1. A Journey through Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) TRANSITION SERVICES April 21, 2015 presented by: Avis brown, transition coordinator

2. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program…
Provides services to help persons with disabilities to obtain the job skills and other resources they need to
GET A JOB… KEEP A JOB… AND DEVELOP A CAREER!

3. Who Do We Serve?
LRS serves individuals with a broad range of disabilities:
Physical Disabilities
Blindness
Deafness
Deaf-Blindness
Mental Disabilities
Inclusive of post-traumatic stress resulting from Katrina/Rita and soldiers returning from Iraq/Afghanistan wars
Learning Disabilities
Traumatic Head/Brain Injury
Developmental Disabilities
Spinal Cord Injury
Various other Disabilities

4. WHO SHOULD APPLY FOR VR?
Anyone who has a disability that causes problems in preparing for, finding, or keeping employment.

5. Eligibility Criteria
Must have a disability defined as a physical and/or mental impairment which for such an individual constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment; and
Can benefit in terms of an Employment outcome from vocational rehabilitation services; and
Must require vocational rehabilitation services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful employment.

6. Eligibility Criteria Medical, psychological or vocational reports
To help speed up the eligibility process, we recommend that the individual bring the following information (if available):
Medical, psychological or vocational reports
Copy of transcripts or grades
Resume of work history

7. Order Of Selection Groups
Selection Group I & II – Most Significantly Disabled
Selection Group III & IV – Significantly Disabled
Selection Group V – Non-Significantly Disabled
LRS currently serving Order of Selection Group I, II, & III

8. Transition from School to Work
The term, vocational rehabilitation services for transition students, means a coordinated set of vocational rehabilitation services for students, designed within an outcome-oriented process, that promotes movement from school to post school activities, including:

9. Transition from School to Work
Postsecondary education
Vocational training
Integrated employment (including supported employment)
Continuing and adult education
If appropriate, referral to available continuing and adult education, adult services,
Independent living or community participation

10. Transition Students – Who Are They?
A transition student is an individual, who at the time of application for vocational rehabilitation services is a student with a disability who has an active Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in place and has been coded as receiving special education on the RSA-911.

11. STUDENTS With 504
"A student must meet the definition of a student with a disability as defined in the statute to be covered under Section 504 (i.e. have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, have a record of such impairment, or be regarded as having such an impairment). (Note: A physical or mental disability only constitutes a disability for purposes of Section 504 if its severity results in substantial limitation of the life activity in question. A student's general weakness in a given area would not typically constitute a disability under Section 504."  

12. THE TRANSITION PROCESS
VR Counselors are assigned to schools within their region in order to provide:
Outreach information
Consultation to students and families
Technical assistance to schools
Participation in IEP meetings if staff is available, particularly during the last year of education
Participation in planning & coordination of services
Establishing eligibility for the VR
program
*State Plan addresses these coordinated efforts according to
Attachment 4.8(b)(2) Coordination with Education Officials

13. Workforce innovation and opportunity Act - Wioa
Signed into law into law on July 22, 2014, superseding the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy.

14. Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)
Services are individualized to meet the employment needs as identified on the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) of the consumer
Combines Counselor’s expertise with the employment needs and choices of the consumer.
Roadmap that results in gainful employment and independence for the consumer.

15. IPE Development
Must be developed within 90 days of eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services (there are exceptions to this).
Individual has right to develop their own IPE.
The employment OUTCOME must be consistent with the individual’s unique strengths, resources, priorities, interests and capabilities.

16. Vocational Goal
Once the consumer has decided upon a specific employment goal, the IPE can then list in detail the VR services that are needed and who will pay for them.

17. Vocational rehabilitation (vR) Services
SERVICES . . .clear linkage between the provision of service(s) and the potential for the consumer to achieve gainful employment …
Vocational Guidance and Career Counseling
Primary Mental and/or Physical Restoration
Vocational and other Training Services
Rehabilitation Technology (including Assistive
Technology Devices and Services and Rehabilitation
Engineering)

18. Vr Services (….continued)
Supported Employment
On-the-Job Training Services (OJT)
Personal Assistance Services, such as PCA, Scribe,
Reader, and Interpreter
Recruitment and Training Services
Establishment of a Small Business Enterprise
Vehicle Modifications
Transportation to Access other VR Services
Job Placement and Suitable Employment

19. Pre-employment transition services - pets
What are PETS:
Required Services
Job Exploration Counseling
Work Based Learning Experiences
Counseling on Post-Secondary Opportunities
Workplace Readiness Training
Training on Self-Advocacy
Who qualifies for PETS Services :
Students with Disabilities – 16 to 21 years old who are eligible or potentially eligible for VR services.

20. Who Can Refer? Individual (self) Parents / Family Members
Guidance Counselor or teacher
Organization or agency that helps people with disabilities (Independent Living Centers, OCDD, Families Helping Families, etc.)
One-Stop Employment Centers
Others

21. LRS Regional Offices
BATON ROUGE REGION Verna Dixon-Fletcher, Regional Manager 3651 Cedarcrest Avenue | Baton Rouge, LA Phone: (225) (Voice or TDD) | Toll-free: Baton Rouge Rehabilitation Employment Assessment Program Mark Peltier, RCS Manager | 8225 Florida Blvd. | Baton Rouge, LA Phone: (225) | Toll-free: Parishes served: Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana See Handout for More Information.

22. Questions / Comments??

23. Avis Brown LRS Transition Coordinator abrown5@lwc.la.gov 225.219.2948
Contact information
Avis Brown LRS Transition Coordinator

24. This Concludes Your Transition Services Journey
Thank you
&
Make It An Excellent Day!!!