Transitioning from High School: Pre-Employment Services Overview

Pre Employment Transition Services- High School is Finished, Now What? Rachel Loria Senior Disability Rights Advocates disAbility Law Center of Virginia

Legal Disclaimer This presentation is designed to provide general legal information and is not intended to provide legal advice. This presentation does not create an attorney-client relationship with the disAbility Law Center of Virginia.

Why is it important to understand your rights? We know that many people who have disabilities want to work and have skills and passions that they want to pursue. However, sometimes a person s disability can be a barrier to employment. Vocational Rehabilitation providers can help to navigate employment. As a person with a disability your have a unique voice and perspective that you can use to make a difference.

What is the Client Assistance Program? Client Assistance Program or CAP helps persons seeking information, applying for services, or receiving services from a Center for Independent Living (CIL) or vocational rehabilitation (VR) services from the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department of Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI). The disAbility Law Center of Virginia administers CAP.

Pre Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Pre ETS can start as early as age 14, and they are services meant to prepare high school students for work and life after high school. These services are free. They consist of 5 core services, which include

5 Core Services Job Exploration Counseling Explore career interests and foster motivation Work-Based Learning Experiences Use the workplace to gain knowledge and skills that connect school experiences to career opportunities Counseling on Educational and Training Options Learn about postsecondary education and training opportunities and resources

5 Core Services Continued Workplace Readiness Training Prepare for adult life by developing social and independent living skills Instruction in Self Advocacy Learn how to effectively communicate your needs and direct your life

When Can Pre-ETS Start? Pre-ETS can start as early as age 14. Typically parents who know about these services choose to start them sophomore year of high school. You may hear that services can only last one year. This is not true Services can start in any educational setting including Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF s), juvenile justice centers, private schools, or in home school or homebound situations.

Pre-ETS and Transition to VR During a person s senior year, or their last year in high school, the Pre-ETS counselor should speak with the student and family about Vocational Rehabilitation and fill out an application for services. Pre-ETS can continue until 24, but you can get nearly all the services from Pre-ETS if you have an open VR case. A student can also have a VR case and a Pre-ETS case for some time if the counselor agrees to this.

What is Vocational Rehabilitation? Vocational Rehabilitation refers to services that can help a person who has a disability Find a job Keep a job Or move up within a job If that person s disability is a barrier to employment. Some of these services can be free, so it s important to speak with your Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselor to find out what services you need to pay for and which are free.

How can VR help me? Agencies that provide VR services can help in a variety of ways including helping you look for a job, prepare you for job interviews, or support you for a specific amount of time while you are working. VR providers can also help you to learn skills that you need for work (such as computer skills or social skills) , help you understand how much you can make without losing your Social Security benefits, or, at times, pay for education.

Who can provide these services? Department for the Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) https://www.dars.virginia.gov/ Voice: 804.662.7000 Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired. https://www.dbvi.virginia.gov/ (800) 622-2155 Centers for Independent Living (CILs): https://vacil.org/cils-in-virginia/ 540-433-6513

How dLCV can advocate regarding Pre-ETS If services are not starting for your student, call us and we can assist in starting services. If you have questions about Pre-ETS, call dLCV and we may be able to clarify or answer questions If your student is receiving Pre-ETS but needs more services or different services from DARS or DBVI If your student is graduating and DARS or DBVI has not done an application for VR Services

True or False? I cannot work because I receive benefits (SSI or SSDI) from Social Security Administration. True or False??

How can disAbility Law Center of Virginia Help with VR? If you are interested in learning about VR, we can connect you with your local office. If you have been denied a specific service from VR, we can help to advocate for you to get the VR services that you need.

Help.cont.. If there is a miscommunication or you are unhappy with your VR services, we can help to navigate that and ensure you are getting the services you need. If DARS or DBVI is trying to close your case, we can sometimes advocate to keep your case open. At times, we can also help to explain policy.

True or False If VR is trying to close my case, there is nothing that I can do. True or False?

True or False I need Assistive Technology (tools to help me work like a machine to help me speak or a machine to help me read or see)-VR can sometimes help to perform evaluations and see what I need, and they can sometimes help pay for what I need if it relates to work. TRUE or FALSE?

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