State Programs – By State
YAiT is a statewide group of students with disabilities who encourage and facilitate the development of self-determination and leadership skills in other youth with disabilities. The group also contributes to a student-led professional development module, designed to focus on transition planning from a student’s perspective.
Operating Entity: Auburn University, Auburn Transition Leadership Institute
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Alabama Statewide Technology Access and Response for Alabamians with Disabilities (STAR)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CONNECTIONS is a group-based service that assists students ages 16 to 23 with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or related disabilities in building social skills, identifying and accessing resources in the community, and planning for employment.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Lakeshore Rehabilitation Facility
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: State of Alabama Client Assistance Program
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides individualized services to help students with autism spectrum disorder develop appropriate skills for self-advocacy, daily living, and social interactions that will contribute to their success as independent adults.
Operating Entity: University of Alabama, Civitan-Sparks Clinic
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps students with disabilities prepare for post-secondary training through exposure to the college environment, as well as guidance on self-advocacy skills, study strategies, and technology use. It is offered virtually and at twelve sites in the state to Department of Rehabilitation Services consumers who are planning to attend post-secondary training.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Project CESCC works with Alabama State Department of Education partners to provide professional development focusing on positive behavioral interventions, supports, and transition services for students with disabilities, in order to improve their post-school outcomes.
Operating Entity: Alabama State Department of Education, Special Education Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides workforce development, job skills training, and job placement services to help people who are deaf or blind enhance their employment skills.
Operating Entity: Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, E.H. Gentry Program
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Nebraska State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
GATE is a five-month program that provides adults with disabilities an opportunity to gain hands-on work experience through strategic relationships with companies that have specific job needs. It is a partnership between United Ability of Greater Birmingham, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, and the Alabama Department of Mental Health.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program assists people with serious mental illness in obtaining and maintaining competitive jobs based upon their preferences.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Mental Health, Office of Mental Illness Community Programs
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
JET is a summer learning program for students with disabilities, which provides different work experiences and job readiness classroom instruction. The 2019 program was run in collaboration with the Birmingham Zoo.
Operating Entity: Workshops, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
JAG is a school-to-career program for at-risk high school youth (including those with disabilities), to keep them in school and provide work-based learning experiences. It includes both a Senior Year program (focused on youth in their last year of high school) and a Multi-Year Program. It is operated with support from the Alabama Legislature and Governor’s Office, along with local school districts, Career Tech Centers, and community and industry partners.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These programs assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment. Specific programs include the Adults Vocational Program, which provides job readiness trainings, job placement assistance, and other resources, as well as Vocational Evaluation Services, which provide a comprehensive assessment of a person’s vocational aptitudes.
Operating Entity: Easterseals of Alabama
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Alabama Parent Education Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program trains young adults ages 16-24 who are not attending school and who meet certain criteria (including having a disability) to develop skills and competencies demanded by the healthcare industry. The program includes 180 hours of training, leading to certificates and credentials. It is a WIOA Youth Program conducted in collaboration between the West Mid-Alabama Community Development Corporation, Shelton State Community College, and several county offices.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: University of Alabama, Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP)
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides full tuition and stipends to 100 trainees who will go on to serve as rehabilitation counselors, including as counselors for individuals who are deaf or who have mental illness.
Operating Entity: Troy University, College of Education
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides educator and family development trainings designed to improve school policy, increase and develop family leadership, and increase educator capacity to engage families.
Operating Entity: Alabama Parent Education Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides leadership training to individuals with intellectual disabilities by giving presentations on self-advocacy, leadership, inclusion in the community, and the benefits of having a job.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps students learn communication skills and workplace behaviors (e.g., around attitude, work ethic, image and appearance, interpersonal skills, teamwork, time management, and accountability) needed to obtain and maintain successful competitive employment. It is provided to students and local educational agencies (LEAs) by a certified trainer from a Community Rehabilitation Program.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides hands-on lessons to help people with disabilities develop and improve their independent living skills. Topics include time management, financial management, self-advocacy, dining etiquette, bullying, note taking, problem solving, social skills, and interviewing techniques.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
SWEP is a six-week “paid work experience program” targeted toward youth who are deaf and/or blind, and which includes job readiness skills training.
Operating Entity: Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, E.H. Gentry Program
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides employment services for individuals with the most significant disabilities, including those with serious mental illness. It is a collaboration between the Division of Developmental Disabilities, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, and community rehabilitation providers.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides an opportunity for youth and caregivers to discuss goals and explore options for the future, including around specialized healthcare needs, career interests, training and goals, social services and expectations, linkages to community agencies, and independent living. It also allows for coordination and information-sharing between youth-focused and adult-focused rehabilitation programs.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Children’s Rehabilitation Service (CRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables high school students with disabilities to participate in job exploration activities, as well as fiscal management activities as a component of independent living training. It is a collaboration between the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, local school systems, and local businesses.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This one-credit course provides special education students with higher-level transition and occupational skills that are transferable across jobs. Emphasis is placed on career development and employment, academic foundations for careers, leadership and teamwork, entrepreneurship, business economics, and more.
Operating Entity: Alabama State Department of Education, Special Education Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program guides transition stakeholders and local educational agencies in developing effective Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) action plans. The work is done in partnership with the Alabama Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
Operating Entity: Auburn University, Auburn Transition Leadership Institute
Entity Type: College / University
This program trains 60 professionals and paraprofessionals through a Vocational Evaluation Forensic Certificate (VEFC), so they can better support employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Auburn University, College of Education
Entity Type: College / University
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YLF is a five-day intensive leadership program that helps high school juniors and seniors with disabilities develop leadership and self-advocacy skills. Students engage in activities related to self-esteem and team building, career choice, independent living, assistive technology, and various other empowering activities.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program ensures that inmates have an appointment with a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor within a week of community re-entry. It is a collaboration between the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Special Education Division of the Alabama Department of Education, and the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides a number of services to help youth with disabilities transition into work. This includes a “Work Smart” Pre-Employment Training Program; a High School Transitional Youth Program, which provides high school students with job training at Goodwill Easterseals retail stores; educational and occupational services for at-risk youth or those who have dropped out of school; the Learning Disabilities Program, which helps ease the transition from high school to college for students with learning disabilities; and more.
Operating Entity: Easterseals of Alabama
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a wide range of services to support teens with special circumstances (such as learning or physical disabilities) in their transitions from youth to young adulthood.
Operating Entity: Alabama Parent Education Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Alaska Department of Revenue
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program serves individuals through age 22 who have hearing and vision loss, including assisting youth with their transitions to adulthood. The program also teaches special strategies to educators, parents, and others to best support youth with deaf-blindness.
Operating Entity: Alaska Special Education Service Agency
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Assistive Technology of Alaska (ATLA)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Law Center of Alaska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: LINKS Resource Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program prepares people with disabilities to find and keep a job through services like career exploration, job search assistance, job placement, and coaching. It also includes school-to-work transition services, as well as supported employment services.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Alaska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This committee works to improve employment outcomes and transportation accessibility for people with disabilities in Alaska through research, planning, monitoring, and advocacy. Members include parents of individuals with disabilities, service providers, self-advocates, others involved in agencies that provide employment and transportation services to people with disabilities, and public community members.
Operating Entity: Alaska Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program pays teachers to facilitate after-school activities that introduce students with disabilities to work-readiness soft skills. It is a collaboration with the Special Education division of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development as well as Alaska Job Centers.
Operating Entity: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides a range of vocational programs for students (including those with disabilities) in the areas of auto mechanics, carpentry, child care, printing, food service and computer technology. Depending on their needs and goals, students with disabilities may enter the regular vocational program or the Career & Work Readiness program.
Operating Entity: Anchorage School District
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program offers multiple courses to expose students with disabilities to postsecondary education and apprenticeship trainings. It combines Pre-Employment Transition Services with “hands-on learning” in fields such as culinary, carpentry, and welding. It is a partnership between the Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Northwestern Alaska Career and Technical Center, EXCEL AK, and Voyage to Excellence Career and Technical Education program.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 11 western states plus two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Stone Soup Group
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These three-day programs include Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) self-advocacy and work readiness skills training activities to help students with disabilities develop self-esteem and leadership skills. Phlight Clubs are provided as a partnership between the Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Brightways Learning.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Law Center of Alaska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides an introduction to entrepreneurship and small business concepts to students with disabilities. Students work through setting a goal, developing a business plan, and putting the plan into action.
Operating Entity: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This four-week program provides students with disabilities the tools and experience to gain and maintain employment after high school. It includes work-based learning, research into career clusters and pathways, assistance with resume writing, and training around interviews, soft skills, and self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: Access Alaska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides work experiences and an instructional component to expose students with disabilities, ages 14 to 21, to career pathways and workplace expectations.
Operating Entity: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program connects people with mental health issues to potential job opportunities, with an emphasis on those suffering from behavioral health complications that may limit their ability to initially enter the workforce.
Operating Entity: Alaska Department of Health and Social Sciences, Division of Behavioral Health
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps adults with disabilities find and keep employment in the community through support, job placement with local employers, and on-the-job skills training.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Anchorage
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Transition Camps are 3-5 day cross-state conferences that provide Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) through presentations by businesses, postsecondary education institutions, and vocational training providers to help students develop a vision for their future. The program is a collaboration between the Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Alaska Department of Education.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Transition Readiness is a class that assists secondary deaf and hard of hearing students with their individualized post-secondary plan in five main areas: Advocacy and Empowerment; Education and Career Planning; Work Habits, Skills, and Attitudes; Independent Living; and Community Roles, Responsibilities, and Resources.
Operating Entity: Alaska School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
UAA TAPESTRY is a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. It provides students an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in campus life.
Operating Entity: University of Alaska Anchorage, Center for Human Development
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: University of Alaska Anchorage, UAA Center for Human Development
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides training opportunities to individuals with disabilities in multiple community-based work settings with job coaches. These programs include placements in commercial kitchens, copy centers, laundry services, horticulture programs, janitorial services, and creative design workshops. The program also works on soft skills such as interviewing, participating in performance evaluations, and more.
Operating Entity: Arizona Centers for Comprehensive Education and Life (ACCEL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Arizona Department of Economic Security
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides education and employment training to individuals with disabilities across three tiers. In Tier 3, the program focuses on community integration, in tier 2, it focuses on obtaining work and social interaction experience with supervision, and in tier 1, participants participate in employment opportunities with little to no supervision.
Operating Entity: Arizona Centers for Comprehensive Education and Life (ACCEL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides education, guidance, and technical assistance to American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services programs across the nation, including through webinars, self-paced and regional training, evidence-based practice guides, newsletters, videos, and FAQ documents.
Operating Entity: Northern Arizona University, Institute for Human Development
Entity Type: College / University
Arizona Inclusion NOW is an effort to improve recruitment of people with disabilities into National Service through targeted efforts in schools and the community. The program connects people with disabilities with national service organizations, including AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Vista, and more.
Operating Entity: University of Arizona, Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Through this program, educational coaches and peer mentors assist participants with intellectual disabilities in each stage of post-secondary education. This involves assistance with enrolling in and funding college, pursuing appropriate and necessary on-campus services and resources, and transitioning from college to gainful employment.
Operating Entity: Northern Arizona University, Institute for Human Development
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, School-Based Prep
AZYLF is a multi-day conference held in multiple regions of Arizona each summer. Participants engage in activities related to self-discovery, leadership development, career exploration, effective advocacy, and empowerment through heightened awareness of disability history and culture.
Operating Entity: Diverse Ability Incorporated
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides assistive technology training to individuals who are blind for the express purpose of obtaining a college education, retaining current employment, or finding a career. Trainings focus on using Microsoft Windows, the Office Suite, smart phones, and screen readers and other assistive devices.
Operating Entity: Foundation for Blind Children
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Northern Arizona University, Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program trains individuals who are blind or visually impaired to utilize assistive technology services, then connects them with free or reduced cost assistive technology devices to improve communication capabilities.
Operating Entity: Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Arizona Department of Economic Security, Rehabilitation Services Administration
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Participants in this course are supported in developing the skills necessary to prepare for, acquire and maintain a job. Students practice and develop skills related to interviews, job search, resumes, career choice, and job discovery. Participants are also connected to job shadowing opportunities and vocational rehabilitation services.
Operating Entity: Foundation for Blind Children
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Phoenix Day School for the Deaf provides extensive career and technical education services to its students, including general career-based classes, senior seminars, career exploration, and work experience. It also provides students with the opportunity to attend vocational training in their preferred vocational trade.
Operating Entity: Phoenix Day School for the Deaf (PDSD)
Entity Type: Other
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Arizona Center for Disability Law
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides numerous services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing in Arizona. These services include tutoring, counseling services, case management assistance, advocacy services, self-improvement classes, independent living skills training, and more.
Operating Entity: Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides localized vocational rehabilitation services with specific adjustments for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Services include career exploration, orientation and adjustment to disability services, education support, and tutoring.
Operating Entity: Valley Center for the Deaf
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
To maintain independent living status, SMILE provides individuals with disabilities varied services based on individualized needs. These services include individual and systems advocacy, service referral, independent living skills, peer counseling, transition services (including transition from high school), and more.
Operating Entity: Services Maximizing Independent Living and Empowerment (SMILE)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This certificate prepares students to become Disability Resource Specialists in post-secondary settings, to promote access and ensure reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. This Certificate program is designed for individuals with bachelors or master’s degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling, Special Education, Counseling, Educational Psychology or other related fields.
Operating Entity: Northern Arizona University, Institute for Human Development
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps Arizona residents who are blind prepare for employment or educational opportunities. These services include career exploration, job readiness, job development, remedial education, tuition and supply assistance, reader and note taker services, tutoring, GED preparation, and alternative media.
Operating Entity: SAAVI Services for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This course helps individuals who are blind with college preparation. Trainings focus on both community college and university options, while highlighting assistive technology training, tutoring, orientation and mobility, and navigating the college system and college support services.
Operating Entity: Foundation for Blind Children
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, School-Based Prep
This program connects qualified job seekers who are blind or visually impaired with employers. Participants receive job placement and job coaching services, with assistance throughout the job search process. Additionally, this program involves a post-hire follow-up discussion, in order to ensure that job opportunities are fitted to individual needs.
Operating Entity: Foundation for Blind Children
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists high school students with disabilities ages 14-22, in transitioning from high school into community life. It provides individual and family advocacy, technical support to special education teachers, and assistance to students and parents with advocacy in facilitating Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
Operating Entity: Ability 360
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides training and outreach services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, virtually and in person. Trainings and presentations focus on hearing loss, communication skills, assistive technology, self-advocacy, the ADA, employment, and more.
Operating Entity: Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program trains individuals who are blind or visually impaired for careers in information technology and computer science. The program covers computer repair, software and operating systems, network administration, information security, cloud computing, and troubleshooting devices.
Operating Entity: Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program involves providing trainings, resources, and information to individuals with disabilities seeking to improve independent living competencies. Trainings include topics such as: budgeting, goal-setting, learning public transportation, self-advocacy, organization, personal grooming, nutrition, stress management, and communication skills.
Operating Entity: Ability 360
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These training sessions are provided to individuals with disabilities in either one-on-one or small group training settings. Training topics include cooking and nutrition, empowerment through employment, financial literacy and money management, travel training, and more.
Operating Entity: Direct Arizona
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 11 western states plus two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Raising Special Kids
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Peer Support offers opportunities for individuals with disabilities to work together to share experiences and learn from each other about life and work in the community. Peer mentoring goals and services focus on navigating life with disabilities, supporting and prioritizing independence, achieving education and employment goals, making informed choices, building confidence, and more.
