Florida Department of Education “Reaching Out” VR School to Work Transition Program

1. Florida Department of Education“Reaching Out”VR School to Work Transition Program

2. OBJECTIVES Update of VR Transition Initiatives & Services How Transition Services Can Help You Early Work & Social Skill Development Programs & Resources Supporting Transition

3. What are Transition Services in VR? Assist eligible students with disabilities to transition from HS to postsecondary training, education, or directly into employment upon exit Vocational Guidance and Counseling occurs while the student is still in HS The Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) is coordinated with the student’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) and in place prior to the student’s exit Two things we presume to have happened if the IPE is complete: 1. Eligibility Decision 2. Vocational G & C. HS includes alternative settings like Juvenile Detention Centers & Sheriff Boy’s Ranch. 3

4. Current Initiatives & VR Services Community of Excellence Vocational Rehabilitation and Volunteer Florida Cross-training Initiative On-the-Job Training (OJT) Job Coaching for Summer Work Experiences Third Party Cooperative Arrangement (TPCA) through Community Based Work Experience (CBWE)

5. VR Third Party Cooperative Arrangements (TPCA) CBWE’s can be paid or non-paid, if non-paid this can only run for a limited amount of time (120 hours total) before they either have to be hired as a paid employee or move on to a new CBWE. This can help with At Risk students and Option 2 students. Depending on the area depends on who the contact person will be. TPCAs provide for school-based employment specialists. Funding is shared by VR and the school district to provide VR eligible transition students with valuable community based work experiences to assist with the planning and preparation necessary for postsecondary school employment success. For more information regarding VR TPCAs please contact: Pamela.Lightborne@vr.fldoe.org or Fabio.Vargas@vr.fldoe.org

6. Order of Selection & Financial Participation • Order of Selection ~3 Priority Categories ~List Determined by Priority Category and Date of Application ~Students are usually in the top two categories ~Category I & Category II are current (not placed on the wait list) • Financial Participation ~Some Services are Exempt ~Some Individuals are Exempt

7. VR OJT & Job Coaching Services Summer OJT’s cannot be combined with CBWE’s, if both programs exist in the area look at which is the best option for the student. OJT is available to students transitioning from school to work Summer OJT for students with a specific vocational goal & plans to work during school year Job Coaching is available to support summer work experiences when school is not in session

8. Who Should Be Referred to VR? Students that have an IEP Students that have a 504 Plan Students or Youth that don’t need academic or physical accommodations can still be provided information about VR Transition Students or Youth that have disabilities should be encouraged to apply for VR services Youth at High Risk of Dropping Out of School Q: Who should make the referral? A: Who spends the most time with the student? School staff, Staffing Specialists, Principals, or Teachers. 8

9. AT RISK VR should be involved when any student is at high risk for drop-out ****** even if only in an advisory capacity ****** Emphasis is placed on encouraging students to remain in school Provide information about their options that will help them to become engaged in transition services Be a Resource, whether or not the student can go through VR VR cases can travel with participants anywhere in Florida Do you know of anyone that has ever “Fallen through the Cracks”. VR should be that spackle that keeps people from falling through the cracks whether by providing services or resource information. 9

10. When Should a Student Apply ? At least two years prior to HS exit Referral should be made at the end of the Sophomore or early in the Junior year… or Two to three years before graduation or exit for those students staying until age 22 At age 16 and older if the student is or will be involved in a community work experience Usually around the Junior year in to give the student a buffer of time. The reason for this is to look at the big picture, what will be necessary 1 year from now… 5… 10? At this point VR will start to advise the student and parents about long term goals and how to reach them as well as available services to assist with reaching their goal. IF the student is in a county that has a TPCA the student can be enrolled at the age of 16 or Freshman year for CBWE purposes. 10

11. What Documents Does VR Need? Current IEP or 504 Plan Medical and/or psychological records or new evaluations that document disability Transcriptor academic reports Attendance and tardiness reports Behavioral reports, if applicable Vocational training records and/or career assessments, if available Involvement with any other agencies Explain how it helps with eligibility, IPE development and G & C. Transcript shows GPA and weighted GPA, shows individual grades for all classes, shows if they passed the FCAT or had to take multiple times, shows class rank, and attendance. Tardiness becomes very important when going directly into placement services. Behavioral reports may give insight into other issues/disabilities and how to address. Get this for any recent graduate, not just transition students. Amazed that I will see an IPE for a 4 year degree without any info. 11

