This bill requires the first IEP in effect after a child with a disability reaches age 14 to include transition assessments and services, including appropriate measurable postsecondary goals (based upon transition assessments related to training, education and employment); the transition services needed to assist the child in reaching those goals; and a statement of inter-agency responsibilities or any needed linkages before the child leaves the school setting.
This bill establishes a Multimodal Accessibility Advisory Council, to serve as the advisory body to the Mayor, the Council and District agencies on making local transit and public space in the District more accessible to people with disabilities. The Council includes representatives from the Office of Disability Rights and the disability advocacy community, among others. In addition, the bill tasks the Operations Administration with establishing policies to increase transportation services for people with disabilities.
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Systems Coordination
This bill establishes a Youth Services Coordination Task Force to study the establishment of a single network of service providers for youth that can provide vocational training, subsidized work experiences, mentoring, tutoring, GED preparation, community service opportunities and other services to youth. The Task Force includes the Director of the Department of Disability Services.
This bill enables adults with disabilities to voluntarily enter into one or more supported decision-making agreements and assist them in understanding the options, responsibilities, and consequences of life decisions, including where they want to work.
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This bill establishes the Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and requires that it coordinate with appropriate agencies to provide people who are deaf or hard of hearing with support and access to workforce development opportunities.
This Mayor's Order re-establishes the Workforce Investment Council, which includes the Director of the Department on Disability Services as well as representatives of community-based organizations that have demonstrated experience and expertise in providing competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.
This Organization Order establishes an Interdepartmental Operating Committee on Adult Literacy, focused on developing, implementing and coordinating a total adult literacy program. It includes representatives from the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation as well as the Youth Council.
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Systems Coordination
This resolution establishes a task force to study ways to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including expanding existing employment assistance programs for people with disabilities.
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps consumers who are visually impaired or blind use assistive technology. It includes assistive technology and computer training classes and helps employees experiencing vision loss to continue doing their jobs.
Operating Entity: Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program assists low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and social workers with applying for various social supports, including Medicaid, SNAP, Home and Community Based (HCB) and Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Waivers.
Operating Entity: DC Department of Aging and Community Living
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program delivers support and training to students with disabilities, with a focus on providing transition services through workforce development, independent living, and career skills curricula.
Operating Entity: DC Public Schools, River Terrace Career Development Center
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: University Legal Services (ULS)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
These adaptive clinics help children with disabilities aged 4 to 24 gain empowerment and self-confidence, by partnering them with a volunteer mentor to learn about teamwork and bond over a sense of camaraderie.
Operating Entity: Dreams for Kids
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program supports individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing who are experiencing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders and other issues to ensure that their needs for living in the community are met. Services include counseling, coordination of medical and mental health treatment, budgeting and money management, and housing placement.
Operating Entity: Deaf Reach
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The DC Department on Disability Services (DDS) engages in a number of efforts to train people on implementing Customized Employment strategies in their work with people with disabilities. This includes two Customized Employment Communities of Practice, a monthly webinar series, and technical assistance to DDS provider organizations.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Finance and Treasury
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides professional development, mentoring, and paid internships for students with disabilities. Programming includes trainings on workplace communication, personal finance, public speaking, and other professional skills, as well as collaboration with mentors on a project that focuses on the student's career of interest.
Operating Entity: DC Public Schools
Entity Type: Other
This program is designed to improve employment outcomes for youth and young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including by working with people with disabilities and families to build high expectations for employment and share tips for success.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
DC Partners in Transition is a group of stakeholders who are committed to improving the ability of youth with special needs and disabilities to successfully transition into education, employment, and independence. Participants include the DC Rehabilitation Services Administration and a range of non-profits.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
SF CoP is a group of family members, advocates with disabilities, government leaders, disability advocacy and services professionals, and other interested community members who work together to develop policies, practices and systems that better support families that include a member with an intellectual or developmental disability.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Systems Coordination
This program provides a variety of leadership and vocational opportunities for youth with disabilities, including capacity-building workshops, community-based activities, work-based learning opportunities, and civic engagement experiences.
Operating Entity: SchoolTalkDC
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
EDSN serves as an employment agency that helps people with disabilities obtain integrated, competitive employment with a wide range of private sector employers.