Operating Entity: Direct Arizona
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides numerous services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, including assistive technology assessment and training, information and technology certification, orientation and adjustment to blindness, adaptive living skills training, supported education, vocational assessments, ASL training, orientation and mobility training, low vision evaluations, career exploration, and social and leisure skills development.
Operating Entity: Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Arizona Center for Disability Law
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
At this yearly summer camp, high schoolers who are blind attend training center courses while living off-site in an apartment. The program helps students learn to live on their own, preparing them specifically for a college experience. Students also gain experience working at a job in a career field they are interested in.
Operating Entity: SAAVI Services for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This project reviews and provides detailed feedback on secondary transition plans, to help service providers implement best practices. Transition specialists utilize a 20-point rubric to identify strengths and shortcomings of secondary transition plans.
Operating Entity: Arizona Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Self-advocacy trainings are offered to individuals with disabilities on either a one-on-one or group basis. Focus areas include self-determination, seeking information to make decisions, active listening and problem-solving, self-respect and self-esteem, and standing up for individual rights
Operating Entity: Direct Arizona
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps youth with disabilities and their parents plan for transition to college or the workforce, gain skills in self-advocacy, and access services after leaving school. Services are provided through Transition Advisors, interactive workshops, and webinars.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This residential program helps students who are blind or visually impaired and who have completed their senior year of high school prepare for college or the workforce. It provides independent living experiences, instruction, and support for participants.
Operating Entity: SAAVI Services for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program places youth with disabilities in jobs in Tucson and Phoenix. It focuses on employment training and ensuring that transition-age youth with disabilities have fully-integrated experiences in a real work environment.
Operating Entity: University of Arizona, Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program connects high school students with disabilities to potential employment opportunities. Vocational counselors assist students with resume writing, job applications, career preparation, educational preparation, and more.
Operating Entity: Arizona Department of Economic Security, Rehabilitation Services Administration
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides transportation services to individuals with disabilities to help them make it to appointments, work or school, social activities, and prescription pickups.
Operating Entity: New Horizons Disability Empowerment Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides high school students with significant disabilities, ages 18 to 22, with opportunities to continue their transition and learning in integrated, age-appropriate environments with typical peers. CTP includes Advanced Community Training, which includes volunteering, working, interacting with the public; Project FOCUS (Focusing Opportunities with Community and University Support), where students enroll part-time at the University of Arizona; and Project SEARCH High School Transition Program-JTED, located at University of Arizona.
Operating Entity: Tucson Unified School District
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides employment assistance services for individuals with physical or mental disabilities.
Operating Entity: Arizona Department of Economic Security, Rehabilitation Services Administration
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of vocational services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, including job training, job placement, career counseling, supported employment, on-the-job training, and assistance with interviewing and resume writing. It also includes a six-week Summer Work Program to help youth develop work skills and prepare for entry into the workforce.
Operating Entity: Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, Community Outreach Program for the Deaf
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Ability360
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program offers comprehensive special education instruction for students with disabilities, with a focus on vocational education. Specific subject areas include economics, keyboarding, computer technology, career education, industrial arts, and business education.
Operating Entity: ACCESS Arkansas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Office of the Arkansas State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program pairs transition-age youth with disabilities with Transition Consultants who connect youth with transition services and provide advice about entering postsecondary education or the workforce. Transition Consultants also provide transition trainings and advice to teachers and education providers.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Transition Services
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
ACCE is a two-semester program on the University of Arkansas Little Rock campus that enables students with disabilities to have a college experience while preparing for employment in a competitive field. Academic support, social support, work exploration, and job placement are all components of the program. It is a partnership between Easterseals Arkansas and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides habilitative, supervised living, prevocational, therapeutic, and educational services to individuals with developmental disabilities. This program also provides employment prevocational services, teaching participants skills such as compliance, task completion, problem solving, and safety.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas Division of Developmental Disabilities Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides technical assistance to special education teachers and other relevant staff to help them improve transition outcomes for students with disabilities. This includes general assistance and resources, targeted assistance and training for different disabilities, and intensive long-term transition assistance to best guide a student with disabilities through transition preparation.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Increasing Capabilities Access Network (ICAN)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, Division of Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides training to multiple disadvantaged groups, including youth with developmental disabilities, to help them formulate business ideas and develop self-sufficiency skills.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Human Development Corporation (AHDC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Arkansas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps students with disabilities transition to higher education. It focuses on self-advocacy, transitioning, assistive technologies, college survival skills, and more.
Operating Entity: University of Central Arkansas, Disability Resource Center
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides assistance and information to students in 7th-12th grade including academic tutoring, career counseling, college preparation and admission assistance, financial aid guidance, mentoring, and other college or career preparation related services. The program prioritizes students with disabilities and other disadvantaged student populations.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Division of Career and Technical Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Support Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program prepares educators, school administrators, related service providers, school counselors, school social workers, community service providers and vocational rehabilitation counselors to effectively support transitions for youth with disabilities.
Operating Entity: University of Arkansas, College of Education and Health Professions
Entity Type: College / University
The Arkansas Department of Human Services has five human development centers throughout Arkansas for individuals with severe developmental disabilities. The Centers provide vocational training, work experience, and job opportunities, among other services.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas Division of Developmental Disabilities Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This one-week camp teaches high school junior and seniors with disabilities various technology skills and interviewing skills and prepares them for a career in the filmmaking industry. It is a collaboration with the Inclusion Film Company.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The Jump Start Program is a three week camp that provides high school students who are blind or visually impaired (ages 16-21) with soft skills training. This includes job shadowing, independent living instruction, self-advocacy training, and more. The program also assists students in obtaining a part-time summer job after the program’s completion.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, Division of Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps students with disabilities engage in paid work experience and develop work readiness skills before exiting secondary education. It is a collaborative effort between local school districts and Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: The Center for Exceptional Families
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Arkansas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
SET for Success helps students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan increase their employability skills and develop specific and attainable life goals. Easterseals Arkansas sends representatives directly to Arkansas schools to provide these services.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Arkansas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
This program is designed to prepare school-based professionals (social workers, school psychologists, educational leaders, school counselors, special education teachers, and general education teachers) to provide transition services to students with disabilities. Courses focus on transition services for youth with disabilities, including legal considerations, family engagement, and best teaching practices.
Operating Entity: University of Arkansas
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides assistance to all public school districts and educational cooperatives in the state to help them support students who are blind or visually impaired. This includes participating in the student’s transition planning process in collaboration with Arkansas Transition Services and Division of Services for the Blind transition counselors.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Transition Counselors work with students with disabilities to discover their life interests and goals and prepare for employment. They also work with local schools to develop and implement pre-employment transition services.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
VIP is a pre-employment transition service that helps high school students ages 16-21 with developmental disabilities discover opportunities available after high school; learn what is expected of an employee; develop skills to gain competitive employment; and advocate for their rights. It is conducted in partnership with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.
Operating Entity: ACCESS Arkansas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides job skills training for students with disabilities, leading to jobs or apprenticeships. Courses include driver’s education, automotive technology, certified nursing assistant, construction, culinary arts, and welding.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, Arkansas Career Development Center
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: SOURCES for Community Independent Living, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YLF is an annual leadership conference for youth and young adults with disabilities. Programming focuses on self-advocacy, workplace skills, networking, public speaking, and more.
Operating Entity: Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, Arkansas Department of Career Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program offers support so individuals with developmental, physical, cognitive or multiple disabilities can live independently, gain social and daily living skills, and become active members of their communities. Individuals learn work-related skills by engaging in regularly scheduled volunteer work, community service projects, and other ventures. They also receive support and direction to interact with others, make their needs and choices known, and explore and engage in activities.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Southern California
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Ability Tools
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides specialized and comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services to Californians who are blind or visually impaired. Department of Rehabilitation consumers working with a Blind Field Services Counselor may receive all general vocational rehabilitation services with the addition of vision loss counseling.
Operating Entity: California Department of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: California Department of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: California State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
CECY is a collaboration between state agencies, associations, organizations, families, and self-advocates. The Consortium seeks to stimulate policy change and build capacity in California state systems and local communities to increase the number of youth and young adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (IDD) in competitive integrated employment.
Operating Entity: University of California, Los Angeles, Tarjan Center
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program provides career counseling and information and referral services to all individuals with a significant disability and employed at subminimum wage who are known to the Department of Rehabilitation. This includes information on self-advocacy, self-determination, and peer mentoring resources and training opportunities available in a consumer’s area.
Operating Entity: California Department of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights California (DRC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program is a partnership with select community colleges to serve individuals with intellectual disabilities (I/D) and autism. The program provides employment preparation and soft skills training in addition to some instruction in independent living skills and campus inclusion, to help C2C students become employed in a competitive integrated community-based job. Services include internships, employment services such as employment preparation and job development, and short-term supports.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program ensures that California’s public programs are adapted to meet the communication needs of deaf and hard of hearing individuals so they can receive the public benefits and services to achieve economic independence and fully participate in society. It includes Job Development and Placement, to assist deaf clients in obtaining employment-related services.
Operating Entity: California Department of Social Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of vocational rehabilitation services to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened and deaf-blind. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Counselors are qualified in American Sign Language and provide specialized services including deaf culture and awareness, communication techniques, assistive listening devices, interpreter services, specialized vocational services, and more.
Operating Entity: California Department of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides support services to students with disabilities to ensure that all students have equal access to educational programs and activities on community college campuses. Specific services include priority registration, specialized counseling, class scheduling, mobility assistance, test proctoring, specialized tutoring, transcription services, and interpreter services for hearing impaired or deaf students.
Operating Entity: California Community Colleges
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program works with project partners to increase career planning, work pathways, job opportunities and employment outcomes for transition age youth with disabilities in Orange County. It provides resources and toolkits around higher education, financial literacy, and career paths.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Southern California
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Exceptional Works is a continuum of employment services to help individuals with developmental disabilities find, secure and maintain employment in the community. The program includes work readiness classes; vocational training in computer literacy, culinary arts, janitorial services, retail sales and warehouse operations; a College Classroom Program; paid work experience; and more.
Operating Entity: Exceptional Children’s Foundation
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This mentoring program pairs college and high school students with learning disabilities and/or ADHD with similarly-labeled middle school students, to help the younger students embrace their learning differences and develop social-emotional skills that promote their academic and personal success, such as confidence, self-advocacy skills, and perseverance.
Operating Entity: University of Southern California
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program seeks to improve the lives of families of children with disabilities through direct support and education, and to improve the ability of community based organizations to meet the needs of families of children (of any age) with disabilities. Services include webinars on topics like Employment First and self-determination, as well as IEP Coaching. They also include Technical Assistance to organizations serving families of children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: University of Southern California, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program is provided by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and local county mental health field offices to help individuals with severe psychiatric disabilities enter or re-enter their community workforce. Services include work adjustment, employment preparation, job development, and job coaching.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists job seekers who are visually impaired and blind to adjust to their vision loss and acquire the skills and tools necessary to pursue competitive integrated employment. Training is provided in daily living skills including cooking, independent travel, Braille and communication, assistive technology use, and the work readiness skills.
Operating Entity: California Department of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 11 western states plus two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights California (DRC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides kindergarten through post-graduate STEM education, a residential boarding option, and a full range of STEM related programs for students and young adults with special needs.
Operating Entity: The Help Group
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program supports students with disabilities ages 16-21 in exploring and preparing for the world of work. Services are based on a consumer’s interests, and include job exploration and counseling on post-secondary options.
Operating Entity: California Department of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program is aimed at finding competitive work in a community integrated work setting for persons with severe disabilities who need ongoing support services to learn and perform the work. Support is usually provided by a job coach who meets regularly with the individual on the job to help him or her learn the skills and behaviors to operate independently. As the individual gains mastery of the job, the support services are gradually phased out.
Operating Entity: California Department of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides technical assistance to educators and families members of deaf-blind students, including around transitions.
Operating Entity: California Deafblind Services (CDBS)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a viable option for people with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities to obtain internships, on-the-job coaching, and career guidance with the State of California that can turn into long-term employment.
Operating Entity: California Department of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides enhanced, coordinated vocational services including Department of Rehabilitation Student Services and employment preparation to assist with job development, and short-term support services to successfully transition students with disabilities into meaningful employment. TPPs are established between the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program includes the Next STEP and the Extra STEP Vocational Programs, which provide training and supportive vocational, behavioral, and community access services to hearing-impaired (Deaf or Deaf-Blind) individuals with developmental disabilities and behavioral challenges. The goal of the program is to facilitate integration into the gainfully employed community.
Operating Entity: Strategies to Empower People (STEP)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides work-based learning experiences for students with a disability, ages 16 through 21, who are in high school. Work experience consists of short-term placements either on or off campus, and may include paid/unpaid internships, paid/unpaid employment, summer work experience, work exploration, and job shadowing. The program is a partnership between the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Welfare cooperative programs are established with select local Human Services Agencies (HSA) and the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). The programs serve recipients of human service agency services, who are also DOR consumers with significant disabilities, and assists them in obtaining meaningful employment. Services include work adjustment, employment services such as employment preparation, job development, and short-term supports.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
WAP provides paid work, work adjustment, and supportive habilitation services typically in a sheltered workshop setting. The program helps clients develop good work safety practices, money management skills, and appropriate work habits. It also includes social skill and community resource training necessary to achieve vocational objectives.
Operating Entity: California Department of Developmental Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides enhanced, coordinated vocational services for adult consumers and in-school youth with disabilities, to help them obtain meaningful employment. Services include work experience, employment preparation, job coaching, and more. Consumers are referred by their Department of Rehabilitation Counselor and the program is implemented at select Adult Schools and Regional Occupational Programs/Centers.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides enhanced, coordinated vocational services to help individuals with disabilities who are both community college students and Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) consumers obtain meaningful employment. Services include internships, employment preparation and job development services, and short-term supports. It is a partnership between select California Community Colleges and DOR.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides enhanced, coordinated vocational services to individuals who are Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) consumers, attending California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC), and desiring employment. Services include internships, employment services such as employment preparation and job development, and short-term supports. The program is a partnership between select California university campuses and DOR.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides one-on-one, customized employment support services to individuals with disabilities who are interested in finding and maintaining paid work or starting their own business. It helps people enhance their economic self-sufficiency, self-esteem, and participation in the community. Services include customized employment, supported employment, direct placement, and job coaching.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Southern California
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Workshops for Youth is a program for individuals with disabilities ages 14-26 in a 12-county region in South-Central California. Workshops address topics like understanding and engaging in the IEP process, staying organized, creating a plan for the future, developing financial literacy skills, and preparing for interviews.
Operating Entity: EPU Children’s Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides special services to youth with barriers to education and employment – including youth with disabilities – to assist them in pursuing their educational and vocational goals. Services include peer advising, referrals to supportive services, education and career coaching, employment preparation and assistance, workshops, and more.
Operating Entity: California Employment Development Department (EDD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
YLF is a six-day leadership program for students with disabilities, which is held virtually and includes post-YLF sessions in the months after the event. Delegates learn advocacy and leadership skills from alumni and professionals with disabilities and create a “Personal and Career Leadership Plan” to help reach their future education, independent living, and career goals. Follow-up sessions focus on topics such as post-secondary education and careers.
Operating Entity: California Department of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: University of Colorado Denver
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Calabrese Life Opportunities Fund provides funds for individuals with disabilities to obtain technological devices and training on the use of such devices.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Colorado
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Law Colorado
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Colorado Department of Higher Education, CollegeInvest
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Colorado Workforce Centers serve job seekers, including individuals with disabilities, through career counseling, training, and computer and internet access. Colorado Workforce Centers cater to individuals with disabilities by maintaining a “No Wrong Door” policy and an integrated system so that if a client needs additional services and assistance, the workforce center can provide accurate and timely information.
