1. 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

2. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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= (no qualifiers)

7. 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)

8. 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

9. Transition Documents

10. Ohio transition support partnership (OTSP)

11. 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

12. 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

13. Pre-Employment Transition services

14. 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.”

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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 address, voic message, etc.)

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Pre-employment transition services Fact sheet

26. 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 –
Request Fax number
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

27. Pre-Employment transition services Request Form

28. 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

29. Career counseling for individuals in subminimum wage employment

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. Career counseling for individuals in subminimum wage employment

36. NEW OOD Website Tab ‘Transition Students’

37. OOD Website updates www.ood.ohio.gov

38. OOD Website updates www.ood.ohio.gov

39. OOD Website updates www.ood.ohio.gov

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

41. Contact Information
Julie Hance Supported Employment and Transition Unit, Supervisor Janice Mader Supported Employment and Transition Unit, Rehabilitation Program Specialist

42. Questions or Comments?