Pennsylvania teens and young adults with disabilities now have access to a free app designed to help them find jobs, manage their needs and get on track to living independently.
Freeport High School special education aide Linda Hoscheid works with student Rachel Bricker on her spelling work during the life skills class at the high school in Buffalo Township on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015. Photo credit TRIBUNE-REVIEW
“This new app prepares students for their future in either post-secondary education or employment (by) offering them access to information, education and training resources, and eventually success in a job that pays,” said David DeNotaris, executive director for the state Department of Labor & Industry’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration and the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania announced the app’s rollout on November 22, 2017.
Nearly six in 10 of students with disabilities can’t find jobs after high school or give up looking, according to the Campaign for What Works, a statewide coalition that advocates for youths with special needs.
The app was developed through a collaboration between multiple state agencies and United Way’s “21 and Able” initiative.
The PA Planning for the Future Checklist app targets students ages 14 to 21 who have disabilities and their caregivers.
Read the whole story by Natasha Lindstrom and download the app at TribLive (November 2017)
For more information on transition planning from the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, click here.
I appreciate how you mentioned On Track for Independent Living New App for Pennsylvania Students with Disabilities. I had to let my mother know that this time, my grandma could require that type of assistance. In addition to not being able to walk, she already struggles with her memory, making it risky for her to spend a lot of time alone.