National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability - for Youth (NCWD/Youth)

Who We Are

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) assists state and local workforce development systems to better serve all youth, including youth with disabilities and other disconnected youth. The NCWD/Youth, created in 2001, is composed of partners with expertise in education, youth development, disability, employment, workforce development and family issues. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the NCWD/Youth is housed at the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, D.C. NCWD/Youth offers a range of technical assistance services to state and local workforce investment boards, youth councils and other workforce development system youth programs.

Our Mission

NCWD/Youth works to ensure that transition age youth are provided full access to high quality services in integrated settings to gain education, employment and independent living.

Our Goals

• Improving systems capacity to provide comprehensive transition services for all youth, including youth with disabilities and disconnected youth;

• Strengthening the services provided by organizations responsible for delivery of workforce development services; and,

• Promoting the need for and further grow a professional development system for youth service professionals.