Operating Entity: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
CO-YLF is a conference for Colorado high school juniors, seniors, and young adults under 26 with disabilities. CO-YLF provides dynamic, experiential learning opportunities designed to foster personal growth through self-discovery. It provides participants the opportunity to identify and embrace their strengths, plan for their future, and cultivate their leadership, citizenship, and social skills.
Operating Entity: Colorado Statewide Independent Living Council
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
CTP provides communications resources and tools, such as amplified and captioned phones, smartphones and tablets, as well as ring signalers and neck loops or head sets and specialized equipment at no charge to qualified deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind. The program is designed to give people access to the community at large.
Operating Entity: Colorado Department of Human Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Thrive Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program assists individuals with disabilities to acquire income, health insurance, and other basic needs to stabilize their lives, health and living situations. It includes Comprehensive Work Incentives & Benefits Counseling and Disability Webinar Trainings.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Colorado
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program creates and prepares work settings that promote the most independent work for individuals with disabilities, based on individualized plans to guide clients to their fullest potential.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Colorado
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Employment Works provides job placement services to adults and youth with disabilities through referrals from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Ticket to Work and in collaboration with community service providers. Services include assistance with job search and job placement, help developing job-seeking skills, and post-employment support.
Operating Entity: Ability Connection Colorado
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
IPS is a program that helps people with mental illness and/or substance use disorders find and keep jobs. It is offered in collaboration between the Department of Human Services Office of Behavioral Health and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, as well as at mental health centers throughout the state.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program utilizes a variety of services to help youth with barriers to employment (including youth with disabilities) in the Denver Metro Area succeed through career exploration, education, training and support services. Services focus on transition to post-secondary education, career exploration, job readiness, and training services.
Operating Entity: Ability Connection Colorado
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 11 western states plus two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Partners in Leadership Advocacy is a program to help parents and individuals with developmental disabilities develop as leaders in making positive, long-lasting change for themselves and their communities. Individuals with disabilities learn about self-advocacy and families learn about advocating for their child’s educational and future service needs.
Operating Entity: Sewall Child Development Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides trainings and an all-day college visit to families of young adults with disabilities, to help them understand their child’s educational, developmental and transitional needs. It also includes a training series to help youth learn to self-advocate and discover what they would like to do after leaving high school.
Operating Entity: Thrive Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Law Colorado
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
RAMP is a career-focused mentoring program for youth with disabilities who are currently involved with or are at risk of becoming involved with the juvenile justice system. RAMP supports successful life transitions to employment, continued learning opportunities, and independent living through a variety of mentoring approaches.
Operating Entity: Ability Connection Colorado
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
SWAP is designed to provide employment-related assistance to students and young adults with disabilities. The program teaches job seeking and job retention skills, and operates in all of Colorado’s local education agencies through collaborative agreements among the Colorado Department of Education, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and local school districts.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides an opportunity for individuals with disabilities and their families to meet with staff about concerns and participation in higher education, training, employment, or independent living.
Operating Entity: Colorado Department of Education, Office of Special Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program offers a variety of services to assist individuals with disabilities who want to be self-employed in navigating the business development process. This includes connecting consumers with a professional vendor network, made up of seasoned business experts, who can provide expertise and real-world knowledge and training to entrepreneurs.
Operating Entity: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps youth with disabilities and their parents plan for transition to college or the workforce, gain skills in self-advocacy, and access services after leaving school. Services are provided through Transition Advisors, interactive workshops, and webinars.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
TLI provides webinars and learning sessions to build knowledge of effective secondary transition practices for students with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Colorado Department of Education, Office of Special Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program works with youth in transitioning from high school to post-secondary life, which includes college or employment. The program provides the necessary resources and life skills to gain independence.
Operating Entity: Atlantis Community Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Ability Connection Colorado
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program encourages and empowers individuals ages 5-30 living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through education and employment in the skilled trades industry. Services are provided through a variety of introductory workshops and hands-on educational programs.
Operating Entity: Teaching the Autism Community Trades (TACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a variety of supports to youth with disabilities ages 14 to 24, including in-school workshops on Self-Advocacy, youth support groups, and a Youth Transitions Program.
Operating Entity: The Independence Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps young people with disabilities transition from living at home to living independently, including through instruction in life skills and vocational skills. Topics include budgeting money, goal setting, stress management, time management, and more.
Operating Entity: Center for Independence
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides individualized career pathway services to assist students and youth with disabilities, aged 15-25, in their transitions from high school to post-secondary education and employment. Services are provided in coordination with education, workforce center, and other adults service agency partners.
Operating Entity: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These Centers provide workforce assistance to job seekers and employers. Vocational Rehabilitation counselors are co-located at American Job Centers to encourage clients to register for applicable services available through partner programs. Technologists offer technical assistance to Job Centers on approaches to increasing the accessibility of the centers and partner services.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services, Connecticut Tech Act Project (CTTAP)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Connecticut
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides personalized college support for students with learning and social challenges. This includes providing high school students with an introduction to college, and college students with ongoing support. The program consists of an Individualized College Plan, peer mentorship, pre-employment training, self-advocacy training, and more. It is a collaboration between College Steps, high schools, colleges, families, and agencies.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: African Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities, Inc. (AFCAMP)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program helps individuals with disabilities receiving Social Security Disability Benefits to better understand the impact that returning to work will have on their disability benefits.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with disabilities of all ages, as well as family members, employers, educators and other professionals, access assistive technology devices and services. Services include financial loans, device demos, device loans, and a device reuse program.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Connecticut Transition Community of Practice (CoP) is comprised of multiple stakeholder groups that have come together to enhance the transition of youth with disabilities to adult life. The CoP centralize all activities, resources, and initiatives related to secondary transition and provides information and support to students, families, and professionals.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
CTYLP provides youth and young adults with disabilities with opportunities for self-discovery, the development of self-advocacy, decision making, and problem-solving skills to maximize their leadership potential.
Operating Entity: Connecticut Youth Leadership Project, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program trains disability service providers and related staff to assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining customized employment. The training takes place over three days and focuses on discovery of strengths, skills, and needs, as well as job development and systematic instruction. It is a collaboration between the Connecticut Developmental Disabilities Network and the University of Connecticut’s Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides counseling related to special language, communication, and socioeconomic problems unique to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. Focus areas include connections with community resources, educational consultations and post-secondary education preparation, and assistance with developing self-advocacy skills, managing communication barriers, and dealing with challenges related to being deaf or hard of hearing.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides a range of services to assist individuals with disabilities in preparing for and attaining work. Services include vocational evaluation, assistance preparing for interviews, job placement services, job coaching, supported employment, employment skills technology training, preparation for jobs in the janitorial industry, and more.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Employment Opportunities Program (EOP) enables individuals with the most significant disabilities who need on-going support to maintain competitive employment after stability has been achieved and who are not eligible for on-going employment support from other sources.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists individuals with mental health conditions in assessing their job interests and skills, identifying jobs in the community which match those interests, and securing work. Individuals can also receive on-the-job support in their place of employment.
Operating Entity: Mental Health Connecticut
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides coordinated vocational employment services, including industry-specific training programs, to adults ages 21 and older with developmental disabilities.
Operating Entity: State of Connecticut Department of Developmental Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Arc Connecticut offers a family education workshop series called “Navigate to Advocate,” which provides families the information they need to advocate for their loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Workshops include “After the Cap & Gown: How to Plan for the Future for an Adult Child with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities.”
Operating Entity: The Arc Connecticut
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps legally blind individuals develop independent living skills. Program counselors provide orientation and mobility training, Rehabilitation Teaching, Children’s Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation services. Other areas of instruction include financial management and independent travel skills.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides students aged 16-21 with tools, training and resources to work competitively and forge a path to independence. Services include vocational and career counseling, job search tools, on-the-job and hands-on work experience, assistive technology services and training, school-to-work services, self-advocacy support and training, peer mentoring services, workplace readiness training, benefits counseling, and ongoing resource support.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Connecticut
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides information, training and technical assistance, and support to youth and young adults with disabilities and their families, including transition services to help youth and their families navigate multiple programs and service systems; actively participate in the development of plans for independence; and collaborate with transition professionals. It is a collaborative effort between Parent Centers in nine northeastern states.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
Every child who is legally blind or visually impaired in the state and who is participating in public education is registered in a database that allows the Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program to track clients who want to participate in VR services. Counselors work with students, families, and educators to identify careers of interest and develop career exploration opportunities and work and job shadowing experiences.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
These Centers assist individuals with psychiatric or mental-health-related disabilities with obtaining skills necessary for success in living, working, learning and social environments. Program activities and services can include culinary skills training, customer service skill training, computer skills training, GED preparation and coursework, job readiness training, and Intro to Employment.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides employment and education services to individuals with a mental health diagnosis, including career planning, job search assistance, job placement, on- and off-the-job coaching, and career advancement services.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals who are legally blind or visually impaired acquire the training and skills necessary to obtain, retain and advance into competitive integrated employment. Participants receive assistance with assistive technology, vocational counseling, funding for training at post-secondary educational institutions, information and referral services, and pre-employment transition services.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps individuals with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep a job. It offers individualized services including vocational counseling, benefits counseling, job search assistance, school-to-work transition services, skills training and career education in college and/or vocational schools, on-the-job training, assistive technology services and training, vehicle and home modification, and supported employment services.
Operating Entity: Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island College, Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides classroom learning, hands-on field experiences, and summer camps to enable youth with disabilities to explore their own path to independence and adulthood. The programs are peer-to-peer and promote self-help, self-reliance, and self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: Center for Disability Rights
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These Centers provide students with academic support, enrichment, and school engagement through afterschool and summer programming, with a focus on college and career readiness (among other topics). The program targets students in high-poverty areas and is a collaboration between the University of Delaware’s Center for Disability Studies and the Delaware Department of Education.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: University of Delaware, Center for Disability Studies
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CLSC is a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. It provides students an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in campus life.
Operating Entity: University of Delaware, Center for Disability Studies
Entity Type: College / University
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware, Inc. (UCP)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Delaware State Treasurer, Delaware Plans Management Board
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program serves high school students with disabilities to promote their movement from school to post-school activities. Services are offered in all 19 public school districts as well as at alternative and private high schools.
Operating Entity: Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps individuals with disabilities identify jobs in the community and provides the supports needed for individuals to succeed. Services include job coaching, goal setting, soft skills training, and organizing internships or volunteer positions.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Delaware
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Easterseals assists people with disabilities in preparing for and obtaining work, including through skills and interest assessments, skills development trainings, and ongoing support.
Operating Entity: Easterseals – Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides emotional and informational support to the families of children with disabilities, including by matching parents with trained “Support Parents”.
Operating Entity: Delaware Family Voices
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This financial empowerment program helps individuals with disabilities improve their financial well-being through confidential one-on-one financial coaching and certified SSI/SSDI benefit counseling. It is a partnership between ServiceSource Delaware and Stand By Me.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This professional development and technical assistance initiative aims to increase the number of students with disabilities who enroll in, participate in, and complete CTE career pathways by bringing together diverse district-based teams together to research, analyze, and determine participation and performance gap root causes for students with disabilities in career pathways. It is a collaboration between the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity and the Delaware Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Social Services, among others.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Parent Information Center of Delaware, Inc. (PIC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps low-income teens and young adults with disabilities in Delaware prepare for work, find jobs, and succeed in the workplace. Services include career exploration and assessment, supported employment, benefits counseling, financial counseling, and assistive technology assistance.
Operating Entity: Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program connects individuals with disabilities to mentors in the form of peer support workshops. The workshops are designed to provide a platform for brainstorming, problem solving, and sharing of concerns, successes, and ways to address issues.
Operating Entity: Independent Resources Inc. (IRI)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program connects people with mental illness to Peer Recovery Specialists, who provide support, mentoring, and advocacy to assist individuals in developing the skills they need to live an independent and productive life in the community.
Operating Entity: Mental Health Association in Delaware
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides youth with disabilities the opportunity to experience the community through work-based learning, volunteer opportunities and recreation and leisure activities. The primary emphasis is on integrated community activities designed to promote employment readiness.
Operating Entity: Easterseals – Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides an array of workshops and webinars that can help teachers, paraprofessionals, parent liaisons, and other professionals better understand students with disabilities, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 Plan process, and the procedural safeguards, laws, and regulations that define the delivery of special education services.
Operating Entity: Parent Information Center of Delaware, Inc. (PIC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Community Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables individuals with disabilities to try out and select assistive devices that will help them maintain or improve independence and home safety. Through the Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, individuals can apply for low-interest loans to finance assistive technologies.
Operating Entity: Easterseals – Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: ServiceSource Delaware
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program is designed to ensure deaf and hard of hearing students throughout the state have access to their educational environment, become confident self-advocates, and become active participants in their schools and communities. Services include transition planning consultations, professional development for school staff, educational interpreting, and more.
Operating Entity: Delaware School for the Deaf
Entity Type: Other
This program provides educational supports for students with disabilities who are beginning their first year of college in remedial courses, in order to increase community college attendance and success for those students. The program is a collaboration between the Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Delaware Technical & Community College.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program provides technical assistance to Parent Centers, including strategies for reaching underserved families, on-site training and support, an annual conference, program evaluation, and consulting around the nonprofit management process.
Operating Entity: Region A: Navigating Excellence-Parent Assistance and Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program guides individuals with disabilities through the process of applying for a lower interest loan to purchase assistive technology needed for work.
Operating Entity: Easterseals – Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The PACT program provides students opportunities to develop and enhance employment, independent living, and functional academic skills. Students have the opportunity to participate on school- and community-based work crews.
Operating Entity: Indian River School District, Howard T. Ennis Educational Services
Entity Type: Other
This program helps students with disabilities develop employment and independent living skills. Students receive consultation on their post-graduation transition plans and have an opportunity to work in the Indian River Eagle Company, which is an on-site silk screening and embroidery shop.
Operating Entity: Howard T. Ennis School
Entity Type: Other
This program trains individuals who are blind or visually impaired to effectively use assistive technology in employment, educational settings after high school, or community living. Training is provided in agency-run computer labs and, when necessary, at the client’s workplace or other facility.
Operating Entity: Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division for the Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program assists high school students with disabilities in their transitions to postsecondary instruction or employment.
Operating Entity: Independent Resources Inc. (IRI)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Full Circle Employment Solutions
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps consumers who are visually impaired or blind use assistive technology. It includes assistive technology and computer training classes and helps employees experiencing vision loss to continue doing their jobs.
Operating Entity: Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program assists low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and social workers with applying for various social supports, including Medicaid, SNAP, Home and Community Based (HCB) and Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Waivers.
Operating Entity: DC Department of Aging and Community Living
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program delivers support and training to students with disabilities, with a focus on providing transition services through workforce development, independent living, and career skills curricula.
Operating Entity: DC Public Schools, River Terrace Career Development Center
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: University Legal Services (ULS)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
These adaptive clinics help children with disabilities aged 4 to 24 gain empowerment and self-confidence, by partnering them with a volunteer mentor to learn about teamwork and bond over a sense of camaraderie.
Operating Entity: Dreams for Kids
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program supports individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing who are experiencing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders and other issues to ensure that their needs for living in the community are met. Services include counseling, coordination of medical and mental health treatment, budgeting and money management, and housing placement.
Operating Entity: Deaf Reach
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The DC Department on Disability Services (DDS) engages in a number of efforts to train people on implementing Customized Employment strategies in their work with people with disabilities. This includes two Customized Employment Communities of Practice, a monthly webinar series, and technical assistance to DDS provider organizations.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Finance and Treasury
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides professional development, mentoring, and paid internships for students with disabilities. Programming includes trainings on workplace communication, personal finance, public speaking, and other professional skills, as well as collaboration with mentors on a project that focuses on the student’s career of interest.
