The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), enacted in 1975, mandates that children and youth ages three to twenty-one with disabilities be provided a free and appropriate public school education.

The resources that youth are afforded is broken down by federal, state, and local school district. The most commonly used tool to help guide students in this category is the Individual Education Plan (IEP), which lays out the special education methods, instruction, supports, and services that a special needs student requires. Further, the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability provides a range of assessments that can help with the transition from school to employment. In addition to their focus on career planning, these resources recognize unique challenges faced by youth with disabilities.