Into Adulthood
Advocacy for youth with disabilities
Into Adulthood program improves disability access for young adults
Young adults with disabilities have the right to live, work, and interact in the community. These rights come from a mix of federal and state laws and policies, including the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and Minnesota's Olmstead Plan. MDLC helps youth with disabilities transitioning into adulthood understand their rights and find the resources they need to thrive. We also provide direct legal services in several areas:
- Employment: Removing legal barriers to work and securing workplace accommodations. Our Client Assistance Project (CAP) helps people who are applying for or getting services from Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) or State Services for the Blind (SSB) if they are having problems getting appropriate services from VRS or SSB.
- Community Integration: Advocating for young people with disabilities to live, as much as possible, in the community with people of all abilities represented.
- Education: Improving access to disability-related services in school or transition programs for young adults aged 18-21; assisting with accommodations in career training programs and college; and helping to navigate discipline problems with schools.
- Anti-discrimination: Fighting for young people’s access to voting, government services, and public businesses.
Our newly published guidebook, Into Adulthood: Your Guide to Disability Access, outlines programs, services, and contacts that may be helpful for youth with disabilities ages 14-24 as they move beyond high school to live and work independently for the first time. This guide is also available in other formats below:
Resources
Into Adulthood: Your Guide to Disability Access
This publication is available in Accessible format, Spanish, Somali, Hmong, and can be made available in other formats upon request.
Videos and Podcasts
Voting Rights
Listen to Podcast | Watch Video
Racial Disparities in School Discipline
Listen to Podcast | Watch Video
Into Adulthood and SAWV (Supporting All Abilities, Welcoming All Voices) Facebook Live presentation
Watch Video
Getting Help with Work and College
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Into Adulthood with Jean Hauff
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Support for Young Folks with Disabilities
Watch Video