Operating Entity: DC Public Schools
Entity Type: Other
This program is designed to improve employment outcomes for youth and young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including by working with people with disabilities and families to build high expectations for employment and share tips for success.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
DC Partners in Transition is a group of stakeholders who are committed to improving the ability of youth with special needs and disabilities to successfully transition into education, employment, and independence. Participants include the DC Rehabilitation Services Administration and a range of non-profits.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
SF CoP is a group of family members, advocates with disabilities, government leaders, disability advocacy and services professionals, and other interested community members who work together to develop policies, practices and systems that better support families that include a member with an intellectual or developmental disability.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Systems Coordination
This program provides a variety of leadership and vocational opportunities for youth with disabilities, including capacity-building workshops, community-based activities, work-based learning opportunities, and civic engagement experiences.
Operating Entity: SchoolTalkDC
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
EDSN serves as an employment agency that helps people with disabilities obtain integrated, competitive employment with a wide range of private sector employers.
Operating Entity: Easterseals DC MD VA
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists school administrators and teachers in helping students with disabilities explore career paths and future employment opportunities, increase their knowledge and use of community resources, enhance their self-determination skills, and more. The program also assists students in obtaining volunteer and paid employment positions. The program is run in partnership with the District of Columbia Public Schools Transition Program.
Operating Entity: The Arc of the District of Columbia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a range of supported employment services to people with disabilities, including assessment, job development, job placement, job coaching and other supports necessary to achieve and maintain employment.
Operating Entity: The Arc of the District of Columbia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program trains clients who are visually impaired or blind on job readiness skills. Specific services include vocational and situational assessments, resume support, interviewing skills development, job development, job placement and retention services, job coaching services, job accommodation support, and travel training.
Operating Entity: Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps people who are both deaf and developmentally disabled to enhance their self-sufficiency through pre-vocational and day habilitation activities.
Operating Entity: Deaf Reach
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps families identify support needs for children or adults with developmental disabilities, including around education, the transition from school to work, environmental accommodations, and more.
Operating Entity: Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program provides opportunities for individuals who are deafblind to work in a supported environment where they learn organizational skills and have an opportunity to coordinate programs and events.
Operating Entity: Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps settle complaints of unlawful discrimination (including based on disability status) in the areas of employment, housing, education and public accommodation in the private sector and DC government.
Operating Entity: DC Office of Human Rights (OHR)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program prepares DC youth with disabilities to complete the DC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) in inclusive workplaces, and to set and attain short- and long-term career goals. Services include case management, mentorship, and travel training.
Operating Entity: SchoolTalkDC
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
The LEAP Program provides grants to youth and young adults with disabilities to help them transition to adulthood. Funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including business clothing, career exploration or related courses, college tuition, and computers and equipment.
Operating Entity: HSC Healthcare System, Health Services for Children Foundation
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program offers a degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, which has an emphasis on meeting the needs of a culturally diverse community.
Operating Entity: University of the District of Columbia
Entity Type: College / University
This program prepares candidates to become Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, including serving individuals with mental illness.
Operating Entity: The George Washington University, Graduate School of Education and Human Development
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides paid work-based learning experience and job readiness training for transition-age youth ages 14-24. The DC Department of Disability Services and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education collaborate with the Department of Employment Services to ensure youth with disabilities are identified early on and have the appropriate supports to be successful in their work experiences.
Operating Entity: DC Department of Employment Services (DOES)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This three-month program provides communication, leadership, and vocational skill building for young adults with disabilities. This includes skill-building workshops on topics such as resume development, interviewing, and formal e-mail communication, as well as off-site group community service projects, site visits to places that employ those with disabilities, and opportunities to network.
Operating Entity: Dreams for Kids
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Advocates for Justice and Education (AJE)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: University Legal Services (ULS)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides trainings and facilitates interagency collaboration to improve transitions for students with disabilities. This includes technical assistance, parent and school personnel trainings, and facilitation of meetings between secondary transition stakeholders.
Operating Entity: SchoolTalkDC
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This group brings together transition experts from the District’s school system, disability advocacy organizations, direct-service agencies, and transition-aged youth and their parents, to collaborate on improving outcomes for transition-age youth with disabilities. Subcommittees are focused on specific issues, like youth leadership.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program supports and trains new self-advocates, including through financial training with local financial institutions and attorneys, leadership training, and financial support for advocates to attend local and national conferences. It is operated in collaboration with Project ACTION!, the District’s self-advocacy coalition.
Operating Entity: Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides employment services to people who are blind or visually impaired. The program focuses on independent living skills, orientation and mobility training, adaptive technology training, and vocational training opportunities.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services, Visual Impairment Services Unit
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The SSP Program is pairs deafblind individuals with trained “human guides” to help individuals who are deafblind to maintain their independence in their community and continue to make informed decisions independently.
Operating Entity: Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides on-going supports to assist individuals with the most significant disabilities (including serious mental illness or intellectual and developmental disabilities) to maintain competitive integrated employment. Services for individuals with mental health conditions are coordinated with the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH).
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
NE-PACT provides technical assistance to Parent Centers in Region A (which includes DC), including strategies for reaching underserved families, on-site training and support, an annual conference, program evaluation, and consulting around the nonprofit management process.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence-Parent Assistance and Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program is designed to improve systems, services, and outcomes for children, youth, adults, and their families, including those with developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs, adolescents and youth in transitional life moments, and communities at large.
Operating Entity: Georgetown University, Center for Child and Human Development
Entity Type: College / University
DC Rehabilitation Services Administration works with local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide technical training and assistance around the delivery of Pre-Employment Transition Services.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This project provides youth ages 13 to 26 and their parents with support, advocacy, information, and training in order to improve their involvement in their educational planning. This includes trainings to prepare youth to become effective self-advocates and to lead their educational planning.
Operating Entity: Advocates for Justice and Education (AJE)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
DC Public Schools offers a range of courses to prepare students with disabilities for their transitions. Courses include academic study skills, self-advocacy, computer skills, independent living skills, career development, and more.
Operating Entity: DC Public Schools
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
This program is designed to help 16-21 year old’s who are blind or visually impaired prepare for employment and independent living. Participants stay at American University, participate in internships in the District, and attend trainings.
Operating Entity: Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program connects seniors and individuals with disabilities to a variety of transportation services to assist with their various mobility needs.
Operating Entity: DC Department of Aging and Community Living
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides comprehensive rehabilitation services to help people with disabilities obtain employment. Services may include information and referral, assessment services, counseling and guidance, vocational training, job search, job placement and job coaching, and supported employment.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides youth leaders with a variety of leadership and skill-building opportunities, including speaking to policymakers, connecting with employers, building self-advocacy skills, participating in transition conferences, and facilitating trainings and workshops.
Operating Entity: SchoolTalkDC
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Infinity Support Services
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
AJE offers a range of career preparation workshops for youth (ages 13-26) with disabilities, including on topics like diploma programs, getting and keeping a first job, participating in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, transition planning, exploring careers, and more.
Operating Entity: Advocates for Justice and Education (AJE)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program prepares students with disabilities for post-school activities including post-secondary education, vocational training, employment, continuing and adult education, and independent living. The DC Rehabilitation Services Administration coordinates with DC Public Schools to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services, with the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to serve justice-involved youth, and with DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) to serve youth transitioning from the foster care system to independence.
Operating Entity: DC Department on Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Florida Prepaid College Board
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program offers a variety of courses for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, ranging from Braille and academic studies to independent living, life adjustment, technology, business and employment skills, and recreation.
Operating Entity: Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provide adults with disabilities opportunities to learn daily living, social, pre-employment and self-advocacy skills, including through paid work opportunities. It includes the Life Skills, Employment Readiness, Advocacy, and Participation (LEAP) Program, which provides community-based educational, volunteer, and work opportunities; entrepreneurial projects; goal setting and self-advocacy training; pre-vocational training; employability skill-building; leadership training, and more.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Florida
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: ServiceSource Florida
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Education, Division of Blind Services (DBS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides technical assistance, training, and resources that facilitate the restructuring of mental health systems through effective consumer directed approaches for adults with serious mental illnesses. The program addresses a range of areas, including job-seeking, employment, economic self-sufficiency, money management, and financial literacy for people with mental health conditions.
Operating Entity: The Family Café
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program prepares students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, or deafblind for success in college or the workforce by integrating academics and career development coursework and training opportunities. Students participate in CTE programs at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind or at First Coast Technical College (FCTC) and acquire specific technical skills, receive occupational completion points, earn industry certifications, and participate in short-term community or campus based internships.
Operating Entity: Florida School for the Deaf and Blind
Entity Type: Other
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Florida (DRF)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
CODIE is designed to build the capacity of selected school professionals and community action teams to support youth and adults with disabilities in achieving customized employment. This is achieved through systematic training, mentoring, and ongoing technical assistance.
Operating Entity: University of South Florida, Florida Center for Inclusive Communities
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps youth and adults with disabilities learn job skills and find employment in their communities through pre-employment skills training; resume, application, and interview coaching; job search and job placement assistance; and on-the-job training and support.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Florida
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Family Engagement
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation has counselors who are specially trained to understand the needs and abilities of people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Services include trainings on hearing loss issues in the workplace, guidance and counseling on coping with hearing loss, and interpreting services for job interviews.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program is designed to increase employment and self-sufficiency for social security beneficiaries and individuals with disabilities, by helping them understand how earnings may affect their benefits; transforming the culture of how CareerSource Centers serve customers with disabilities; and facilitating linkages to the employer community so individuals with disabilities may access programs and services. Services are provided through Disability Program Navigators.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
EEP provides supported employment services to individuals with disabilities to help them find and maintain competitive employment.
Operating Entity: Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These programs provide a range of employment supports for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, including computer training, direct job placement, job development, supported employment, vocational evaluation, and rehabilitation engineering (which involves the use of adaptive or assistive technology to help individuals maintain their current employment or to obtain new employment).
Operating Entity: Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
FACT provides intensive, community-based treatment, rehabilitation, and support services for adults with severe and persistent mental illness who have not responded well to traditional treatment. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation provides staff liaisons to help serve this group of customers in a comprehensive manner.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Children and Families, Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This interagency agreement establishes a framework for an efficient transition of technology as individuals with disabilities move through the continuum from educational services to employment. The agreement ensures children and youth with disabilities and their families, educators, and employers are informed about the continued use and transfer of assistive technology devices.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
FYC is a group of youth and emerging leaders (age 15-30) with disabilities or special health care needs who learn about and engage in self-advocacy, peer mentoring, and other activities that will improve their quality of life. Opportunities include an Annual Youth Summit, program content at The Family Café Annual Conference, and a program newsletter.
Operating Entity: The Family Café
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program focuses on increasing and sustaining implementation of evidenced-based practices that lead to increased outcomes for students with disabilities (including increased school completion, graduation rates, and academic performance).
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
HSHT is designed to provide high school students with all types of disabilities the opportunity to explore jobs or postsecondary education leading to technology- related careers. HSHT links youth to a range of academic, career development, and experiential resources and experiences.
Operating Entity: The Able Trust
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
A number of colleges and universities in the state offer programs where students with intellectual disabilities enroll in college courses with their degree-seeking peers and experience internships and gainful employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
JP-PAS provides monthly stipends to adults with significant disabilities who require personal assistance services to attain and maintain competitive and integrated employment.
Operating Entity: Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides need-based scholarships to undergraduate, degree-seeking students with disabilities attending state universities in Florida.
Operating Entity: Johnson Scholarship Foundation
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
These Centers provide onsite job services to people with disabilities, and provide additional access to remote job fairs and other employment and training events. The Centers are operated by CareerSource Florida, the statewide workforce policy and investment board consisting of the Department of Economic Opportunity, 24 local workforce development boards, and 100 career centers throughout the state.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides educational lessons for individuals with developmental disabilities and resources for family members and caregivers. It enables individuals to learn and practice financial skills at their own pace, using interactive games, activities and educational videos.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Financial Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps Florida school districts and stakeholders increase their ability to provide secondary transition services to students with disabilities and improve student academic success and postsecondary outcomes. It helps educators, parents, students, agency representatives, and other stakeholders by providing capacity-building support to implement secondary transition services, interagency collaboration, transition legislation and policy and student development and outcomes.
Operating Entity: University of South Florida
Entity Type: College / University
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project Venture is a workplace-related simulation where high school students develop a business plan proposal and accompanying commercial. Students develop real-world skills such as working in groups, delegating, and problem solving as a way of preparing for the workforce or post-secondary education.
Operating Entity: The Able Trust
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Florida (DRF)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
The Rehabilitation Center provides a variety of prevocational and adjustment services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, including around computer technology training, employability skills, adaptive devices, and more.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Education, Division of Blind Services (DBS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This 12-week course prepares individuals ages 15 and up with a disability to work in the hospitality industry. The program offers classes, on-the-job training, certifications, and an opportunity to learn transferrable skills.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Florida
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Council is responsible for evaluating the allocation and adequacy of mental health services within the state; reviewing state plans and providing recommendations; and advocating for individuals of all ages with mental illnesses or emotional problems. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is an active member of the Council and promotes coordination so that appropriate services can be delivered to maximize customer choice and satisfaction.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Children and Families, Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
SSTIC is a state-level interagency team designed to facilitate inter-organizational understanding, identify needs grounded in data, identify and realign capacity building resources, facilitate collaboration and avoid duplication, and share responsibility and planning to improve secondary transition for students with disabilities. Subcommittees focus on Family Involvement, Postsecondary Education, and Student Success.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This IT application is designed to help Division of Vocational Rehabilitation staff and school districts work together as they provide Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to youth with disabilities, including by enabling school personnel make Pre-ETS referrals.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
Supported Employment helps individuals with the most significant disabilities succeed in competitive employment through ongoing support services. These services are collaboratively planned and funded with various other agencies, including the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps various stakeholders (including educational agencies, teachers, service providers, and families) to address the educational and transitional needs of children who are deaf-blind, with the goal of increasing postsecondary education and employment readiness (among other objectives).
Operating Entity: University of Florida, Florida and Virgin Islands Deaf-Blind Collaborative (FAVIDBC)
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides financial resources to individuals with disabilities who desire to pursue their personal and career goals through attendance at a post-secondary institution.
Operating Entity: Family Network on Disabilities (FND)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
These services help youth who are blind or visually impaired pursue their desired post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational training, employment, supported employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, and community participation.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Education, Division of Blind Services (DBS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps students with disabilities train for a job, continue their education, or find a job after high school. Services include career counseling, work readiness training, and fully integrated work experiences in the community.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program is a coordinated state-wide effort which provides transportation services in all 67 Florida counties for those who are eligible (including individuals with disabilities) and have no access to transportation. The program groups riders together for a shared ride service.
Operating Entity: Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a variety of Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to help students explore careers any time students are out of school for at least three consecutive days (e.g. summer break, winter recess, spring break).
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists individuals who are blind or visually impaired achieve and maintain employment, through vocational training, job placement, orientation and mobility training, career counseling, and more.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Education, Division of Blind Services (DBS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Youth Advocacy is a statewide project designed to enable youth and young adults with disabilities ages 14 to 22 and their families to participate more effectively with professionals in meeting their vocational, independent living, and rehabilitation needs.
Operating Entity: Family Network on Disabilities (FND)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
YLF is a leadership-training program for high school students with disabilities. Students participate in a series of online leadership training, role playing, mentoring, job preparation, and career exploration activities to build social and communication skills.
Operating Entity: Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This self-advocacy training service pairs youth with a mentor or peer who is close in age. Through this mentoring relationship, youth learn how to self-advocate for community, social, and professional services and supports.
