Transitioning from School to Work: A Guide for Students and Families

For most students, the end of high school or a post-secondary program marks the beginning of a new chapter. For students with disabilities, that transition comes with additional layers of complexity: navigating new systems, understanding your rights, identifying the right support services, and building confidence for a workplace that may feel unfamiliar.

The good news is that this transition doesn't have to be overwhelming. With the right planning—ideally starting well before graduation—students and families can build a path to meaningful employment that accounts for individual strengths, challenges, and goals.

When Should Transition Planning Start?

Federal law requires that transition planning be part of a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) by age 16, though many states and school districts recommend starting earlier. In New York, transition planning is a formal component of the IEP process and should address post-secondary education, employment, and independent living goals.

The earlier the planning begins, the more time there is to explore career interests, build skills, and connect with outside agencies that will support the student after school services end. Waiting until senior year often means rushing through decisions that deserve careful thought.

What Transition Planning Looks Like

Effective transition planning is a collaborative process involving the student, their family, school staff, and often outside agencies. It typically includes:

Assessments

Transition assessments help identify the student's interests, strengths, and areas where support may be needed. These aren't standardized tests—they're tools that help paint a picture of what kind of work environment, schedule, and responsibilities might be a good fit. Assessments might include career interest inventories, situational assessments in real work settings, or interviews about daily living skills.

Goal Setting

Based on assessments, the IEP team sets measurable transition goals. These goals should be specific enough to guide action ("Student will complete a job shadowing experience in a healthcare setting by May") rather than vague ("Student will explore career options").

Skill Building

Schools can integrate work-readiness skills into the student's program: time management, workplace communication, following multi-step instructions, appropriate professional behavior, and self-advocacy. These skills are often more predictive of job success than academic achievement alone.

Agency Connections

Before a student exits school services, the transition team should connect them with adult service agencies that will provide ongoing support. In New York, the most important of these is ACCES-VR.

Understanding ACCES-VR's Role in Transition

ACCES-VR (Adult Career and Continuing Education Services – Vocational Rehabilitation) is New York State's primary vocational rehabilitation program. It provides individualized services to help people with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep employment.

For transition-age students, ACCES-VR is particularly important because it bridges the gap between school services and adult employment support. Schools are required to invite ACCES-VR to transition planning meetings when appropriate, and students can apply for ACCES-VR services while still in school.

Services that ACCES-VR may provide during and after the transition include:

• Career counseling to help identify realistic employment goals
• Job placement services through community partners like Innovative Placements
• Education and training funding for college, trade programs, or certifications
• Assistive technology when needed for the job
• Job coaching and follow-up support after employment begins

For a more detailed overview of ACCES-VR, see our guide: Understanding ACCES-VR: Your Path to Employment in New York.

The Family's Role

Families are a critical part of the transition process, but the balance shifts as the student moves toward adulthood. The goal is to move from "making decisions for" to "supporting decisions made by" the young person.

What Families Can Do

• Attend transition meetings and ask questions about post-school services, timelines, and referrals
• Encourage independence in daily tasks—cooking, transportation, managing a schedule—long before graduation
• Support self-advocacy by helping your child practice speaking up about their needs, preferences, and accommodations
• Research community resources so you understand what's available after school services end
• Connect with ACCES-VR early—don't wait until the student has already graduated. Applications can be submitted while the student is still in school

Common Challenges (and How to Address Them)

The "Cliff" After Graduation

Many families describe a "cliff" when school ends: structured support disappears almost overnight. The solution is early referral to adult agencies. If your child is connected to ACCES-VR and a community employment provider before graduation, the transition is a handoff rather than a free fall.

Unrealistic or Unclear Expectations

Sometimes students, families, and school teams have different visions of what "employment" means after school. Open, honest conversations about the student's current skills, the kinds of jobs that match those skills, and what additional training might be needed are essential. The goal is meaningful employment that the student can succeed in—not a theoretical ideal that sets them up for frustration.

Anxiety About the Workplace

It's completely normal for a young person to feel anxious about entering the workforce, especially if they've spent years in the structured environment of school. Job shadowing, volunteer experiences, and supported work trials (which ACCES-VR can arrange) help build familiarity and confidence before a formal job begins.

Transportation

Getting to work is one of the most common barriers for people with disabilities, particularly in areas with limited public transit. Address transportation early in the planning process. Options may include public transit training, ride-sharing arrangements, or transportation assistance through ACCES-VR or other agencies.

What Innovative Placements Does

Innovative Placements works with transition-age students and adults with disabilities across Western New York. We receive referrals from ACCES-VR, the NYS Commission for the Blind (NYSCB), and other agencies, and we provide hands-on employment support that includes:

• One-on-one job readiness coaching—building confidence, workplace skills, and professional habits
• Resume and cover letter preparation tailored to each individual's strengths and experience level
• Interview coaching with mock interviews and real-time feedback
• Job matching and employer outreach—connecting candidates with employers who value inclusive hiring
• Post-placement follow-up to make sure both the employee and employer are supported

For many of the young people we work with, we're the first stop after school. Our role is to make the working world feel less intimidating and more achievable—one step at a time.

A Timeline That Works

While every situation is different, here's a general framework for the transition process:

• Ages 14-16: Begin transition assessments and include transition goals in the IEP. Start exploring career interests through classroom activities, career fairs, and informational conversations.
• Ages 16-18: Pursue job shadowing, volunteer work, or community-based work experiences. Apply to ACCES-VR. Invite ACCES-VR to IEP meetings.
• Ages 18-21: If still receiving school services, focus on real-world skill building and community integration. Formalize the ACCES-VR plan (IPE). Begin working with a community employment provider like Innovative Placements.
• Post-graduation: Transition fully to adult services. Continue working with your VR counselor and employment provider toward stable, meaningful employment.

You're Not Doing This Alone

The school-to-work transition can feel overwhelming, especially when you're learning about new systems and agencies for the first time. But the support exists. ACCES-VR, NYSCB, school transition coordinators, and community organizations like Innovative Placements are all designed to help this process go smoothly.

The most important step is the first one: start the conversation. Talk to your school's transition coordinator. Contact us if you have questions about what comes next. We've helped hundreds of young people make this transition, and we're here to help you too.