Resources for Youth

Your life

Your voice

Your future

Find tools and resources to help you speak up for yourself, understand your rights, make decisions, and prepare for what comes next.

Where Do You Want to Start?

Choose a topic to find resources that can help you learn, plan, speak up, and take the next step.

Speak Up for Myself

Build self-advocacy skills, take part in your IEP, and make your voice heard.

Plan for My Future

Explore options for education, work, independent living, and life after high school

Make My Own Choices

Learn about your rights, understand options, and build skills to make decisions.

Get Involved

Connect with others, build leadership skills, and make a difference.

Young man using a megaphone, representing youth self-advocacy and speaking up.

Speak Up for Myself

Your voice matters.

  • Learn how to speak up for yourself
  • Take part in your IEP
  • Communicate what you need
  • Make your ideas heard

4 Steps for Stronger Self-Advocacy

Learn simple steps you can take to speak up for yourself and get what you need.

Self-Advocacy and My ARD/IEP

Learn how to take part in your IEP meeting, share your ideas, and help make decisions about you.

Assertive Communication

Learn how to express your thoughts, needs, and feelings clearly and with confidence.

More Ways to Build Your Voice

Use your voice. Be heard. Make a difference.

Need help figuring out where to start?

Plan for My Future

Your future starts with a plan.

  • Explore your options for life after high school, including:
    • Education
    • Training
    • Work
    • Independent living
Young woman with a backpack looking ahead, representing planning for life after high school.

Dude, Where’s My Transition Plan?

Cover for the transition booklet titled Dude Where is My Transition Plan

Learn how to plan for life after high school and identify the goals, supports, and skills you may need.

Texas Career Check

Explore careers and education options based on your interests and the future you want to build.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Learn how Texas Workforce Commission services can help you prepare for employment and opportunities after high school.

More Resources for Your Future

Diverse group of teens making choices together, including a teen who uses a wheelchair.

Make My Own Choices

Your choices matter.

  • Learn about your rights
  • Understand your options
  • Find the support you need to make decisions about your life

What Is Self-Determination?

Learn how knowing yourself, setting goals, and making choices can help you take more control of your life.

Supported Decision-Making

Learn how you can get help understanding your choices while staying in charge of your own decisions.

Decision-Making Supports

Explore different kinds of help that may be available when making decisions about education, money, health care, and everyday life.

More About Your Choices & Right

Get Involved

Your ideas can make a difference.

  • Connect with other youth
  • Build your leadership skills
  • Find ways to use your voice in your school, community, and beyond
teenage boy with a backpack looking ahead, representing youth leadership and getting involved
Teen leader girl with down syndrome giving a speech
EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES

Youth Leadership Program

Learn about opportunities to:

  • Build your leadership skills
  • Share your voice
  • Help make a difference in Texas
EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES

Youth Hangouts

Connect with other youth in a fun and supportive online space to share experiences, learn together, and build community.

JOIN A HANGOUT

Youth Summer Camps

Meet new friends, build confidence, and develop leadership skills at our annual youth summer camps.

LEARN MORE