What We Do
The Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth) seeks to improve entry into the workforce and career advancement for American youth and young adults with disabilities through strategic partnerships, systems coordination, professional development, and career pathways by working with state leaders and practitioners through state-centered support and technical assistance.
technical assistance
CAPE-Youth provides policymakers and workforce development professionals with no-cost technical assistance (TA) in the following areas:
Implementing the Guideposts for Success
Ongoing activities and deliverables, such as publications, webinars, and emerging research
Policy development and best practices
Research requests, virtual meetings, and in-person state visits to support goals
Partnership and collaboration
Professional development requests to review, devise, or develop internal structures and evaluate ongoing needs
Conducts research on promising policies and practices related to improving transitions from school to employment for youth and young adults with disabilities.
Shares best practices and develops strategic partnerships among national, state, and local workforce and training systems.
Provides customized analysis and technical assistance to policymakers, state/local workforce representatives, and other youth transition stakeholders focusing on state-specific goals.
Assists states in identifying challenges and opportunities to expand career prospects for youth and young adults with disabilities.
Convenes a fellowship of youth and young adults with disabilities to engage policymakers, develop leadership skills, and make needed connections in disability employment policy.
ODEP-Funded TA and Research Centers
Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability (EARN)
EARN promotes the adoption of workplace disability policy strategies and effective practices. EARN also provides resources and technical assistance to encourage organizations of all sizes recruit, hire, retain, and advance people with disabilities. This information helps employers adhere to disability-related laws and regulations. For more information, please visit AskEARN.org.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
JAN is the nation’s leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. For more information, please visit AskJAN.org.
State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED)
SEED is an initiative that assists states and localities in adopting and implementing best practices that lead to increased employment opportunities for disabled people and a stronger American workforce and economy. For more information, please visit ODEP’s state policy page.
National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center)
The LEAD Center is a collaborative dedicated to advancing sustainable individual and system-level changes to improve competitive integrated employment and economic self-sufficiency for adults across the spectrum of disabilities. For more information, please visit LEADcenter.org.
Meet the Team
Connect with us
Follow us on social media for updates, resources, and stories supporting youth and young adults with disabilities.
Email us at info@CAPEyouth.org