Operating Entity: Easterseals DC MD VA
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists school administrators and teachers in helping students with disabilities explore career paths and future employment opportunities, increase their knowledge and use of community resources, enhance their self-determination skills, and more. The program also assists students in obtaining volunteer and paid employment positions. The program is run in partnership with the District of Columbia Public Schools Transition Program.
Operating Entity: The Arc of the District of Columbia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a range of supported employment services to people with disabilities, including assessment, job development, job placement, job coaching and other supports necessary to achieve and maintain employment.
Operating Entity: The Arc of the District of Columbia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program trains clients who are visually impaired or blind on job readiness skills. Specific services include vocational and situational assessments, resume support, interviewing skills development, job development, job placement and retention services, job coaching services, job accommodation support, and travel training.
Operating Entity: Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps people who are both deaf and developmentally disabled to enhance their self-sufficiency through pre-vocational and day habilitation activities.
Operating Entity: Deaf Reach
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps families identify support needs for children or adults with developmental disabilities, including around education, the transition from school to work, environmental accommodations, and more.
Operating Entity: Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program provides opportunities for individuals who are deafblind to work in a supported environment where they learn organizational skills and have an opportunity to coordinate programs and events.
Operating Entity: Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps settle complaints of unlawful discrimination (including based on disability status) in the areas of employment, housing, education and public accommodation in the private sector and DC government.
Operating Entity: DC Office of Human Rights (OHR)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program prepares DC youth with disabilities to complete the DC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) in inclusive workplaces, and to set and attain short- and long-term career goals. Services include case management, mentorship, and travel training.
Operating Entity: SchoolTalkDC
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
The LEAP Program provides grants to youth and young adults with disabilities to help them transition to adulthood. Funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including business clothing, career exploration or related courses, college tuition, and computers and equipment.
Operating Entity: HSC Healthcare System, Health Services for Children Foundation
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program offers a degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, which has an emphasis on meeting the needs of a culturally diverse community.
Operating Entity: University of the District of Columbia
Entity Type: College / University
This program prepares candidates to become Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, including serving individuals with mental illness.
Operating Entity: The George Washington University, Graduate School of Education and Human Development
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides paid work-based learning experience and job readiness training for transition-age youth ages 14-24. The DC Department of Disability Services and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education collaborate with the Department of Employment Services to ensure youth with disabilities are identified early on and have the appropriate supports to be successful in their work experiences.
Operating Entity: DC Department of Employment Services (DOES)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This three-month program provides communication, leadership, and vocational skill building for young adults with disabilities. This includes skill-building workshops on topics such as resume development, interviewing, and formal e-mail communication, as well as off-site group community service projects, site visits to places that employ those with disabilities, and opportunities to network.
Operating Entity: Dreams for Kids
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Advocates for Justice and Education (AJE)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: University Legal Services (ULS)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides trainings and facilitates interagency collaboration to improve transitions for students with disabilities. This includes technical assistance, parent and school personnel trainings, and facilitation of meetings between secondary transition stakeholders.
Operating Entity: SchoolTalkDC
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This group brings together transition experts from the District’s school system, disability advocacy organizations, direct-service agencies, and transition-aged youth and their parents, to collaborate on improving outcomes for transition-age youth with disabilities. Subcommittees are focused on specific issues, like youth leadership.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program supports and trains new self-advocates, including through financial training with local financial institutions and attorneys, leadership training, and financial support for advocates to attend local and national conferences. It is operated in collaboration with Project ACTION!, the District’s self-advocacy coalition.
Operating Entity: Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides employment services to people who are blind or visually impaired. The program focuses on independent living skills, orientation and mobility training, adaptive technology training, and vocational training opportunities.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services, Visual Impairment Services Unit
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The SSP Program is pairs deafblind individuals with trained "human guides" to help individuals who are deafblind to maintain their independence in their community and continue to make informed decisions independently.
Operating Entity: Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides on-going supports to assist individuals with the most significant disabilities (including serious mental illness or intellectual and developmental disabilities) to maintain competitive integrated employment. Services for individuals with mental health conditions are coordinated with the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH).