Operating Entity: Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
ASPIRE is a student-led Individualized Education Program (IEP) initiative that helps students with disabilities build self-confidence, self-determination, and self-advocacy skills in preparation for the educational, career, and independent living decisions needed for adulthood. It is a collaboration between the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) and the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides technical assistance to support providers in improving employment supports and outcomes for individuals with disabilities. This process helps shift a disability service provider’s focus on sheltered workshops and other non-work programs to services that foster competitive, integrated employment.
Operating Entity: University of Georgia, Institute on Human Development and Disability
Entity Type: College / University
This program accepts three new farmers with disabilities a year into an incubator program to help them get a start in small-scale farming.
Operating Entity: University of Georgia, Institute on Human Development and Disability
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Georgia Tech University, Tools for Life (TFL)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This specialized intervention service provides high school students with disabilities with supports to succeed in their Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program and prepare for the workforce. The program provides learning supports, instruction, and opportunities that will result in the attainment of entry level job skills, as well as trainings around self-determination and transition skills.
Operating Entity: Georgia Department of Education, Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
This program arranges specific community learning situations for individuals with disabilities, based on their individual goals, to help them engage with others and experience life situations. Each outing has a specific purpose and can include employment, academics, and social experiences.
Operating Entity: Creative Enterprises
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Law Offices of Martin and Jones
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program is designed to support those with significant disabilities on their journey to sustainable employment, through customized employment and training, integrated services, and more.
Operating Entity: Georgia Department of Economic Development, Disability Employment Initiative (DEI)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program seeks to economically empower people with disabilities by helping them build sustainable businesses. The program offers mentoring, employment and entrepreneurship workshops, art classes, and hosts an online shop where artists can sell their work.
Operating Entity: Synergies Work
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of services to help people with disabilities address employment challenges and achieve personal goals. Services include temporary job placement in Easterseals industries, assignment of a job coach, transportations supports, and more.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
GaIPSEC works with members of diverse communities to help higher education institutions implement programs that extend opportunities for higher education to young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Operating Entity: Georgia State University, Center for Leadership in Disability
Entity Type: College / University
GIB employs people who are blind in two locations across the state.
Operating Entity: Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Georgia Office of State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This one-day program assists high school juniors (including those with disabilities) in identifying their unique strengths and interests and the contributions they will bring to the workplace.
Operating Entity: Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA), Roosevelt Warm Springs/Cave Spring Center
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Georgia Advocacy Office
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This residential campus provides opportunities for any student, particularly those with disabilities, to learn life skills and work towards professional certifications with the final goal of employment.
Operating Entity: Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA), Roosevelt Warm Springs/Cave Spring Center
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This week-long program provides college-life experiences for middle school students, high school students and graduates, including those with disabilities. Activities include dorm tours, college-level writing workshop, group activities, and more.
Operating Entity: Kennesaw State University, Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides technical assistance to providers to improve employment supports and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Advancing Employment
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This leadership development program assists young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in achieving their goals. The program works with participants to develop a project plan in partnership with community members to address a local issue.
Operating Entity: The Arc, The Arc Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides training and coaching to local educational agencies (LEAs) to develop, support, and sustain a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework that will lead to improved graduation rates for students with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Georgia Department of Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program works to increase the awareness and ability of individuals to advocate for themselves to live, work, and play in the places they choose. SUN holds self-advocacy workshops and invites self-advocates and allies to assist in the development of self-advocacy networks. The program is sponsored by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Operating Entity: Sangha Unity Network (SUN)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps people with disabilities find and maintain employment through 43 vocational rehabilitation sites across the state. Programming includes school-to-work transition services.
Operating Entity: Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This 10-day program helps high school seniors (particularly those with disabilities) measure their work readiness through assessment, hands-on activities, and work experience.
Operating Entity: Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA), Roosevelt Warm Springs/Cave Spring Center
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawai’i (ATRC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Hawai’i Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Hawai’i Disability Rights Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides support and referral services to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. This includes academic classes, workshops, accessibility support, courses, and programs targeted at youth with disabilities (such as summer youth programs).
Operating Entity: University of Hawai’i, Manoa College of Education, Center on Disability Studies
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, School-Based Prep
This program provides vocational rehabilitation and independent living services specifically for people who are deaf or hard of hearing across the state.
Operating Entity: Hawai’i Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities explore their strengths, abilities, and interests; explore future careers; and build their skills.
Operating Entity: Hawai’i Behavioral Health
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program connects individuals with disabilities (primarily those with intellectual and developmental disabilities) with employment opportunities in Hawai’i by examining job seekers’ strengths, interests, and skills.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Hawai’i
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a range of employment training services in a classroom setting, including vocational assessments, benefits planning counseling, job skill development and maintenance, job development and placement, job coaching, pre-vocational training, and employer advocacy and support.
Operating Entity: The Arc in Hawai’i
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides training and work experience to individuals with disabilities, including pre-employment assessments, occupational skills training, practical work experience, job coaching, and essential soft skills in obtaining and maintaining competitive employment. They also connect participants with local employers.
Operating Entity: Lanakila Pacific
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Oregon Treasurer’s Office
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of services to residents at the Access Center for Independent Living, including around advocacy leadership, youth transition, independent living, and employment preparation. It also offers peer support groups.
Operating Entity: Access to Independence Hawai’i
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides technical assistance to families and service providers of youth who are deaf-blind, birth through 21 years of age, including around secondary transition.
Operating Entity: University of Hawai’i, Hawai’i and Pacific Deaf-Blind Project
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities access and maintain employment in the community. Participants receive assistance on employment planning, job coaching, and problem solving.
Operating Entity: Hawai’i Behavioral Health
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides services and counseling to help people with disabilities obtain competitive employment. Hawai’i Division of Vocational Rehabilitation also connects participants with local employers and work opportunities.
Operating Entity: Hawai’i Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps parents, educators, vocational rehabilitation counselors, developmental disabilities case workers and providers, and employers assist youth with developmental or intellectual disabilities in their transitions.
Operating Entity: University of Hawai’i, Manoa College of Education, Center on Disability Studies
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps individuals who are blind obtain skills for increased self-confidence, empowerment, and employment. The program instructs participants in Braille and alternative communication formats, business practices, computers and assistive technology, mobility competencies, personal and home management, and more.
Operating Entity: Hawai’i Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 11 western states plus two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Leadership in Disabilities & Achievement of Hawai’i
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides services to school staff, families, and communities to support students with disabilities transitioning into adulthood. Activities include postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living or community participation.
Operating Entity: Hawai’i Department of Education, Exceptional Support Branch
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This college-preparedness program helps transition-age youth with disabilities prepare for navigating college-life, develop academic skills, improve their “soft-skills,” and learn self-determination skills. Participants also attend a four-day postsecondary education residential training experience at University of Hawai’i at Manoa, attending college classes and participating in college activities. The program is offered at a number of community colleges and universities throughout the state.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
The Postsecondary Supports Project is a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. It provides students an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in campus life.
Operating Entity: University of Hawai’i, Center on Disability Studies
Entity Type: College / University
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Hawai’i Disability Rights Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides specialized vocational rehabilitation and related services for people who are blind. Services include job maintenance support, job placement assistance, literacy programs, blindness education programs for service providers, transition services for youth, and more.
Operating Entity: Hawai’i Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants from disadvantaged backgrounds (including students with disabilities) and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to and complete their postsecondary education. It is implemented at various colleges and universities across the state and is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities prepare for independent living through life skills courses, professional development classes, community activities, prevocational preparation, and weekend activities.
Operating Entity: Lanakila Pacific
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides courses to help individuals with disabilities integrate into society. The courses focus on academic assistance, vocational and employment assistance, self-expression and advocacy, and more.
Operating Entity: Abilities Unlimited Hawai’i
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps deaf and hard of hearing students discover opportunities for employment or education after high school. It provides vocational exploration activities, vocational assessments, work-study and internship opportunities, and self-determination and self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Hawai’i Department of Education, Hawai’i School for the Deaf and the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This year-long program seeks to cultivate interest in STEM fields among youth with disabilities, prepare participants for post-secondary education, and develop strengths that can be used in careers through the completion of STEM-related projects.
Operating Entity: University of Hawai’i, Manoa College of Education, Center on Disability Studies
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables students with disabilities to participate in STEM-related activities in University of Hawai’i-Manoa laboratories, hear presentations by working STEM Professionals, earn UH-Manoa credit in natural sciences and high school credit, and cultivate an interest in STEM careers.
Operating Entity: University of Hawai’i, Manoa College of Education, Center on Disability Studies
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps individuals with significant disabilities gain employment on the island of Oahu. This includes helping clients develop employment goals, providing employment skills training, providing job-specific technical skills training, and connecting individuals with paid work experiences.
Operating Entity: Network Enterprises, Inc. (NEi)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: University of Hawai’i, Manoa College of Education, Center on Disability Studies
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YLC is a four-week summer program that provides deaf and hard of hearing students with training and educational opportunities to prepare for their transitions to higher education or employment. The program also includes programming around leadership development.
Operating Entity: Hawai’i Department of Education, Hawai’i School for the Deaf and the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides career education and training services to at-risk youth, including youth with disabilities. Program services include tutoring and school-based services, work experiences, occupational skills training, work-based education, leadership development opportunities, support services, mentoring services, guidance counseling, financial literacy education, entrepreneurial skills training, employment information, and more.
Operating Entity: State of Hawai’i Workforce Development Council
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables students with disabilities to spend one week on the Idaho State University campus and develop skills in job exploration, interviewing, self-advocacy, independent living, community integration, budgeting, technology use, and college life. Activities include experiencing college classes, receiving career counseling, touring campus, and meeting disability services staff.
Operating Entity: Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides training and skills that enable blind and visually impaired people to live, work, and compete alongside their sighted peers. It teaches clients non-visual ways to perform everyday tasks, so that they can stay productive and competitive under any conditions.
Operating Entity: Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: University of Idaho, Center on Disabilities and Human Development
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Students spend one week on the Boise State University campus to experience college life, learn how to take notes in college, access the Educational Access Center, understand financial aid, and more.
Operating Entity: Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: DisAbility Rights Idaho
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This summer program helps students prepare to attend post-secondary schooling. It focuses on the unique issues that a blind or visually impaired student may encounter when preparing to attend a trade school, two year college, or university.
Operating Entity: Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program trains facilitators who will work with youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (including transition teachers, Department of Labor Disability Coordinators, and parents) to help youth identify their core gifts and talents and create a strong link to identified gifts in transition plans.
Operating Entity: Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
This program provides counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs at institutions of higher learning, as well as information about college applications and admissions, assistance completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and resources that may be used to support individual student success.
Operating Entity: Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program is a work-readiness camp and post-secondary transition program for students ages 15 to 21 who are deaf or hard of hearing. Students engage in four weeks of paid work experience and learn how to find and secure long-term employment and about the skills and technology that might help them in the pursuit.
Operating Entity: Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program matches students with disabilities to workplace mentors according to their expressed career interests. Students experience a typical day on the job and learn how to prepare to enter the world of work.
Operating Entity: Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The Idaho Interagency Council on Secondary Transition advises, reviews, analyzes, and monitors the implementation of the State’s Interagency Agreement on Secondary Transition to increase the number of students with disabilities who are actively engaged in postsecondary education, employment, and community activities. Members include the Idaho State Department of Education (SDE), Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (IDVR), Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ICBVI), Boise State University, Idaho State University, Department of Correction, local educational agencies, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
IDYLF is a six-day, hands-on career and civic leadership program for young adults 16-21 with disabilities. It provides participants the opportunity to learn full citizenship skills, including advocacy, leadership, community participation and employment skills.
Operating Entity: Idaho State Independent Living Council
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program enables students to participate in one week of non-paid job readiness training to prepare for work, followed by a part-time paid experience for five weeks. On-the-job worksite trainers provide support to students as needed.
Operating Entity: Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 11 western states plus two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Idaho Parents Unlimited
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: DisAbility Rights Idaho
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables students to spend five days and four nights learning skills that will lead to successful employment. Students are exposed to jobs that focus on environmental science and participate in hands-on activities that teach scientific and ecological principles.
Operating Entity: Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program pairs vocational rehabilitation counselors with school districts, parents, and students who are blind or visually impaired to develop a coordinated transition plan detailing the student’s current academic progress, interests, vocational goals, and needs.
Operating Entity: Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides one-on-one and group setting instruction to teach students with disabilities about their rights and responsibilities; how to request accommodations or services and supports; and how to communicate their thoughts, concerns, and needs in order to prepare them for peer mentoring opportunities with individuals working in their area of interest. Students can also participate in informational interviews.
Operating Entity: Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This 6- to 8-week work experience program enables students who are blind or visually impaired to live in supervised dorms and work in competitive jobs during the week (with on-the-job support). Through SWEP, students enhance their work skills, confidence, and self-esteem.
Operating Entity: Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides information and best practices in secondary transition planning for students in special education to educators, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, and school administrators. School districts teams from across the state learn new strategies and develop district transition plans to improve post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities. It is an initiative of the Idaho Interagency Council on Secondary Transition, which is comprised of a variety of stakeholders.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program offers a variety of transition services for youth with disabilities as they prepare for life beyond high school, including career exploration and counseling, workplace readiness training, job shadowing, and work based learning experiences. The Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation also collaborates with school districts to provide comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services to students with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Students spend one week on the University of Idaho campus to experience college life, learn how to take notes in college, access disability support services, understand financial aid, learn independent living skills, and more.
Operating Entity: Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Montana State University – Billings, Montana Center for Inclusive Education
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps people with any disability find jobs throughout the community. Services include job training and support, as well as assistance writing resumes, filling out applications, making employer contacts, and developing interviewing skills.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Idaho
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides paid pre-employment experience for students with disabilities ages 15-21 through the creation of artistic products for professional businesses and non-profits.
Operating Entity: Idaho Parents Unlimited
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Students with disabilities participate in a leadership in training (LIT) or a counselor in training (CIT) summer camp. The LIT program takes a deeper look into leadership, team building, and problem solving, and the CIT program teaches the work skills needed to be a camp counselor and work with children.
Operating Entity: Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Illinois Assistive Technology Program
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides assistive technology solutions to people with disabilities of all ages, including by helping people find and acquire commercially available, modified, or custom-designed equipment to maximize their independence.
Operating Entity: University of Illinois Chicago, College of Applied Health Sciences
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides financial assistance to help individuals with a disability further their education at an Illinois Community College.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program works with children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families to help them get the support and services they need, including around transition to adulthood services and future planning.
Operating Entity: University of Illinois Chicago, College of Applied Health Sciences
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides vocational, psychological, transitional, and driver education services to assist individuals with disabilities in living and working independently.
Operating Entity: Southern Illinois University Carbondale, School of Education, Rehabilitation Institute
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps students with disabilities prepare for postsecondary education and employment. Services include exploring students’ options for post-secondary education and/or employment by gaining job seeking skills, finding job shadow or internships in the community, and/or obtaining community employment while still in school.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Office of the Illinois State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps people with mental health conditions find and keep meaningful work. It is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Divisions of Mental Health and Rehabilitation Services.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides training and support to parents and caregivers of children with disabilities, assisting them in planning, advocating, and identifying resources. The program follows a model of collaboration among parents, self-advocates, and professionals.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Equip for Equality
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
STEP is a work experience program that helps students with disabilities prepare to transition to employment and community participation during and after high school. Services include job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, counseling on post-secondary education, workplace readiness training, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program offers several services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, including: vocational rehabilitation services, counseling and guidance, assistance with training and technology, resources related to hearing loss, information and referral, interpreter resources and guidelines, in-service training, and advocacy.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps Hispanic/Latino individuals ages 16-24 who have disabilities to prepare for and find quality employment. It includes a vocational rehabilitation services; a Migrant Worker Rehabilitation Project focused on serving migrant and seasonal farm workers with disabilities and their family members; and a Hispanic/Latino Rehabilitation Project providing outreach, information, and referral services.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program partners with more than 150 area employers to place individuals with serious mental illnesses and substance use conditions in jobs of their choice to create economic independence and further their recovery.
