• I'm determined: A new project developed and sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education’s Training and Technical Assistance Centers, focused on providing direct instruction, models, and opportunities to practice skills associated with self-determined behavior beginning at the elementary level and continuing through a student’s educational career. Visit I'm determined.
  
  
• Learn Your Rights and Responsibilities: The U.S. Department of Education has updated its informative guide, Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities. Get the updated guide here.
  
  
• Student Summary of Performance: A new provision in IDEA 2004 requires schools to provide students with a “summary of performance” upon school completion. Learn about this new provision and how to use it to assist with transition to higher education. Get details here.
  
  
• Understanding Virginia Diploma Options: This guide helps parents and students understand the various high school diplomas now offered in Virginia. Download the FREE 9-page guide. (PDF)
  
  
• List of Colleges that Deemphasize the SAT and ACT in Admissions: Browse more than 700 accredited, bachelor degree-granting institutions which do not use the SAT I or ACT to make admissions decisions about substantial numbers of freshman applicants. Find it here.
  
  
• How do your skills measure up? Use this checklist of skills and behaviors to see how prepared you are to take on the challenges of college life.
  
  
• Guide to College for Students with Disabilities: This guide from Virginia’s Department of Education provides loads of information on preparing for college. Get it here. (PDF, 91 pgs)

• Help us spread the word about this new Web site! Download the VCQ Flyer (PDF) to post and distribute.

• Tell us what you think! We'd like your feeback on this Web site. Fill out our quick survey.
  

• 2010 Youth Summit happens March 15-16, 2010 in Roanoke. The Youth Summit is a two day event held during the annual Virginia Transition Forum. Approximately 50 high school and college age students with disabilities from across Virginia meet to network and discuss issues of importance to young people with disabilities. More info and application available here.
  
  
• 2010 College Bound happens June 23-25, 2010 at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. College Bound is a college transition program for high school juniors, seniors, rising college freshman with disabilities, their parents, and professionals in the fields of education, transition and rehabilitation services. The event is limited to 45 students, so register early to ensure your spot! More information available here.
  

• Future Quest 2009 was held November 21, 2009 at George Mason University in Fairfax. Many of the Session Handouts are available here. The next Future Quest will be held in Fall of 2011.
  
  
• VaCollegeQuest Webinar Archives :: View the archives of our Webinars:
  
  • SELF-ADVOCACY: Making It Happen in College and Beyond presented by Dr. Henry Reiff on September 17, 2008.
    
  • Postsecondary Educational Opportunities for Students with Intellectual Disabilities presented on October 29, 2008 by Stephanie Smith Lee and Dr. Heidi Graff.

"I led a life filled with the answers but had no way to get them out. Often my thoughts and ideas felt trapped. Sometimes I was so full of thoughts that needed to get out, I would blurt them out at the most inappropriate times and places. But I had a dream to go on to college and to go into a helping profession. So I had to figure it out on my own."

- Joy Cobb tells her story.