Raising the Cap Series 
Opening Doors
The Opening Doors series provides a process of planning for life after high school that includes making decisions, planning, and taking actions. Specifically, it is a tool for students with IEPs to use as they begin to plan for a successful future. There are four Opening Door guides to assist with transition planning.
Opening Doors to Employment
Employment was created to provide input and direction to students as they set and work toward their employment goals. It offers career exploration strategies, job preparation advice, and job search strategies. The guide addresses questions such as: What kind of work would be best for me? How do I know I can do certain kinds of jobs? How can I get a job and keep a job? If I get a certain kind of job, could I live on my income? This provides an opportunity to explore and plan for employment upon exiting high school.
Opening Doors to Self-Determination Skills
Self-Determination Skills involves setting and achieving goals to help students grow. It is important for students to know their strengths and address their weaknesses as they prepare for life after high school. As students move through school and toward adulthood, they go through a process of considering who they are and who they wish to become. What kind of work would they like to do? What will they need to do to pursue this work? What living arrangements do they envision? What education, training, and services will be available to them along the way? Students can work with counselors, parents, and teachers as they work with this resource.
Opening Doors to Post-Secondary Education and Training
Postsecondary Education leads the student, family and educators through a process of planning for life after high school that includes making decisions, planning, and taking actions. Specifically, this publication is a tool for students with disabilities to use as they begin to plan for a successful future. A highlight of this guide focuses on how the law is different as students navigate from IDEA to ADA or high school to postsecondary education. Each student can consider his or her strengths and weaknesses, plan a high school experience that will achieve specific goals, explore possibilities for work and a career, and identify the next steps for life after high school which may include postsecondary education.
Opening Doors A Guide to Adult Services
A Guide to Adult Services will help students, their families, and educators understand the adult service system as well as services available in the community. Preparing for graduation and thinking about the future beyond high school is a very exciting time in anyone’s life. The possibilities are endless. This guide will help students prepare for this new journey to adulthood.
For more information regarding the Opening Doors Series
Key Resources For Opening Doors
A printable or fillable order form to order printed copies of each of the booklets in Spanish in the "Opening Doors" series from the WI…
Opening Doors Series (fillable order form) – EnglishA printable or fillable order form to order printed copies of each of the booklets in the "Opening Doors" series from the WI DPI.
Opening Doors to Adult ServicesHandbook created by DPI to help students and families understand the range of adult services available and how to access them.
Opening Doors to Adult Services–SPANISH translationHandbook created by DPI to help students and families understand the range of adult services available and how to access them. This version has been…
Opening Doors to Employment: Planning for Life After High SchoolThis booklet from the Department of Public Instruction provides students, parents and teachers valuable information on career exploration, job preparation, job search strategies, as well…
Opening Doors to Employment: Planning for Life After High School – SPANISHThis booklet from the Department of Public Instruction provides students, parents and teachers valuable information on career exploration, job preparation, job search strategies, as well…
Opening Doors to Postsecondary EducationThis booklet from the WI DPI has been created to assist students with disabilities, parents, school counselors, and others on the IEP team in planning…
Opening Doors to Postsecondary Education – SPANISHThis booklet from the WI DPI has been created to assist students with disabilities, parents, school counselors, and others on the IEP team in planning…
Opening Doors to Self-Determination–SPANISH versionThis booklet provides information and guidance to students with disabilities as they explore how to develop self-determination skills to prepare for the transition from high…
Opening Doors to Self-Determination: Planning for Life After High SchoolThis booklet provides information and guidance to students with disabilities as they explore how to develop self-determination skills to prepare for the transition from high…