Operating Entity: Threshold
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This two-year comprehensive transition program provides young people with physical disabilities, ages 18-22, with instruction and opportunities to make a successful transition to adult life. Students learn vocational skills, empowerment / self-advocacy skills, mobility skills using public transportation resources, and more.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education-Roosevelt (ICRE-R)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides a team of Transition Specialists and Aides to help individuals with disabilities engage in transition planning, work-based learning experiences, and ongoing consultation during a student’s school to work transition. This team serves as a liaison between Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services and schools and as a facilitator for the customer’s transition from school.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders with direct placement in competitive jobs in real-world settings with accompanying on-site and as-needed support services, which are designed to help individuals perform their job.
Operating Entity: Trilogy
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists individuals with severe visual impairments in finding jobs and/or getting ready to go to work. Program staff also recommend assistive technology to help people perform tasks on the job.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Bureau of Blind Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This 12-week program helps people who are blind or visually impaired to develop vocational and independent skills.
Operating Entity: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education-Wood (ICRE-W)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Crossroads
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides information to individuals with disabilities and their families on how employment and earnings can impact Social Security, SNAP/TANF, and Medicaid or other state benefits. Program liaisons receive extensive training in Social Security’s Work Incentive Programs, which help workers maintain or extend their benefits while earning and saving more of their paychecks.
Operating Entity: Indiana University, Institute on Disability and Community
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Indiana Disability Rights
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program prepares individuals with disabilities for employment and supports them in job seeking and job retention through job coaching, pre-vocational training, and extended supports.
Operating Entity: New Horizons
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides career planning and employment assistance to individuals with disabilities; helps people find professional, skilled, semi-skilled, and entry level jobs; and works closely with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to do so.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Crossroads, Easterseals Crossroads
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This postsecondary vocational training program provides 10-13 week training sessions in hospitality, food service, healthcare, and inventory distribution to help individuals with disabilities master key job skills and gain valuable work experience through an internship. It also includes Camp EGTI, which is focused on assisting youth with disabilities in their transitions from school to adulthood, as well as two-day Career Sampling sessions, which enable participants to shadow employees and perform portions of the job.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Indiana
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This group home living opportunity enables adults to participate in local employment programs and workshops. Services also include trainings on self-advocacy, social integration, community access, and other topics.
Operating Entity: In-Pact
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program offers levels of training for youth with autism, culminating in experiential learning and internship opportunities.
Operating Entity: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, School of Medicine
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
INDATA is an assistive technology program that includes information and referral, funding assistance, public awareness and education, device demonstration, device loan, reutilized computers, and equipment reutilization.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Crossroads, Easterseals Crossroads
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Indiana Treasurer of State
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The program provides supports to families, school districts, and others who work with children who are deaf-blind. Services include workshops, technical assistance, in-service trainings, assistance with IEP development and transition-focused educational planning, and family leadership training.
Operating Entity: Indiana State University
Entity Type: College / University
The program works to increase knowledge, skills, and capacity of Indiana educators to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, and to help parents understand the IEP process. The initiative is funded through federal funds distributed by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), and is implemented in collaboration with a range of community partners.
Operating Entity: Indiana State University
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps people with developmental disabilities develop work skills (through completion of production-oriented tasks) and prepare for community employment through a readiness training curriculum, which teaches professionalism and interview skills, as well as other transferable job skills.
Operating Entity: Bona Vista
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The PASS Project provides statewide support and professional development opportunities for educators (including teachers, interpreters, paraprofessionals, relate service personnel and administrators) to improve academic achievement and post-secondary transitions for students with sensory loss (including visual impairments and hearing loss). The project also facilitates the Visual Impairment Licensure Program and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Licensure Program at Indiana State University and the Educational Interpreter Mentoring Program.
Operating Entity: Indiana State University
Entity Type: College / University
This pre-vocational program seeks to empower individuals with developmental disabilities by providing them with tools to expand their vocational skills through opportunities set in a supervised environment.
Operating Entity: PEAK Community Services
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: IN*SOURCE
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides individual assistance, workshops, resources, and more to help youth and young adults with disabilities pursue meaningful careers, live as independently as possible, and enjoy inclusion at work and in the community. Guidance and information is also offered to families, and focuses on transition, employment, the role of vocational rehabilitation counselors, and more.
Operating Entity: PACER Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project SUCCESS provides research-based resources and professional development (including on the topics of content standards, instructional design, and student outcomes), designed to meet the needs of students with significant intellectual disabilities (including around transitions). Project SUCCESS is a resource center developed and managed by Public Consulting Group (PCG) in collaboration with the Indiana Department of Education.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Indiana Disability Rights
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
STEP helps high school students who are blind or visually impaired explore various career paths and learn essential job skills, as a first step toward gaining viable employment.
Operating Entity: Bosma Enterprises
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Region C PTAC provides technical assistance to parent centers across a 16-state region, which includes Indiana. Strategies include shared professional learning, coaching and mentoring, and collaboration and leadership.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides community-based transition services to young adults with disabilities who are exiting high school. It includes the AIM (Achieving Inclusion and Meaning) program, where individuals participate in various activities such as volunteering in the community, learning how to use public transportation independently, and visiting museums and cultural events. It also includes a food truck program, where individuals work on New Hope’s food truck and learn pre-vocational, food preparation, customer service, and social marketing skills.
Operating Entity: New Hope of Indiana
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
The VOICE Project is designed to increase competitive employment opportunities for people with mental health diagnoses, including through trainings to Indiana Community Mental Health Centers and systems coordination. It is a collaboration between the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), and is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program assists students in finding employment and job shadowing opportunities, taking skills assessments, and preparing job applications.
Operating Entity: PQC Trains
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals with disabilities achieve their employment goals, including through job exploration, job search services, assistive technology, and career advancement support.
Operating Entity: Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides job placement services to a range of adults with disabilities (including high school students and recent graduates) in 15 counties throughout the state
Operating Entity: Bona Vista
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides employment assistance to individuals with disabilities, provides reasonable accommodations to job-seekers, and provides workstations that contain assistive technology in over 20 WorkOne Centers in the state.
Operating Entity: Indiana Department of Workforce Development
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Youth Services Program provides young people with disabilities with the community-based experiences, skills, and access to services needed to ensure their inclusion in community life and successful transition to adult life. Specific components include a Transition Timeline Checklist, education programming, independent living skills training, advocacy training, and a Young Adult Council.
Operating Entity: accessABILITY
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Iowa Department for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program works with students with disabilities to help them develop specific career goals and action plans and prepare for employment. It includes a Super Seniors, a 5th year vocational preparation program that leads to competitive employment matching student career goals.
Operating Entity: University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Iowa Department of Human Rights
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Iowa Treasurer of the State
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This project seeks to improve the academic and functional outcomes of children and youth who are deafblind through delivery of technical assistance to educators and agencies that support families and their children with deafblindness, including around transition planning. It is a collaboration between the Iowa Department of Education, Iowa School for the Deaf, Iowa Educational Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired and Iowa’s Area Education Agencies.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program expands vocational rehabilitation and Pre-Employment Transition services by enabling community college team members to collaborate with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and provide career readiness and career exploration services to school districts where gaps are identified.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Iowa Legal Aid assists Iowans seeking legal remedies around a variety of disability topics, including: assistive technology, education and other rights, medical benefits, mental health issues, and Social Security/Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Operating Entity: Iowa Legal Aid
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Access for Special Kids (ASK) Resource Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: DisAbility Rights Iowa
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides technical and financial assistance to help individuals with disabilities achieve self-sufficiency by starting, expanding, or purchasing a business. It is available to clients of Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) and Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB).
Operating Entity: Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides trainings targeted to the needs of a variety of consumers, including individuals with disabilities, businesses, employers, state and local government agencies, including around transition planning.
Operating Entity: University of Missouri, Great Plains ADA Center
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides assistance to young adults in the areas of vocational training, independent living, and post-secondary education to help them develop the skills needed to obtain and maintain competitive integrated employment. Services include job exploration; counseling; work-based learning experiences; workplace readiness training; post-secondary training; self-advocacy instruction; job placement; independent living skills; and follow-up and monitoring. TAP is a partnership between the Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) and Community School Districts.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides direct support to young adults with disabilities to help them develop the skills to get, learn and keep a job. It also helps clients develop the linkages to community providers, and supports the businesses who host them and the paraprofessionals who support them so they can become independent and successful in their jobs. It is a collaboration between the Iowa University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities at the Center for Disabilities and Development (UCEDD/CDD) and the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: DisAbility Rights Iowa
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YLA is an introduction to leadership skills for youth with disabilities consisting of five two-hour sessions focused on leadership, goal-setting, self-determination, civic engagement, and social networking and mentoring. It is a collaboration between the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, Iowa Department of Human Rights, Access 2 Independence and UI Health Care Center for Disabilities and Development.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Kansas University, Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Kansas Department for Children and Families, Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Center of Kansas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides transition services to all Kansas School for the Deaf students, including individual and personalized career counseling, beginning when students are in the 7th grade. It also involves working directly with students’ families to best prepare students for work opportunities.
Operating Entity: Kansas State Department of Education, Kansas School for the Deaf
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Family Engagement, School-Based Prep
This program offers a number of virtual and in-person day-long trainings to help transition-age youth with disabilities acquire necessary skills. Topics include learning to navigate employment networks, creating and setting boundaries in adult relationships, learning to live independently, and more.
Operating Entity: Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps out-of-school youth with disabilities find jobs in competitive integrated settings. Participants are connected with entry-level jobs with a chance for advancement, and the program compensates employers for payroll expenses.
Operating Entity: Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This seven-month program teaches transition-age youth self-advocacy and leadership skills, including around communicating their goals, learning to be leaders, and giving back to their communities.
Operating Entity: Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps individuals on the Autism spectrum or with other developmental disabilities develop work skills, social connections, and advocacy skills, and identify work opportunities.
Operating Entity: Independent Living Resource Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This eight-week program takes place in high school special education programs in Kansas City and provides students with skills and resources for transitioning from high school to adulthood.
Operating Entity: The Whole Person
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides workforce services to people living in regions that lack a permanent workforce center, including career counseling, resume assistance, career development workshops, skills training, and more. Centers are ADA compliant and feature computer labs and internet access.
Operating Entity: Kansas Department of Commerce
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides multiple services to Kansas residents who are deaf or hard of hearing, including interpreter services, legal advocacy services, referral to job finding services, training with assistive technology, and more.
Operating Entity: Kansas Department for Children and Families, Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Kansas State Treasurer’s Office
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The Kansas Deaf-Blind Project program provides services to families, educators, and interveners to support individuals who are deaf-blind. This includes providing assistance related to transition planning. The project is a partnership between the Kansas Department of Education, Kansas School for the Deaf, Kansas School for the Blind, and multiple state and national non-profit organizations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides a range of vocational services to individuals with disabilities, including services specifically for transition-age youth. This includes offering Pre-Employment Transition Services, connecting youth with disabilities to employment opportunities, providing career counseling, empowering youth to earn high wage and in-demand jobs, and connecting with in-school services for youth with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Kansas Department for Children and Families, Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
KYLF is a five-day forum in which high school juniors and seniors with disabilities learn about leadership, advocacy, and goal setting on a local university campus.
Operating Entity: Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
The Clinical Counseling: Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program prepares vocational rehabilitation service providers to serve rural Kansas. The program prepares students to provide pre-employment, employment, and vocational support services to persons with physical, intellectual, sensory, and mental-emotional disabilities.
Operating Entity: Emporia State University
Entity Type: College / University
This program trains service providers on secondary education and transition competencies for assisting youth with disabilities, with a specific focus on helping youth shift from high school education to post-secondary employment.
Operating Entity: Kansas University
Entity Type: College / University
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Families Together Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Center of Kansas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps youth with IEPs transition from high school to post-secondary life by teaching basic life skills and preparing students to navigate college life, handle finances, navigate legal concerns, and search for employment.
Operating Entity: Prairie Independent Living Resource Center (PILR)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation Tribal Government
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program gives people with disabilities who are working or interested in working the opportunity to keep Medicaid coverage while on the job.
Operating Entity: KanCare
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YEP helps individuals with disabilities, ages 15-21, prepare for and achieve long-term employment. It enables youth to gain work experience by connecting them with members of the business community and paying their wages.
Operating Entity: Independence Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program teaches youth with disabilities skills related to financial planning, finding services in their community, finding and advocating for accessible housing, and talking to family members about wants and needs. It also includes Pre-Employment Transition Services.
Operating Entity: Independent Connection Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This self-determination leadership academy is designed to train individuals with disabilities, their family members, and professionals working with people with disabilities on topics ranging from self-determination to finding and using community supports to employment.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Kentucky
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Kentucky Assistive Technology Services (KATS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Path Forward of Kentucky
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The program helps individuals with visual impairment, who wish to drive and are legally able to do so according to Kentucky statute, to be trained and issued licenses.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Division of Blind Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides students with a variety of opportunities and experiences in preparation for competitive integrated employment and/or postsecondary education or training. The program includes both Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and Individualized Transition Services (ITS). It is a collaboration between local educational agencies, the Kentucky Department of Education, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These services include Pre-Employment Training Services and Community Work Transition Services, which help high school students ages 14-21 become college or career ready by graduation. Other services include Supported Employment and Employment and Retention, which provide job coaching and assistance with job applications, resumes, interview skills, and more.
Operating Entity: Easterseals West Kentucky
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program offers low interest loans for individuals with disabilities who need assistive technology, including modified vehicles, hearing aids, adapted computers, mobility devices, augmentative communication devices or any other type of equipment or home modification that will increase their quality of life and independence.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program is designed to meet the educational, transitional, and early intervention needs of children who are deaf-blind by collaborating with state education agencies, local educational agencies, and other stakeholders.
Operating Entity: University of Kentucky, College of Education
Entity Type: College / University
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Kentucky State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Kentucky has nine Special Education Cooperatives across the state that assist local school districts in meeting the needs of its member districts. Services range from technical assistance, trainings, professional development, specialized services, research, and other needs identified by member districts and the Kentucky Department of Education.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Learning
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program aims to enhance employment opportunities for youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by helping school teams understand the employment process, improve their ability to develop and/or enhance partnerships with employers and providers, and improve partnerships with families. It is a collaboration between the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Department of Education, and other agencies, organizations, and college systems in the state.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program teaches individuals with visual impairments how to navigate safely in a variety of environments, including college campus or a job site. The program’s goal is to teach individuals to navigate independently with grace, efficiency and confidence wherever they might be.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Division of Blind Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: KY-SPIN
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project CASE is designed to increase the numbers of individuals with disabilities who are working in fields like Manufacturing, Healthcare, Information Technology, and Culinary Arts. The program provides direct services to help individuals access necessary training and post-secondary educational opportunities, and uses Career Pathway Coordinators to reach employers who can provide work experiences such as job shadowing, internships, apprenticeships and job placement in these fields.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides individual assistance, workshops, resources, and more to help youth and young adults with disabilities pursue meaningful careers, live as independently as possible, and enjoy inclusion at work and in the community. Guidance and information is also offered to families, and focuses on transition, employment, the role of vocational rehabilitation counselors, and more.
Operating Entity: PACER Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, Kentucky Protection and Advocacy
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides customized technical assistance and direct support to Institutions of Higher Education to establish or enhance postsecondary programs that advance the academic success and social inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities.
