Community Engagement and Independent Living

As a parent, you want to help your child with disabilities prepare for a future where they can live as independently as possible and be part of their community. Every young adult has different needs and goals for where they will live, work, and spend their time. 

Independence involves many skills, like cooking meals, managing money, keeping a home clean, finding a place to live, getting around, taking care of their health, and building friendships. Growing up is exciting, but it can also bring questions and challenges—especially for youth with disabilities. 

The resources on this page can help you support your child in planning and building the skills they need for a more independent future! 

A group of four friends posing together outdoors on a wooden deck near a body of water. One of them, a young man with dark skin and an afro hairstyle, is seated in a wheelchair wearing a red t-shirt and sneakers. The other three friends, two men and one woman, are crouching or kneeling beside him, smiling and placing their hands on his shoulders in a show of support and friendship. The background features greenery, white poles, and a modern building structure.

Resources

Be A Neighbor-Find Services and Supports
Be a Neighbor connects Oklahomans with local groups offering food, child care, and more—search by need to find nearby support and services.
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Inclusive Camps

Explore this list of Inclusive Camps compiled by Sooner Success.

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Increasing Independent Living Skills

Learn how to help your children and youth build independent skills for job success.

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Network of Care Service Directory from OK Mental Health & Substance Abuse

Get help with mental health, food, housing, and other services for you and your family.

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Oklahoma Mobility Management

Learn about a program that focuses on community needs using a variety of transportation providers.

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PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment

This website page from PACER has free downloads on many transition topics.

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Recreation & Leisure for People with Disabilities

Resources for sports, recreation, travel, camps, recreation, and leisure for people with disabilities and families.

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Rural Public Transportation Projects

Visit this site to check for rural transportation projects available in your area.

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The Charting the LifeCourse Framework

These tools help students and families envision a good life and identify necessary supports.

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Transitioning to Adult Health Care with Confidence Toolkits

Explore six toolkits to help prepare youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) for their health care transition. Each toolkit includes a Side-by-Side Guide, an EZ-Reader, a tool, and a tip sheet.

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Youth In Transition: Independent Living

Watch this 5-minute video to see how these young people prepared for independent living.

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11 documents