Julie Hance and Janice Mader, OOD November 16, 2017 Opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities Transition updates and Discussion Julie Hance and Janice Mader, OOD November 16, 2017

Vocational Rehabilitation Overview VR is for individuals with disabilities, including students with disabilities The goal is to help individuals with disabilities to prepare for and get ready for work, find a job, and maintain employment. State and Federally Funded through Rehab Act Dollars under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Every state has a VR program that follows federal laws and rules VR matches individuals with jobs that best meet their interests and abilities

Vocational Rehabilitation Process Application for Services Eligibility & Order of Selection Services Closure Elimination of the SD Waiting List, after years of hard work and dedication, we have no waiting list. From this point forward individuals with a significant disability will move directly from application to eligibility and plan development and will no longer wait for services. OOD services are time limited Federal Compliance timelines are as follows: Application to Eligibility – 60 days Eligibility to Plan – 120 days Employed to Closure – 90 days

Eligibility Criteria Applicant has a physical, cognitive and/or mental impairment Applicant’s physical, cognitive and/or mental impairment constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment Applicant can benefit in terms of an employment outcome from the provision of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services Applicant requires VR services to prepare for, secure, retain or regain employment *Follows the same eligibility criteria as general cases

Transition Student Student with a disability, age 14 through 21 who: Is eligible for, and receiving, special education services under part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) or is an individual with a disability, for purposes of section 504 may or may not be receiving services under an Individual Education Program (IEP), a 504 Education Program Not yet 22 Youth with disability= 14-24 (no qualifiers)

Transition Services Transition Services are a coordinated set of outcome- oriented activities for a student that promotes the shift (or transition) from school to work or post-school activities. Coordinate with: The Student, Parents/Guardians, Schools, DD, Other community partners (e.g. mental health, department of youth services)

Progressive Career Development Services Job Coaching - Including support for non-permanent job Job Development/Placement - Including Non-Permanent Job Development Summer Youth Work Experience Summer Youth Career Exploration

Transition Documents

Ohio transition support partnership (OTSP)

Ohio Transition Support Partnership (OTSP) Statewide collaboration with the Ohio Department of Education/Office for Exceptional Children (ODE/OEC) Students with disabilities, ages 14-21, who are receiving services under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and meet OOD eligibility criteria OTSP:  Expands access for students with disabilities to engage in career exploration and skill development at a younger age; Increases participation of VR Counselors in Individual education Program (IEP) team meetings ensuring cross-agency planning and earlier career preparation; Improves strategies to ensure students with disabilities secure employment prior to graduation and connect with long-term support services when needed

OTSP Structure Statewide with increased presence in career and technical planning districts 30 vocational rehabilitation counselors and 21 caseload assistants Up to 3,800 Students with Disabilities Average caseload size 120- 130

Pre-Employment Transition services

WIOA “Congress makes clear that youth with significant disabilities must be given every opportunity to receive the services necessary to ensure the maximum potential to achieve competitive integrated employment.”

Pre-Employment Transition Services WIOA requires VR to set aside 15% of their federal funds to provide pre-employment transition service to students with disabilities who are eligible or potentially eligible. Students with disabilities must have a need for services Earliest set of services available to help students with disabilities begin to identify career interests Coordinated with schools

Pre-employment transition services Eligible and Potentially eligible Pre-Employment Transition Services are for students with disabilities who need these services and have either: been determined eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services; or are potentially eligible but have not applied for VR services Potentially eligible is a student with a disability who has not applied or been determined eligible for VR services through OOD, but is in a recognized education program, is at least 14 years of age but not yet 22 and is eligible for and receiving special education or related services under IDEA or is an individual with a disability for purposes of Section 504 of the Rehab Act.

Pre-Employment Transition Services Five Required Activities Pre-Employment Transition Services Include Job Exploration Counseling Work-based Learning Experiences Counseling on Post-Secondary Options Workplace Readiness Training Instruction in Self Advocacy

Pre-Employment Transition Services Job Exploration Counseling Discuss career options and learn about in-demand jobs. May include the following types of activities: Students will complete interest inventories Students will complete Informational Interviews Students will register at OMJ and will have a Backpack Students should be able to differentiate between employment options, have knowledge of in-demand jobs and career pathways Students should be able to communicate why employment matters, complete the modules and utilize the tools through the Job Seekers Guide Students will identify where they are in the career planning process

Pre-Employment Transition Services Work-based Learning Experiences Experience and gain knowledge about the workplace. May include the following types of activities: Students will participate in work site tours and job shadowing experiences at community businesses Students will display appropriate work site behaviors Students will obtain first-hand knowledge of work settings including: duties, personnel, daily expectation on productivity/output, shifts, accommodations, compensation, unwritten rules of work, etc. Students will apply the knowledge and tools they have learned. Students will learn the importance of networking and begin documenting resources within their networks.