Operating Entity: University of Kentucky, Human Development Institute
Entity Type: College / University
This program assist people with disabilities in achieving sustainable competitive integrated employment, maximizing independence, and gaining self-respect. Services include vocational evaluation, customized training, driver education, and an Academic and Lifeskills Program.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Carl D. Perkins Vocational Training Center
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YES! helps youth with disabilities develop self-awareness, self-determination, and self-advocacy skills to support a successful transition to adult life. It consists of a community group and a school program and is a collaboration between the Center for Accessible Living and the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network (LATAN)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program offers vocational rehabilitation and independent living services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. This includes vocational guidance and career counseling, assistive technology services, job placement, and transportation.
Operating Entity: Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Louisiana
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Pyramid Community Parent Resource Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This career and technical education program helps prepare students for continuing their education while earning certifications in high-wage career sectors. The program has been expanded to focus on students with disabilities in particular, through the New Skills for Youth grant.
Operating Entity: Louisiana Department of Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides trainings and assistance to help Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities make informed choices about work.
Operating Entity: Louisiana State University, LSU Health Science Center Human Development Center
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
These interest-free loans (up to $1,000 per person) support individuals with disabilities in starting small businesses. The program is a collaboration between the Office of Aging and Adult Services and the Arc of Louisiana.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Families Helping Families
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This three-semester program enables students with disabilities to take classes at Delgado Community College related to specific apprenticeship areas, participate in career development activities, learn community and work skills, and gain employment experience through two 10-week paid internships or apprenticeships. It is a collaboration between the Louisiana State University Human Development Center, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, Delgado Community College, public school systems, and employers in the New Orleans metro area.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Louisiana
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program the Rehabilitation Counseling program, which prepares graduates to work with individuals with disabilities and their families to achieve personal and vocational goals, and the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program, which prepares graduates to work with individuals with disabilities treat and manage mental disorders. In addition, the program has received three long-term training grants from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, to offer specialized course in Independent Living, Supported Employment, and Assistive Technology. Southern University is a Historically Black University.
Operating Entity: Southern University and A&M College
Entity Type: College / University
This program offers technical assistance and advisement of training opportunities to help self-advocates and family members of people with developmental disabilities develop practices to promote self-determination, independence, and integration.
Operating Entity: Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This training teaches young adults ages 16-26 to be effective self-advocates, including through trainings and peer-to-peer support.
Operating Entity: Families Helping Families
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Louisiana Board of Regents, Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The STEP Program introduces teenagers who are blind to positive blind role models and provides them with summer work experience. Participants work 15-20 hours a week at a local business earning minimum wage.
Operating Entity: Louisiana Center for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This initiative seeks to develop the capacity of transition specialists, including through a two-day Transition Summit that covers transition policies, legislation, and best practice models. It also includes a three-day Transition Specialist Core Training, to provide practical strategies around site development, student career assessment, jobsite and community instructional support, jobsite analysis, and developing student portfolios and resumes. It is a collaboration between the Louisiana State University Human Development Center and the Jefferson Parish Public School System.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of services to help people with disabilities overcome employment obstacles. It includes job readiness training, job placement, supported employment, job coaching, and Pre-Employment Transition Services.
Operating Entity: UpLIFTD
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This one-stop career program offers individuals with disabilities a range of services to help them develop the skills and attitudes needed to develop a lifetime career. Services include work evaluation and job readiness services; assessment for and provision of assistive technology; job counseling services; and medical and therapeutic services.
Operating Entity: Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program offers one grant a year to help Maine students with developmental disabilities pursue a post-secondary education. The money is applied toward the student’s tuition.
Operating Entity: Robbie Foundation
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with disabilities start or resume driving, as a way to maintain their independence. It evaluates peoples’ visual, physical, and cognitive skills and make recommendations for adaptive driving equipment, further training, and teaching strategies.
Operating Entity: Alpha One
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides low-interest rate loans to individuals with disabilities, which can be used to purchase equipment or technology that improves a person’s independence, safety, and quality of life.
Operating Entity: Alpha One
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides supported employment services to individuals with mental illness who require ongoing supports to maintain successful employment.
Operating Entity: State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health (OBH)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Maine’s five Area Agencies on Aging serve as “one-stop-shops” to answer questions from older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their care partners about a range of in-home, community-based, and institutional services. The program can help individuals access employment training, connect to educational opportunities, and receive information and referrals.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Maine Department of Education, Maine CITE (Consumer Information and Technology Training Exchange)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with disabilities increase their functional ability, safety, and overall independence through the use of assistive technology. The program helps individuals identify their assistive technology needs and connect with resources for reaching their goals.
Operating Entity: Goodwill Northern New England
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides assessment, consultation, and training to assist individuals with disabilities in accessing learning and employment through the use of technology. The program also enables consumers to purchase donated and refurbished adaptive equipment at a reduced price and/or to borrow adaptive equipment for short-term loans.
Operating Entity: Spurwink ALLTECH
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: State of Maine Department of Labor, Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Maine (DRM)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Four Clubhouses throughout the state offer a variety of services to help individuals with mental illness attain work. Services include in-house prevocational programs, transitional employment, and competitive employment in the community with or without Supported Employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Employment Specialists are embedded in behavioral health organizations across the state to assist individuals living with serious mental illness in career exploration and securing employment. The program is a collaboration between the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Behavioral Health, the Maine Department of Labor Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, and the Maine Medical Center Department of Vocational Services.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program offers a variety of services for youth who are blind or visually impaired, to help them prepare for the transition from school to work or post-secondary education.
Operating Entity: State of Maine Department of Labor, Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program includes information, referral, and advocacy services for Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Late-Deafened citizens of Maine.
Operating Entity: State of Maine Department of Labor, Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing & Late Deafened (DDHHLD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program works to identify the needs and maximize the potential of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late-Deafened, and Speech Impaired individuals throughout the state. Services include civil rights advocacy, a deaf-blind equipment distribution program, a peer support group, and more.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Maine (DRM)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides work-based learning experiences to high school students with disabilities to help them attain competitive integrated post-secondary employment and education. Services are provided at five high schools in the Bangor area.
Operating Entity: Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These programs provide services to help people with the most severe disabilities maintain jobs in community-based supported employment settings. Programs include a Basic Extended Support Program and a Brain Injury Extended Support Program.
Operating Entity: State of Maine Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: Alpha One
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides independent living supports and trainings to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, including personal management skills training (for example, around managing money) and mobility instruction.
Operating Entity: State of Maine Department of Labor, Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program offers adults with disabilities or deafness the opportunity to live and work as independently as possible in their communities. Services include skills training in independent living, work readiness, relationship building, self-advocacy, and health.
Operating Entity: Goodwill Northern New England
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program trains and engages middle and high school students with disabilities from coastal Hancock County school districts in intertidal census work. Students are offered paid internships; receive training in the identification of invasive species, data collection, data management, and scientific protocol; are supervised by onsite mentors; and gain a variety of hands-on worksite skills. The program is a collaboration between the University of Maine’s Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies and the Community Environmental Health Laboratory (CEHL) at MDI Biological Laboratory.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides parent advocacy training emphasizing Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and advocacy within the K-12 system for Somali parents of children on the autism spectrum. It is a collaboration between the University of Maine’s Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies and New Mainers Public Health Initiative (NMPHI).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Maine Parent Federation
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a $2,000 scholarship to 3 selected individuals with disabilities to pursue post-secondary education, at either an undergraduate or graduate level.
Operating Entity: Alpha One
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides professional development for employment support providers, including certification opportunities, monthly webinars, and advanced topical training on topics of interest to the field. The program is a collaboration between the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Behavioral Health and Office of Aging and Disability Services), the Maine Department of Labor (Bureau of Rehabilitation Services), and the non-profit Syntiro.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Maine (DRM)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides information, training and technical assistance, and support to youth and young adults with disabilities and their families, including transition services to help youth and their families navigate multiple programs and service systems; actively participate in the development of plans for independence; and collaborate with transition professionals. It is a collaborative effort between Parent Centers in nine northeastern states.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
STRIVE U is a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. It provides students an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in campus life.
Operating Entity: Southern Maine Community College
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides an opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities to have more control of their lives and speak up on issues that are important to them. Activities include encouraging and providing support to individuals with developmental disabilities to actively seek competitive employment. SUFU collaborates and receives support from the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council.
Operating Entity: Speaking Up for Us (SUFU) of Maine
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides a home setting and services for individuals with an acquired brain injury, an intellectual disability, or other barrier to independence. Services include vocational training, job placement, and transportation assistance, and are offered at 23 residences throughout central and southern Maine.
Operating Entity: Goodwill Northern New England
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
NE-PACT provides technical assistance to Parent Centers across 14 states, districts and territories (including Maine). Services include strategies for reaching underserved families, on-site training and support, an annual conference, program evaluation, and consulting around the nonprofit management process.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence-Parent Assistance and Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a curriculum to help students with disabilities discover employment possibilities in an interactive team environment. Topics include disability disclosure; requesting accommodations; learning styles at work; work values, abilities and aptitudes; interest inventories, self-management skills, occupational exploration; and more. The curriculum can be facilitated independently or in conjunction with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Operating Entity: State of Maine Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Maine’s Employment First Team includes a Transition Workgroup, which focuses on identifying and addressing challenges that students with disabilities face in their transitions out of high school.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Wabanaki Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals with visual impairment get, retain, or return to work. Services include individual counseling and guidance, vocational assessments, orientation and mobility instruction, and job placement and follow-up services.
Operating Entity: State of Maine Department of Labor, Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides services to help individuals with disabilities find or keep a job. The program offers career exploration activities; information about skills and training; assistance acquiring tools, uniforms or basic equipment needed to start a job; and job coaching.
Operating Entity: State of Maine Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program utilizes a customized employment planning approach to assist job seekers in exploring their unique needs, abilities and interests. Services include career counseling, career exploration, “soft” skills development, resume preparation, Work Trial Assessments, job shadows, job development and job search assistance, job coaching, and long term supports.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Maine
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Maine Medical Center, Department of Vocational Services
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps prepare high school youth with disabilities for adulthood through community access/integration and employment and job training services.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Maine
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists youth with disabilities in exploring career opportunities, locating training programs, and acquiring resources needed for a job (including assistive technology, vehicle modifications, and medical devices). It also includes job coaching services and a Progressive Employment component, where youth engage in hands-on work-based activities in the community, including job tours, interviews, job shadowing, work experiences, and on-the-job training.
Operating Entity: State of Maine Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This 12-week course provides leadership development to youth with developmental disabilities from Ethiopian communities in Montgomery County and the surrounding metropolitan area. The 300 Leaders curriculum will help youth develop the social and leadership skills needed for increased community engagement and future employment.
Operating Entity: Tisnat Institute
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Maryland Department of Disabilities, Maryland Technology Assistance Program
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Maryland Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Maryland Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These programs help individuals with disabilities develop the entry-level skills they need for jobs in a range of fields, and include supports, accommodations, and individualized instruction. There are career training programs in the automotive, childcare, retail, pharmacy, food service, animal, and warehouse industries, among others.
Operating Entity: Maryland Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Maryland Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides technical assistance, training, and other services to help improve outcomes for children who are deaf-blind in Maryland and DC. This includes working with state and local educational agencies to ensure that students graduate from high school ready for college and a career. It is a collaboration between the Maryland State Department of Education and the University of Maryland, College Park.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides information and assistance to individuals with disabilities as they navigate the human services system so they can advocate for themselves. The program provides information around mental health, the ADA, employment, and more.
Operating Entity: Maryland Department of Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a variety of services to graduates of Workforce and Technology Center training programs and other individuals with disabilities. Services include job search assistance, cover letter and resume development, interviewing skills preparation, career search skills, business etiquette training, networking and job development, and education on how to disclose disabilities and request accommodations.
Operating Entity: Maryland Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program funds supported employment and other day services for eligible graduating students who otherwise may not have received Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) services. This program earmarks funds in the DDA budget for eligible students leaving school, regardless of the severity of their situation and their relative need for immediate services.
Operating Entity: Maryland Department of Health, Developmental Disabilities Administration
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
IATC is a partnership of state and local government agencies, educators, family members and advocates that work together to improve policies and practices that affect Maryland students with disabilities preparing to transition from high school to adult services, college, employment, and independent living. It meets at least four times a year and regularly creates and reviews an Interagency State Plan for Transitioning Youth with Disabilities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program helps develop leadership skills among parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs. It includes workshops, webinars, experiential learning, coaching, mentoring, and independent study. It is designed to help parents broaden their role within their communities as a resource, support group leader, trainer, advocate, and more.
Operating Entity: The Parents’ Place of Maryland
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Sumday Administration, LLC
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with disabilities and their families access assistive technology (AT) devices and services. This includes AT demonstrations, consultations, short-term device loans, a high-tech AT Reuse Center, trainings, webinars, a low-interest financial loan program, and one-on-one information and referral.
Operating Entity: Maryland Department of Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
MD-YLF is a week-long leadership program open to students with disabilities entering their final two years of high school. Activities take place on a college campus and help students gain leadership skills, plan for their careers, and learn about assistive technology and community supports.
Operating Entity: Independence Now
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: The Parents’ Place of Maryland
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program offers parent to parent support as a core resource for families with children who have a special health care need, disability, or mental health concern. Through a one-to-one “match,” experienced support parents provide emotional support to families and assist them in finding information and resources.
Operating Entity: The Arc Maryland
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
POG is a group of advocates that educate people with developmental disabilities through leadership trainings and mentoring opportunities. POG also provides support and training to local self-advocacy groups. It is a partnership between the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Maryland
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps students with disabilities prepare for the future, including by helping students identify their skills and abilities; coordinating Pre-Employment Transition Services, including summer employment and internships; referring students to programs at the Workforce & Technology Center; supporting college or technical school training; and helping students find a job that matches their strengths and interests.
Operating Entity: Maryland Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals with mental health conditions maintain work, by providing on-going support after they begin working (such as training, supervision, and help with adjustment to the work environment). It includes Evidence-Based Supported Employment, which is rooted in research, and Traditional Supported Employment.
Operating Entity: Maryland Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This Parent Technical Assistance Center serves Maryland’s federally-funded Parent Centers to enhance their capacity to provide effective services for families of children with special needs, including navigate the special education system and provide you with the information and tools you need to be an informed and active participant in your child’s education
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Independence Now, Maryland Work Incentives Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This two-part program helps individuals with disabilities who have little or no work experience, or who have been out of the workforce for an extended period of time, develop skills needed to be successful in the workplace. The first six-week course helps individuals prepare for employment through videos, lectures, worksite tours, and job shadowing experiences, while the second program includes real-world work experience at community worksites.
Operating Entity: Maryland Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides adaptive devices and technical consulting to individuals who are blind and employers to help in the workplace, classroom, or the management of a consumer’s home.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), MCB Support Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), MassMATCH
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides personalized college support for students with learning and social challenges. This includes providing high school students with an introduction to college, and college students with ongoing support. The program consists of an Individualized College Plan, peer mentorship, pre-employment training, self-advocacy training, and more. It is a collaboration between College Steps, high schools, colleges, families, and agencies.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program acts as the initial information resource for the public related to issues of deafness and hearing loss, including around sign language and speech reading classes, assistive technology, programs and support services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, and schools and summer camps. The program also provides technical assistance around assistive technology to individuals and organizations.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides services to consumers who are deafblind and/or legally blind with cognitive issues. Services include vocational, prevocational, and social day programs, as well as assistance accessing adaptive equipment, low vision aides, flex funding, and more.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), Deaf Blind Extended Supports (DBES) Unit
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The Massachusetts Office on Disability answers questions about disability rights, reasonable accommodations, and issues related to equal access and opportunity.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Employment Specialists provide individuals with visual impairments assistance in the job search process. Direct services to a job seeker include resume development, cover letter and business correspondence creation, mock interviewing, and employment networking strategies.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides classes for people with disabilities to learn skills that will assist them in pursuing independence. Topics include self-advocacy, choice and control, your rights 101, awareness and action, and voting. Participants will also have the opportunity to become actively involved in a project of their choice.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC)
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program assists individuals with disabilities in seeking, securing, and maintaining employment. Services include career planning, resume development, training, and more.
