Transition Services are a team effort. If you have a disability and are between the ages of 14 and 24, you can get help building job skills, exploring career interests and learning to advocate for yourself at work.
What are Transition Services?
Transition Services provide support and guidance to students and youth with disabilities as they prepare for the workforce.
Transition Services can help youth:
- Build job skills.
- Explore career interests.
- Upgrade self-advocacy skills.
Who provides Transition Services?
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation works with schools and other agencies to provide Transition Services.
DVR also offers Transition Services to youth with disabilities who are not in school and who have applied for and been determined eligible for vocational rehabilitation services.
Who can receive Transition Services?
Students and youth with disabilities can receive transition services, but the types of transition services available to each group are different.
Students with disabilities: an individual between the ages of 14-21 who has a documented disability, an Individual Education Program (IEP), or 504 Plan, who is enrolled in high school or a post secondary education or training program.
Students with disabilities can receive Pre-employment Transition Services without applying for DVR services. They can also receive other Transition Services if they apply and are determined eligible for DVR services. Students can also receive Transition Services through their school.
Youth with disabilities: an individual who is between the ages of 14-24 who is not in school and has a documented disability.
Youth with disabilities can receive DVR Transition Services if they apply and are determined eligible for DVR services.
Pre-Employment Transition Services
Who qualifies
Anyone who meets the definition of a student with a disability can receive Pre-ETS Services once they have completed a Pre-Employment Transition Services Approval Form. This form will need to be signed by a school official and DVR staff before services can begin.
Process steps for getting Pre-ETS Services
- Explore Pre-ETS Services
- Connect with a Regional Transition Consultant or DVR School Transition Counselor in your area.
- Complete the Pre-Employment Transition Services Approval Form.
You can contact the Regional Transition Consultant or your DVR School Transition Counselor, teacher, or school administrator to learn more and get assistance filling out the approval form.
School-to-Work
School-to-Work is a program within DVR’s Transition Services. The program connects students with developmental disabilities to employment services while students are still in their high school transition programs. School-to-Work is for enrolled students (from age 20 through 22) who also meet Developmental Disability Administration requirements.
- School-to-Work can help you get a job before you leave school, assist you in completing applications, help you practice interviews, support you in finding jobs and more.
- Email DVRSchoolToWork@dshs.wa.gov to learn more.
Additional DVR Transition Services
Who Qualifies?
You can get Transition Services through Vocational Rehabilitation if you are a student or youth with a disability and you meet the following requirements:
- You are age 14-24.
- You may or may not be in school.
- You have a documented disability.
- You have applied for and are eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation services. You can start this process by contacting your local DVR office.