12. What Can VR Provide to the School? Psychological Evaluations Used to Determine VR Eligibility Medical Evaluations Used for VR Eligibility Vocational Assessments or Evaluations Used to Develop the Individualized Plan for Employment A Copy of the IPE to Coordinate with the IEP Rehabilitation Engineering or Technology Evaluations Postsecondary Outcomes VR can provide psychological evaluations and are usually done by VR in order to get the most current abilities, diagnosis, and necessary recommendations for post secondary services. VR can not legally pay for Phase II services. Do you have to know who the Phase II provider is at time of the IPE? Reinforce the need for referral to APD (Med-waiver) as early as possible. Can SE begin earlier (NO its an adult service). When does Phase II begin? 90 days after stabilization 12

13. How Can the School Help VR? Copies of school records & releases of information Opportunities for VR presentations Aid distributing VR info to staff, parents, & students Scheduled meeting space & time for school visits Invitations to IEP meetings at start of school year or alternate input Student referrals at the start of the school year Time to speak with teachers, guidance counselors, nurses and students What is alternate input? What is best practice for when to refer? How do we find out about students that are not served by an IEP? Talk to teachers, guidance counselors, etc. Do presentations at schools and educational functions, attend the PTA, PTO, etc. 13

14. VR Services May Include • Assessment for determination of eligibility & VR needs • Referral to other agencies • Counseling and guidance • Job search and placement services • Personal assistance services • Supported employment services • Extended Evaluation • On-the-job training • Physical and Mental Restoration Services • Vocational & Other Training Services • Transportation • Occupational Licenses, Tools & Stock • Rehabilitation Technology Services • Other Goods & Services • Post Employment Services • Community Based Work Experience for school to work transition – Third Party Cooperative Arrangement

15. How Does Collaboration Between the School and VR Help the Student? • Developing the IPE earlier identifies the extensive transition efforts made by the school on behalf of the student ~Academic Training/Tutoring ~Guidance and Counseling ~Community Based Work Experiences • VR Can Often Assist with Rehabilitation Technology Needs Associated with Community Based Work Experiences • VR Provides Disability Guidance & Counseling ~Long Term Disability Planning ~Educational and Work Accommodations ~Self Advocacy ~Employment • VR Involvement Helps Schools Track Postsecondary Outcomes ***Early Referral & IPE Development supports successful transition from school to work*** This can include referrals to other agencies such as APD, CIL, SSA, or others. Vocational exploration either through the TPCA, OJT, Community of Excellence, or VF while in school and OJT, Vocational Assessments, Situational Assessments, and Placement/ Job Coaching Services after graduation.

16. Transition Web Sites for Students with Disabilities, Families and Professionals FACTS now has information specific to students with disabilities. Includes links to laws for professionals. • www.facts23.facts.org Florida’s academic counseling and tracking site • www.fyitransition.org Fully interactive transition site with an avatar that explains information found there • www.myfloridayouth.com Transition site emphasizing youth resources available through federal and state agencies • www.project10.info Comprehensive site for transition resources and technical assistance FYI has an avatar that explains sections verbally. Site includes games to reinforce some of the information found there. Developed through USF and the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities.

17. Resource Materials for Transition www.labormarketinfo.com/pubs Brochures, posters and information sheets on skills, careers and wages www.apd.myflorida.com/publications Decision Making Options brochure and various other materials www.advocacycenter.org Transition Guide for Children in the Foster Care System brown@ruralinstitute.umt.edu Type “subscribe transition” in subject line for an informative newsletter covering transition, employment for people with disabilities, relevant legislation, training, & interesting sites VR Intranet & www.rehabworks.org In the Field Services section under School to Work you will find the School to Work Transition Guidelines and Best Practices or type STW in the consumer search box on Rehabworks.org

18. Questions? Feel free to contact me at (850) 245-3360 or (800) 451-4327 Kirk.Hall@vr.fldoe.org