Situated through the lens of transition-focused education and data-informed decision making, this state contract provides training and coaching supports to the state-and local educational agencies in evidence-based practices for transition planning, services, supports, instruction, and predictors of postschool success to help improve outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities. 

The goal of this project is to develop and refine an employability social skills curriculum for justice-involved youth with disabilities served in community-based juvenile services programs. Using a Participatory Action Research approach, the project engages stakeholders—including educators, juvenile justice personnel, vocational rehabilitation professionals, workforce developers, and youth themselves—through structured interviews, focus groups, and design team meetings.

Funding source:  Oregon Department of Education 

Project THRIVE addresses employment barriers faced by transition-age youth and young adults with disabilities (18+) by identifying employer-side challenges to hiring, retention, and advancement. Grounded in a Participatory Action Research approach and building on prior survey research, the project conducts semi-structured interviews and focus groups with employers, employed young adults with disabilities, workforce and rehabilitation professionals, and transition service providers.

SSET staff coordinate the annual Oregon Statewide Transition Conference in collaboration with the Executive Steering Committee. Held annually in late winter/early spring (February/March), the 1.5-day conference provides current and relevant information on a variety of special education and secondary transition related topics. Presenters include individuals with lived experiences, local practitioners, local and state agency personnel, and national experts.

This contract supports the secondary transition efforts of the Oregon Department of Education. SSET staff maintain the TransitionOregon.org website by working with a developer to ensure access, security, and functionality; updating website structures; verifying content accuracy, accessibility compliance (reformatting when necessary), and legal distribution criteria; disseminating and tracking use through Google Analytics.

This study explores the Career and Technical Education (CTE) experiences of students with disabilities in Oregon. We are using historical CTE and post-school outcome data to determine whether enrolling in CTE increases the probability of students with disabilities achieving a positive post-school outcome (i.e., engaged as defined by Indicator B14 Post-School Outcomes).