Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Blind)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
d. 1. The designated State unit's plans, policies, and procedures for coordination with education officials to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities from school to the receipt of VR services, including pre-employment transition services, as well as procedures for the timely development and approval of individualized plans for employment for the students
Current Narrative:
In collaboration with the Transition Coordinator, ICBVI VR Counselors and the Idaho Education Services for the Deaf and Blind (IESDB) staff coordinate with regional education officials to identify blind and visually impaired students in the K-12 school system. VR counselors regularly meet with the special education teachers, teachers of the visually impaired (IESDB Staff), school counselors, school nurses and other personnel involved in school to work transition. A transition Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) is developed within 90 days of eligibility determination (unless an extension is agreed upon) to assist the student with their successful transition from school to work.
To facilitate the transition of students with the disabilities, the following cooperative agreements have been established:
Idaho State Department of Education - July 2018
Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and Blind - November 2021
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS): In collaboration with local educational agencies (LEA’s), IESDB, and IDVR are required to offer to transition age students with disabilities (ages 14-21), Pre-Employment Transition Services (CFR 361.48(a)).
Pre-ETS are available to students with disabilities who are potentially eligible and eligible for ICBVI VR services.
In 2020, ICBVI and IDVR administration agreed to a minimum age of 14 years old that students with disabilities may begin receiving Pre-Employment Transition Services. This agreed lower threshold will be effective upon approval of this plan.
Pre-ETS include:
- Job exploration counseling;
- Work-based learning experiences, (which may include in-school or after school opportunities, experience outside the traditional school setting including internships that are provided in an integrated environment);
- Counseling on opportunities in comprehensive transition or enrollment in post-secondary educational programs;
- Workplace readiness training to develop social skills; and
- Independent living instruction in self-advocacy/peer mentoring.
In order to reach those goals, each ICBVI region is ensuring they have a strong relationship with the local school districts, Transition Councils, and One-Stop partners. State-wide Pre-Employment Transition Services and programs have been implemented and will continue to expand as the population of high school students we serve increases.
ICBVI’s Project Coordinator for Transition Services is working with all state-wide LEA’s to educate and inform them of Pre-ETS activities. This individual is also communicating with all staff engaged in the delivery of Pre-ETS to help develop and enhance existing referral and outreach strategies within schools.
Youth seeking subminimum wage employement
ICBVI has created a checklist for youth seeking subminimum wage employment, which includes the documentation requirements and responsibilities under Section 511. The checklist includes the requirement for a transition or Pre-ETS service to be completed prior to youth verification of Career Counseling and Information and Referral (CCI&R) under Section 511.
Under a memorandum of understanding, the Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation provides CCI&R services for the state.
Responsibilities of the VR program:
The ICBVI checklist includes:
- Documentation of the provision of transition services or pre-employment transition services;
- Application for VR services;
- The provision of Career Counseling, and Information and Referral Services.
Responsibilities of the Local Education Agency (LEA):
Documentation of completion of appropriate transition services for a youth with a disability under IDEA, which includes:
- Youth’s name
- Description of the service or activity completed
- Name of the provider of the required service or activity
- Date required service or activity completed
Career Counseling, and Information and Referral Services (CCI&R)
Counselors providing the service address the following elements of the VR process which includes a discussion of competitive integrated employment and services available at VR to assist the individual in making an informed choice whether or not to continue pursuit of employment with a 14(c) certificate holder.
CCI&R activities include:
- Counseling in self-advocacy, self-determination and high expectations
- Review of any assessment information available (e.g. Interest inventories)
- Person-centered planning
- Discussion of marketable skill
- Soft skills
- Review of labor market information
- SSA benefits planning