Pre-Employment Transition Services Counseling on Post-Secondary Options Explore training options after graduation. May include the following types of activities: Students will complete a self-evaluation to identify their potential needs for college readiness. Students will understand post-secondary opportunities, including college/university and other adult learning options. Students will have information about college admissions processes, financial aid, and disability- related services Students will be aware of the FAFSA process, scholarships, and financial literacy Students will be able to articulate the differences between secondary and post-secondary support. Students will understand how accommodations work on campus (i.e. interpreting services, service animals, etc.). Students will be knowledgeable regarding resources available

Pre-Employment Transition Services Workplace Readiness Training Improve social skills and independent living skills. May include the following types of activities: Students will understand appropriate work behaviors and demonstrate the ability to meet employer expectations with regards to timeliness, hygiene, etc. Students will participate in mock interviews, complete application and resume templates, and when possible attend job fairs. Students will complete a pre and post evaluation to measure skill attainment Students will demonstrate knowledge of the impact of personal social media profile and other communication (i.e. appropriate email address, voicemail message, etc.)

Pre-Employment Transition Services Instruction in Self-Advocacy Learn skills needed for greater independence. May include the following types of activities: Students will have an increased awareness of their rights and responsibilities Students will learn leadership skills to support success in the workplace. Students will explore and connect with leadership or peer mentoring groups in their communities to expand community networks. Student will complete a form identifying own personal self-advocacy interests and activities to build independence and self-advocacy skills

Pre-Employment Transition Services Contract Providers Centers for Independent Living All disability types Instruction in self-advocacy (to start) Community Centers for the Deaf Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Job exploration counseling, work-based learning, counseling on post-secondary opportunities, workplace readiness training and instruction in self-advocacy

Pre-Employment Transition Services Contracts County Boards of DD – Lucas and Clermont (Oct. 1), Wayne (Jan. 1) Students who are eligible for county board of DD services Job exploration counseling, work-based learning, counseling on post-secondary opportunities, workplace readiness training and instruction in self-advocacy The Sight Centers of Ohio Students who have a visual impairment

Pre-employment transition services Fact sheet

Request Form – Potentially eligible (PE) cases School personnel typically complete and submit the form along with documentation (both the form and documentation of the disability are necessary for PE cases) Contractor can submit request form to the appropriate fax queue, if applicable Request Fax Queue – OOD.PreEmploymentRequestFax@ood.ohio.gov    Request Fax number 614-985-8435 Form must be signed by student, guardian (if applicable) and school personnel Incomplete request forms will be sent back to the referring school personnel indicating need information

Pre-Employment transition services Request Form

Pre-Employment Transition Services Communication Partner with ODE and State Support Teams to coordinate with LEAs including: OEC blast with fact sheet and language regarding the rolling implementation Special education directors’, school districts, and transition council meetings Presentations at statewide conferences and seminars OOD Website ODE Website- link to OOD

Career counseling for individuals in subminimum wage employment

Sub-Minimum Wage Employment Procedure WIOA establishes two new requirements that must be met in order for a worker with a disability to be paid subminimum wage. These requirements vary depending on the age and/or start date of the individual: Youth age 24 or younger All individuals, regardless of age, employed at subminimum wage before July 22, 2016

Sub-Minimum Wage Employment Procedure - Youth Part One: The youth has received transition services under IDEA: Instruction Related Services Community Experiences Development of employment and other post-school living objectives Acquisition of daily living skills and provision of functional vocational evaluation OR

Sub-Minimum Wage Employment Procedure - Youth Part Two: The youth has applied for VR services and has been found either: ineligible with a closure outcome of Closed – Other than Rehabilitated or eligible for services with an approved IPE however was closed without an employment outcome despite working toward the outcome with supports for a reasonable period of time

Sub-Minimum Wage Employment Procedure - Youth Part Three: The youth has received career counseling and information and referral services to public programs and other locally available resources: These referral services shall not include work compensated at subminimum wage or result in subminimum wage employment The youth must receive career counseling every six months for the first year of employment and annually thereafter.

Sub-Minimum Wage Employment Procedure – Ongoing Payment For individuals who were employed at subminimum wage before July 22, 2016, regardless of age, certificate holders must: • Maintain documentation that the individual has received career counseling and information and referral services from OOD at least annually. • All individuals employed as of July 22, 2016 must receive career counseling no later than July 22, 2017 • Those employed after July 22, 2016 must receive career counseling every six months during the first year of employment and annually thereafter. • Certificate holders must provide information about local self-advocacy, self- determination and peer mentoring training opportunities every six months during the first year of employment and annually thereafter. • These training opportunities may not be provided by the certificate holder.

Career counseling for individuals in subminimum wage employment

NEW OOD Website Tab ‘Transition Students’

OOD Website updates www.ood.ohio.gov

OOD Website updates www.ood.ohio.gov

OOD Website updates www.ood.ohio.gov

New ODE website Additions (Topics/Special education/Federal-and-State-Requirements/Secondary-Transition-and-workforce-Development) OTSP Pre-employment Transition Services

Contact Information Julie Hance Supported Employment and Transition Unit, Supervisor Julie.Hance@ood.ohio.gov Janice Mader Supported Employment and Transition Unit, Rehabilitation Program Specialist Janice.Mader@ood.ohio.gov

Questions or Comments?