct their own
lives based on informed decision.
Guidepost 4: Connecting Activities

Young people need to be connected to programs,
services, activities, and supports that help them gain
access to chosen post-school options.

This Guidepost includes examples of the kinds of
activities youth may need to get connected (e.g.,
transportation, financial planning and management,
etc.)

Including activities youth with disabilities may need to
connect (e.g., acquisition of appropriate assistive
technologies; Personal assistance services, including
attendants, readers, interpreters, or other such
services, etc.).
Guidepost 5: Family Involvement
and Supports


Participation and involvement of parents, family
members, and/or other adults promotes the social,
emotional, physical, academic, and occupational
growth of youth, which leads to better post-school
outcomes.
This Guidepost identifies the type of parental,
family and other adult support that youth and
youth with disabilities need to include:
 knowledge of rights and responsibilities under
various disability-related legislation
 an understanding of how individualized
planning tools can assist youth in achieving
transition goals and objectives