Success Stories
Success stories can motivate, inspire and educate adults who support students with disabilities about what a successful transition from high school into the next phase of life can look like. They show what is possible.
NH Transition Success Stories
These New Hampshire stories come from the Transition Community of Practice.
An engineering class teamed up to design and build a jig for Tanner so he could do a work experience. The rest of Tanner’s story
Jennifer developed self-advocacy and life skills, and learned to take charge of her own life. The rest of Jennifer’s story
Videos from around the country
Perfectly Abled: Life on Campus with a Disability
A university student with disability, Ashley Anderson, discusses the struggles of campus life in a wheelchair and misconceptions about her disability. This documentary won awards in Iowa. 6:30-minutes.
Headstrong Nation
An overview of dyslexia and attention deficit disorder while exploring the brave lives of diverse individuals persevering in a world not designed with them in mind. 26:47-minutes.
Success as a Teen with a Learning Disability
Kcory Woltz discusses his “Top 5,” including the people who helped him succeed and his top advice for young people with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. Kcory is an 2013 Allegra Ford Thomas Scholar. 2:24-minutes.
Laugh & Learn: A Panel Discussion of Comedians with Disabilities
Bottom Line: Project Search
Project Search is a national school-to-work program for students and young adults with intellectual disabilities. The program provides real life work experience to help students successfully transition from school to a productive adult life. 7:03-minutes.
Voices of Experience: John Newman
Meet John Newman, an assistive technology specialist at PACER Center and a young adult with a cognitive disability. 4:28-minutes.
Voices of Experience: Jonathan Mooney
Meet Jonathan Mooney, prolific author, sought-after national speaker, and a young man with significant learning disabilities. 3:27-minutes.
See more from the PACER Center’s Voices of Experience video series
Jonathan Mooney on Lessons Learned
Jonathan Mooney discusses the lessons he learned from his disability. 3:55-minutes.
Stories and Vignettes
The National Parent Center on Transition and Employment success story collection includes stories about preparing for or finding a job, navigating postsecondary education, or identifying a community resource or piece of assistive technology that really worked for a student. Titles include:
- High expectations help teen realize her college dreams
- A hairy situation with a happy ending
- Teen finds his voice through theater
- Ashlee sees opportunities instead of obstacles
- Perseverance leads to rewards
Yes! Center Success Stories from Youth Employments Solutions (Yes!) that provides training and technical assistance to partner states to improve employment opportunities.
Updated 10-2-23
