At the Dayle McIntosh Center, the Youth Transition Program is called DMC Youth Connect. It is a program for youth with disabilities, who want to learn new things, build personal skills, and have fun on the weekend with other young people.
Program Eligibility
Young people with disabilities, ages 14 to 24, and who live in Orange County are eligible to be participants in the DMC Youth Connect Program.
For more information about DMC Youth Connect call 714.621.3300 or complete the online form.
Referral Process
Potential consumers are referred to the DMC Youth Connect Program by a variety of sources such as special education teachers, case managers from Regional Center, other disability-based organizations, healthcare personnel, family members, and friends. Youth can also decide to refer themselves.
What Happens in the DMC Youth Connect Program?
Youth become part of the DMC Youth Connect program through an intake process. If the young person is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must be part of the intake interview.
Youth Program staff and the youth, which is called a consumer, work together to develop their goals and/or an independent living plan. The intake also goes over activities, target dates, and desired outcomes. This helps to structure the youth’s involvement in the DMC Youth Connect program.
The purpose of the DMC Youth Connect program is to assist youth with transitioning from public school to young adult-life. The program also provides youth with opportunities for participating in social and recreational activities, making friends, and mentoring by successful adults, who are individuals with disabilities.
Our team of Youth Program staff are also available to present Independent Living (IL) training at sites such as special education classrooms. Some examples of IL training areas include:
Work Readiness Skills that will help youth get a better understanding of the things they need to get a job.
Safety: Becoming aware of, and using, emergency and prevention procedures for safety at home, in the community, and on the job.
Youth may continue in the DMC Youth Connect program until they “age out,” achieve the goals, move out of the area, or decide that they are no longer interested. After leaving the program, all participants are given an opportunity to complete a satisfaction survey to express their opinions about the usefulness of the youth program.
DOWNLOAD DMC Youth Connect Flyers:
- Youth Transitions – DMC Youth Connect (English)
- Youth Transitions – DMC Youth Connect (Spanish)
- Youth Sexual Self-Advocacy (English)
- Youth Sexual Self-Advocacy (Spanish)
Youth Summer Academy is an annual three-day event, open to current and new youth. Held each summer, the academy focuses on topics that support the transition from high school to young adult life.
Each academy features a unique theme to guide interactive lessons, hands-on activities, and opportunities to connect with peers and community members. On the final day, youth participate in a community outing to celebrate their learning and build connections in a fun and meaningful way.
If youth are new to our program, the Youth Summer Academy is a great introduction to DMC Youth Connect and the support we provide.
To learn more about the academy, please email youth@daylemc.org or contact our office to speak to speak with a member of our Youth Connect team.
Peer-to-Peer Coast-to-Coast Collaborative
The DMC Youth Connect Program is thrilled to share a Peer-to-Peer Coast to Coast opportunity with Able South Carolina to strengthen peer networks, lessen isolation, prepare for independent living, and support advocacy efforts. Join us and connect to our new exciting partnership, meet new friends, share ideas and experiences.
REGISTER NOW: To learn more about this opportunity and register check out the flyer to sign up:
http://daylemc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P2P-Coast-to-Coast-Flyer-Official-1.pdf
If you would like to join our group, please register by clicking the link above and if you have any questions call 714-621-3300.
Read our press release announcing this exciting partnership Click HERE
Youth Pre-ETS Program
DMC partners with the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) to provide comprehensive Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for Blind Field Services. Youth who are blind/low vision will receive career exploration, self-advocacy skills building, postsecondary education counseling, workplace readiness training, and work-based learning opportunities. Through this program, youth build confidence, independence, and the skills needed to successfully transition into competitive integrated employment and/or postsecondary education or training.
Please see the flyer below for more information. If you or anyone you know is interested in Pre-ETS, you may reach out to youth@daylemc.org or (714)621-3300.
For the Pre-ETS flyer, Please click HERE
Program Success Stories
Bridging Communication Technical Difficulties
A youth consumer achieved the goal of connecting to the groups on Saturdays via Zoom, with the assistance of the Youth Community Liaison. The consumer had trouble with getting connected and had not been able to join the youth groups since they started on Zoom. The appointment with the Youth Community Liaison helped the consumer understand how to find and access the link for the Zoom meeting. The consumer attended Live Out Loud successfully and continued to attend the youth groups via Zoom until the program resumed in-person in 2023.
Youth Consumer Grows Upward and Forward Transitioning to Independence
A consumer age 25+ successfully transitioned from the Youth Program after receiving goal-focused support since 2022.
DMC supported their transition by providing referrals to adult programs and offering continued guidance through an in-person follow-up where additional community resource support was provided to ensure continuity of services beyond program exit.
- Consumer Question: Where are your groups located?
DMC Program Answer: Our in-person groups are held in Anaheim. If that location does not work for you, we do have a virtual group that happens every 1st Saturday of the month
- Consumer Question: Are there any requirements to join DMC Youth Connect?
DMC Program Answer: Our groups are available to youth with disabilities who are ages 14 to 24 and live in Orange County. To join our in-person groups, youth must have a history of COVID-19 vaccination and wear a KN95 mask provided by DMC when not eating, per DMC’s COVID, Airborne Illness, and Virus policies.
- Consumer Question: Do you have any groups during the weekdays?
DMC Program Answer: DMC Youth Connect offers groups on Saturdays. If you’re interested in learning skills during the week, DMC has other programs or groups available. Please contact us at (714)621-3300 for information or resources.
- Consumer Question: I need help finding a job. Does your organization help with that?
DMC Program Answer: While we do not provide direct employment services, DMC Youth Connect helps youth prepare for adult life through group activities. These groups include Independent Living Skills where we learn about skills for everyday life, and How to Work It that focuses on building job skills, how to be work ready, and requesting reasonable accommodations.
- Consumer Question: I’m not sure about joining your program just yet. What are my options?
DMC Program Answer: We understand that not every group is for everybody. After going through our intake process, you are welcome to join a group to see if it’s something you’d enjoy or learn from. If the program does not meet your needs, we are more than happy to look for other options at DMC and/or resources in your community.