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
NE-PACT provides technical assistance to Parent Centers in Region A (which includes DC), including strategies for reaching underserved families, on-site training and support, an annual conference, program evaluation, and consulting around the nonprofit management process.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence-Parent Assistance and Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program is designed to improve systems, services, and outcomes for children, youth, adults, and their families, including those with developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs, adolescents and youth in transitional life moments, and communities at large.
Operating Entity: Georgetown University, Center for Child and Human Development
Entity Type: College / University
DC Rehabilitation Services Administration works with local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide technical training and assistance around the delivery of Pre-Employment Transition Services.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This project provides youth ages 13 to 26 and their parents with support, advocacy, information, and training in order to improve their involvement in their educational planning. This includes trainings to prepare youth to become effective self-advocates and to lead their educational planning.
Operating Entity: Advocates for Justice and Education (AJE)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
DC Public Schools offers a range of courses to prepare students with disabilities for their transitions. Courses include academic study skills, self-advocacy, computer skills, independent living skills, career development, and more.
Operating Entity: DC Public Schools
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
This program is designed to help 16-21 year old's who are blind or visually impaired prepare for employment and independent living. Participants stay at American University, participate in internships in the District, and attend trainings.
Operating Entity: Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program connects seniors and individuals with disabilities to a variety of transportation services to assist with their various mobility needs.
Operating Entity: DC Department of Aging and Community Living
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides comprehensive rehabilitation services to help people with disabilities obtain employment. Services may include information and referral, assessment services, counseling and guidance, vocational training, job search, job placement and job coaching, and supported employment.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides youth leaders with a variety of leadership and skill-building opportunities, including speaking to policymakers, connecting with employers, building self-advocacy skills, participating in transition conferences, and facilitating trainings and workshops.
Operating Entity: SchoolTalkDC
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Infinity Support Services
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
AJE offers a range of career preparation workshops for youth (ages 13-26) with disabilities, including on topics like diploma programs, getting and keeping a first job, participating in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, transition planning, exploring careers, and more.
Operating Entity: Advocates for Justice and Education (AJE)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program prepares students with disabilities for post-school activities including post-secondary education, vocational training, employment, continuing and adult education, and independent living. The DC Rehabilitation Services Administration coordinates with DC Public Schools to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services, with the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to serve justice-involved youth, and with DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) to serve youth transitioning from the foster care system to independence.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This webpage provides information and resources to help individuals maintain their mental health during the pandemic. The resources are available in multiple languages.
Operating Entity: District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health
Topic(s): Mental Health
This bill notes that many employees continue to need time away from work to deal with the impact of COVID-19 and finds that emergency circumstances necessitate paid leave for COVID-19 vaccination and recovery and continued access to unpaid family and medical leave for COVID-related reasons for the foreseeable future.
Operating Entity: Council of the District of Columbia
Topic(s): Long-COVID
This report presents a framework for addressing post-pandemic needs and includes information on the long-term effects of a COVID-19 infection and how it has impacted the District.
Operating Entity: District of Columbia Department of Health
Topic(s): Long-COVID
The District of Columbia provides a general FAQ document that includes information pertaining to IEPs, and a legal resource for students with disabilities. It describes how IEP meetings must be conducted and IEP services must be provided virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operating Entity: District of Columbia Public Schools
Topic(s): Distance Learning
This document contains guidance on LEA responsibilities under Part B of IDEA relating to the provision of FAPE in instances where LEAs are required to close their doors or limit access to buildings because of a local or national emergency and transition to distance or blended learning models. The document provides comprehensive guidance on distance learning and IEP provision.
Operating Entity: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
Topic(s): Distance Learning, IEP
DC Public Schools launched the dcpsreopenstrong.com website to share its plans for reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. It dedicates a web page to special education services which offers resources to families to assist with at home learning as well as navigating the IEP process.
Operating Entity: District of Columbia Public Schools
Topic(s): Distance Learning, Family Engagement, IEP
The DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education developed a comprehensive toolkit which provide foundational guidance and concrete, actionable resources for local education agencies (LEAs) as they establish and implement policies and procedures for remote and/or blended learning contexts that are consistent with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirements.
Operating Entity: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
Topic(s): Distance Learning, Family Engagement, IEP