1. Services to Students and Youth with Disabilities
WIOA
Congressional intent for VR to serve transition youth at younger age
Directs that VR provides specific services, called Pre-employment transition services
Promise
Demonstration for youth who are on SSI
Targets specific services and wrap-around services
Lessons learned are helpful for WIOA

2. Definitions
Students with Disabilities: students from ages (dependent of state’s IDEA definition) with an IEP or 504 plan. Youth with Disabilities: individual with a disabilities between the ages of

3. Focus on Youth: Pre-employment Transition Services (PETS)
New Requirement
15% of all federal funds on HS youth with disabilities
$ Approximately $10 million annually
Currently $1.6 M
Eligible/potentially eligible for VR services
35,000 in Wisconsin
Will put pressure on waitlist
VR, in collaboration with LEA, shall provide or arrange to provide:
1) job exploration counseling
2) work-based learning experiences
3) Counseling on opportunities for transition or post-secondary educational or higher education programs
4) Workplace readiness training to develop social skills and Independent Living
5) Instruction in self-advocacy, which may include peer mentoring.
2) Work-based learning experiences, which may include in-school or after school opportunities, or experience outside the traditional school setting (including internships), that is provided in an integrated environment to the maximum extent possible
3) Counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs at institutions of higher education
--does not require VR to pay for “think college”

4. Why PETS
Students who had a job at the time of high school exit were 5.1 times more likely to be engaged in postschoolemployment (Rabren et al., 2002)“
Certain practices can lead to positive outcomes (Promise Grant Application):
Case management;
Benefits counseling;
Career and work-based learning experiences; and
Parent training and information.
Each of these practices on their own has some positive effect, but there is no proven “package” of practices that has led to the desired outcomes.

5. Pre-employment Transition Services (PETS)
Career Counseling
Work-based learning
College Counseling
VR, in collaboration with LEA, shall provide or arrange to provide:
1) job exploration counseling
2) work-based learning experiences
3) Counseling on opportunities for transition or post-secondary educational or higher education programs
4) Workplace readiness training to develop social skills and Independent Living
5) Instruction in self-advocacy, which may include peer mentoring.
2) Work-based learning experiences, which may include in-school or after school opportunities, or experience outside the traditional school setting (including internships), that is provided in an integrated environment to the maximum extent possible
3) Counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs at institutions of higher education
--does not require VR to pay for “think college”
Social Skills
Self-Advocacy

6. Win-Win with WDB Meeting the Requirements
One on One
DVR securing job development and
DVR contracting with providers of soft skills and advocacy
Services to Groups
Summer Youth Activities
BPDD
WDB Summer Youth Internships
Offering continuum of services with other partners