Serving the communities of Idaho Falls and Rigby

The Idaho Falls Community Transition Team (IFCTT) was established by an Idaho State Department of Education grant in 1992. The team was one of four teams initially developed throughout the state of Idaho and quickly emerged as a leader and role model among these teams.

The primary focus of the Idaho Falls Community Transition Team is transition issues for youth with disabilities in our community. Throughout its history the IFCTT has sponsored transition fairs, conferences, and informational meetings; conducted surveys of students, their families, and professionals to identify transition needs, published an annual transition resource manual; and worked collaboratively with school district personnel to offer classes to meet the current needs of high school students with disabilities. In 1999 the Idaho Falls Community Transition Team established a web site to better disseminate transition information to students with disabilities, their families, and professionals working with transition age youth.

At the beginning of the 1996-1997 school year funding from the State Department of Education was discontinued; however, the Idaho Falls Community Transition Team voted to continue its efforts toward enhancing transition for students with disabilities. Since that time, the team has relied on in-kind contributions from team members’ school districts or agencies, as well as small grants received from Western Washington University, the Bonneville Interagency Council (BIC), the Idaho Council on Developmental DisABILITIES, the DO-IT Program at the University of Washington, the State Department of Education, and Eastern Idaho Technical College Foundation. Although a number of community teams were established throughout the state of Idaho during the early 90’s, the Idaho Falls Community Transition Team is the only team which has continuously sustained its activities since that time.  The Magic Valley Transition Team and a team in northern Idaho have been formed to primarily sponsor Disability Mentoring Day throughout Idaho.

In October of 2001 the Idaho Falls Community Transition Team joined with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) to sponsor the first Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) in Idaho Falls. Thirteen high school and college students with disabilities had the opportunity to choose their dream job and discover more about that job through a community based mentoring activity. DMD has become an annual event with support from the Mayors of Idaho Falls and Ammon; employers in Idaho Falls, Shelley, and Rigby; the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities; and Eastern Idaho Technical College Foundation. Beginning in 2010 a local business Cargill Specialty Canola Oil, Inc. partnered with Olive Garden to provide food and servers for the luncheon held to celebrate DMD activities.

March 2008 brought the state-wide Tools for Life Transition Conference to the Shilo Inn in Idaho Falls.  This was the first time the conference for transition age youth, their families, and professionals was located outside Boise.  IFCTT members joined the Idaho Assistive Technology Project, the State Department of Education, the Idaho Interagency Council on Secondary Transition, and the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities in planning this conference which drew a record breaking number of attendees.  Following trips to Coeur d’Alene and Boise this conference returned to Idaho Falls in March 2011 and March 2014.

In order to provide southeastern Idaho high school students an alternative to traveling to Tools for Life outside southeastern Idaho, the IFCTT collaborated with the DO-IT Program at the University of Washington to sponsor mini-conferences in March of 2009 and 2010.  Held at Eastern Idaho Technical College, these conferences offered high school students with disabilities the opportunity to learn more about the adult world awaiting them after high school graduation. Although financial support is no longer available from the DO-IT Program, Cargill and the Eastern Idaho Technical College Foundation have stepped up to ensure that these mini-conferences continue. In 2013 the IFCTT purchased Reality Town, a financial literacy simulation. The activity was presented at the 2013 mini-conference and the 2014 Tools for Life Conference in Idaho Falls. Participants have the opportunity to learn more about the costs of being independent and living in the adult world. Reality Town is supported by a large number of community volunteers who are essential to the success of the activity.

Our vision statement says, “We envision a community where all people can live, work and play as valued community members.” The Idaho Falls Community Transition Team continuously keeps this vision statement in mind as we address transition issues. We invite your participation in our activities and solicit your input as to transition needs of youth.