Operating Entity: University of Massachusetts Boston, Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Participants who complete Berkshire Hills’ Two-Year Transition Program may matriculate into the LIVE Program which expands on the skills developed in the two-year transition program and provides a more personalized approach aimed at achieving the individual’s specific goals. Services include vocational preparation and placement, supplemented by independent living classes and music enrichment activities.
Operating Entity: Berkshire Hills Music Academy
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This group mentoring program enables youth with disabilities to engage in self-advocacy and social skills trainings, interactive discussions, role-playing, guest speaker presentations, games, and adaptive recreational activities.
Operating Entity: Partners for Youth with Disabilities
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program funds partnerships between local school districts and two- and four-year public colleges and universities in Massachusetts, to enable students to enroll in college while also receiving special education services through the school district. Program participants develop their capacities in career-planning, employment, and self-advocacy, including by engaging in paid work and internships.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Federation for Children with Special Needs
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project IMPACT provides personal benefit counseling to people that get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and are employed or looking for a job. This can help individuals with disabilities understand what may happen when they go to work or increase earnings.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Law Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides information, training and technical assistance, and support to youth and young adults with disabilities and their families, including transition services to help youth and their families navigate multiple programs and service systems; actively participate in the development of plans for independence; and collaborate with transition professionals. It is a collaborative effort between Parent Centers in nine northeastern states.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
STEPS is a resource center where young adults (ages 18-25) can receive mental health support. The program promotes self-advocacy, and offers opportunities for vocational, educational and social development.
Operating Entity: Wayside Youth & Family Support Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This 10-week series helps people with developmental disabilities improve their skills in the areas of decision-making and leadership. It also provides opportunities for people to connect with self-advocacy networks and expand their social networks.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC)
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program works with individuals who are blind or visually impaired to help them navigate their environments and use technology to improve their independence. Services include help with assistive devices, vision evaluations, rehabilitation teaching to help consumers learn new way of doing daily activities, and more.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This vocational program helps young adults with mental health challenges find and maintain competitive employment. Services include vocational assessments, one-on-one job coaching, peer support, vocational skills groups, access to social activities, and more.
Operating Entity: South Shore Mental Health
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program works with special education departments to coordinate services for students who will be graduating high school and need supported living services. Students begin meeting with a case coordinator during their last year in school to transition into post-secondary education, work, and living in the community.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Systems Coordination
This program provides technical assistance to Parent Centers in Region A, which includes Massachusetts. Services include strategies for reaching underserved families, on-site training and support, an annual conference, program evaluation, and consulting around the nonprofit management process.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides three different loan packages to help individuals with disabilities acquire assistive technology devices.
Operating Entity: Easterseals – Massachusetts
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides paid, temporary work opportunities for individuals with disabilities at Children’s Hospital Boston. The program’s focus is on helping participants develop work skills and behaviors that will enhance their vocational success.
Operating Entity: University of Massachusetts Boston, Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides training to parents and service providers statewide regarding services and programs for children with disabilities and the legal right to obtain these services. Workshops address issues like transitions, legal standards, special education service options, and more.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program matches youth and young adults with mental health challenges (ages 16-22) with the services and supports that best meet their clinical and developmental needs, including around personal stability, community housing, employment, education, and positive family/social relationships.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program is designed to enhance competitive integrated employment and post-secondary enrollment outcomes for high school students with significant disabilities. It provides work-based learning experiences, vocational counseling, workplace readiness training, benefits counseling, assistive technology, peer mentoring, job placement, and more throughout the last two years of a student’s high school experience.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program supports young adults with mental health challenges across a range of issues, including attaining employment. Peer mentors offer their firsthand experiences of living with and overcoming mental health issues to support and assist the young adults they are teamed up with on their road to recovery.
Operating Entity: Aspire Health Alliance
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program serves students with disabilities to help them prepare for independence in adulthood. Services are provided at Independent Living Centers (ILCs) and include both individual and group activities in the areas of advocacy, skills training, and peer counseling.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program is offered through Independent Living Centers and provides students with employment related skills, guidance, and paid internships to improve future employment opportunities.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This “college-like” program enables young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to build independent living and vocational skills. Instructors work with participants to establish a baseline of their skill set and work on skills for the future. All of this is done through a curriculum that incorporates music instruction that works on students’ social, cognitive, communication, and physical skills.
Operating Entity: Berkshire Hills Music Academy
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps people with physical, psychiatric, and learning disabilities prepare for, secure, maintain, advance, or regain employment. Services are offered at 22 locations across the state.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YEP is a job-readiness program that addresses barriers to employment for youth with disabilities. Program includes courses on financial literacy and career readiness, job shadow days, mentoring from leaders in the business community, and more.
Operating Entity: Partners for Youth with Disabilities
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This transitional program provides daily structure and support to help young adults with psychiatric disabilities integrate back into the community. It includes structured groups and individualized support to help individuals build pre-vocational, vocational, and educational skills, as well as daily life skills as they relate to work or school.
Operating Entity: Eliot Community Human Services
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program promotes self-advocacy and self-awareness for youth and young adults with disabilities ages 14-26. It offers regional workshops throughout Massachusetts on topics such as leadership, self-determination, peer networking, assistive technology in the workplace, and employment skills.
Operating Entity: Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This interagency initiative helps adjudicated youth with disabilities make a seamless transition from Bureau of Juvenile Justice training schools to productive roles in their communities. It is a collaboration between the Department of Human Services Bureau of Juvenile Justice (BJJ) and the Department of Labor and Economic Growth Rehabilitation Services (MRS).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Systems Coordination
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity, Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Michigan
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with mental illness find and keep jobs. Components of the program include integration of supported employment with treatment, attention to client preferences, benefits counseling, rapid job search, systematic job development, and time-unlimited support.
Operating Entity: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Administration
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides vocational rehabilitation services to job applicants with disabilities, including around career preparation, job coaching and general support.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Michigan
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports eligible individuals with disabilities in preparing for and obtaining competitive employment, including exploring the possibilities of self-employment or owning a small business.
Operating Entity: Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity, Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides consultation, training, and resources to families and educational teams serving students who are Blind or Visually Impaired and/or Deaf or Hard of Hearing. This includes resources specifically around transition and career planning.
Operating Entity: Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Michigan Department of Treasury
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This initiative will develop 1,024 Youth Registered Apprentices in the state and ensure at least 124 of those apprentices are youth with disabilities. The program is a partnership between the Michigan Department of Education Office of Career and Technical Education, and the Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity Rehabilitation Services.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Michigan Alliance for Families
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables prospective college students who are blind or visually impaired to demonstrate their level of independence in nine areas, so that counselors and the student can decide if other training or skill building is needed prior to starting college.
Operating Entity: Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, School-Based Prep
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
PERT is a five-day, school-to-work transition program that enables students with disabilities to explore multiple areas of interest through hands-on assessments while living on campus at the Michigan Career & Technical Institute (MCTI). It is offered through Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) at MCTI.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Michigan Rehabilitation Services and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources offer work-based learning experiences for students with disabilities at Parks and Recreation Division sites.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Michigan
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program is designed as an exploratory introduction to post-secondary education for students with disabilities. Program components include classroom instruction and extracurricular activities to establish skills essential to transitioning from secondary to post-secondary education or employment. It is a partnership between Western Michigan University and Michigan Rehabilitation Services.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps students who are blind or visually impaired, age 14 and over, to successfully make the transition from high school to postsecondary education or employment. The student works with a team including a Bureau rehabilitation counselor, the student’s parents, a teacher consultant, a social worker, a special education director, and others to prepare an annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) plan and identify and explore the student’s job interests.
Operating Entity: Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: Hannahville Indian Community
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program assists youth and young adults with disabilities in reaching their employment goals, including through discovering interests and talents, learning about different jobs, determining employment goals, requesting accommodations, and obtaining and maintaining employment.
Operating Entity: Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity, Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides curriculum modifications and special equipment to enable students with disabilities to participate in state-approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) work-based learning (WBL) programs.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Education, Career and Technical Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Administration, System of Technology to Achieve Results (STAR)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides personalized assistance and recommendations, as well as demonstrations, of different assistive technology devices to help deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing and late-deafened live more independently and safely.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Human Services, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps students with visual impairment plan and prepare for future work, study, and independent living. The program offers assistance around technology, career exploration, work experience, adjustment to blindness training, and peer connections.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), State Services for the Blind (SSB)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), State Services for the Blind (SSB)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
These programs include a Summer Comprehensive Training Program and a College Experience Program, which prepare blind and visually impaired students for college and enable them to experience the college environment.
Operating Entity: BLIND, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Discapacitados Abriendose Caminos
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
These programs are located throughout the state and provide job placement, supported employment, self-advocacy training, and more to individuals with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Human Services, Disability Services Division (DSD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This 12-credit certificate program enables graduate students and community professionals to learn about policies and services that affect the lives of children, youth, and adults with disabilities, including as it pertains to education, employment, community living, and health. The program is a collaborative effort with the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).
Operating Entity: University of Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration (ICI)
Entity Type: College / University
This five-day camp is designed to expose middle school girls with disabilities (6th-9th grades in the fall) to STEM topics, including hands-on activities and experiments.
Operating Entity: PACER Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These services help individuals with visual impairment or blindness develop the skills and confidence to join the workforce. Services include job readiness and skills assessments, career exploration and counseling, job shadowing, job coaching, and more.
Operating Entity: BLIND, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists participants in exploring goals and strengths, building employment and career readiness skills, shadowing professionals and trying out jobs, and succeeding in their roles.
Operating Entity: Goodwill/Easterseals Minnesota (GESMN)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides employment support to individuals with significant disabilities. The program works with community rehabilitation providers to provide long-term support services to help individuals keep their jobs or advance their careers.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps people with serious and persistent mental health illnesses find work. Services include functional assessment, individualized career planning, job skill acquisition, job placement, job development, and non-time-limited supports necessary to maintain and advance in employment. It is a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program teaches transition skills to youth (ages 14 to 21) who have visual impairment or blindness. Topics include self-exploration, career exploration, writing job applications and resumes, and succeeding at work.
Operating Entity: Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Human Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This project serves families and educators to help them better support deafblind students, including around topics like transition to adulthood. It is a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), the Metro Educational Cooperative Service Unit (ECSU), and a range of community partners throughout the state.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
MEC provides career solutions and customized support for the Deaf, Deafblind and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Services include resume and cover letter development, job search assistance, ongoing job coaching and more. MEC is a collaboration between Rise Incorporated and Lifetrack.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
MnSIC was formed to develop and implement the system of services for youth who are involved in special education. It brings together seven state agencies (the Minnesota Departments of Education, Employment and Economic Development, Commerce, Corrections, Health, Human Rights, and Human Services) and focuses on issues like coordinating transition services in Minnesota Public Schools.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program is designed to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities by providing technical assistance to 12 provider agencies over the course of the two-year program.
Operating Entity: University of Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration (ICI)
Entity Type: College / University
MYP serves low-income and at-risk youth (including those with disabilities) by providing hands-on opportunities to apply skills they learn in the classroom and engage in career exploration and counseling, work readiness skills, and financial literacy training. Nearly half of participants have a disability.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Office of Youth Development
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to immigrants and refugees with disabilities. The New Americans team consists of a lead rehabilitation counselor and two community liaison representatives.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: PACER Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This residential summer program provides Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind students with trainings and activities to increase independence in their school, home, community and work environments. This includes job shadowing, volunteer opportunities, and more.
Operating Entity: Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides individual assistance, workshops, resources, and more to help youth and young adults with disabilities pursue meaningful careers, live as independently as possible, and enjoy inclusion at work and in the community. Guidance and information is also offered to families, and focuses on transition, employment, the role of vocational rehabilitation counselors, and more.
Operating Entity: PACER Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This eight-week course helps individuals with disabilities build job skills for the retail industry, through an average of 10 hours of paid training per week. This includes hands-on work experience, employment readiness training, job placement assistance, and instruction on various topics.
Operating Entity: Goodwill/Easterseals Minnesota (GESMN)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program works to make technology more accessible to children and adults with disabilities through technology consultations, a lending library, training sessions, and in-services and workshops to individuals with disabilities and their families.
Operating Entity: PACER Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides vocational services for high school students, through two Vocational Rehabilitation Services staff members assigned to every high school, as well as through Pre-Employment Transition Services. Services include assessment, vocational evaluation, training, rehabilitation counseling, assistive technology, job placement, and post-employment assistance.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides students with visual impairment with independent living experiences, skills training, and career exploration activities, including two- to four-week work experiences. Activities include recording elevator pitches for employers, engaging in mock interviews, developing a resume, and completing a technology evaluation. The program is housed at St. Thomas University.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Education, Special Education Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program offers structured work experiences and related services to youth receiving Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) benefits. In 2019, 18% of participants had a disability. This project is a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), and the Minnesota Association of Workforce Boards (MAWB).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program includes a series of workshops to help youth adults with disabilities gain exposure to technology, engineering, and math concepts in a comfortable, inclusive, and hands-on setting. Topics include coding video games, websites, 3D printing, and robotics.
Operating Entity: PACER Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This 5-year project is designed to increase effective family engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse families, with a focus on families of children with disabilities. The project provides strategies, activities, tools and resources for educators and families. It is a collaboration between the PACER Center, the Minnesota Department of Education, and Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps Spanish-speaking youth with disabilities plan for their transitions.
Operating Entity: Discapacitados Abriendose Caminos
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides job counseling, on-the-job training, transportation assistance, employment accommodations, and more to individuals with disabilities who live on or near the White Earth Reservation. Individuals who work at least 20 hours per week or who are full-time students are eligible for these services.
Operating Entity: White Earth Nation, Division of Human Services
Entity Type: Other
This program serves opportunity youth, including those with disabilities, by providing comprehensive employment and training services, including work-based learning, an introduction to career pathways, assistance attaining recognized credentials, and wraparound support services.
Operating Entity: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Office of Youth Development
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Goodwill-Easterseals Minnesota
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
These programs are designed to help prepare youth with visual impairment or blindness for college, the workforce, and independent living. They include the PREP residential summer program and various other transition-themed programs.
Operating Entity: BLIND, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
AbilityWorks is a network of community rehabilitation programs that provide vocational assessment, job training, and work experience to individuals with disabilities through an array of contract and subcontract services provided to local business and industry. There are 15 AbilityWorks locations statewide.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Addie McBryde Rehabilitation Center provides services to help blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind individuals live and work independently. Services include GED preparation, vocational evaluation, vocational training in emergency dispatch, as well as classes on mobility and orientation, communication, daily living, and other topics.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports opportunities for people with developmental disabilities who are considered leaders to provide leadership training to people with developmental disabilities who may become leaders. The program targets youth and young adults ages 13-24 from traditionally underserved rural impoverished communities and helps them develop self-advocacy skills.
Operating Entity: Wesley Youth Foundation
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, Project START
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
MDRS provides consultation services to help connect individuals with assistive technology (AT) for work. This includes performing evaluations and assessments for assistive technology needs, setting up AT equipment, providing follow-up evaluations, designing and fabricating original items, and providing specifications and final inspections for AT services.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides assistive technology services to families, educators, employers, and individuals with disabilities. These services include adaptive computer access; adaptive driving; assistive technology for brain trauma, hearing impairments, learning disabilities, and visual impairments; augmentative and alternative communication services; job accommodation technology; home accommodations; and more.
Operating Entity: Mississippi State University, T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program trains students who are deaf or hard of hearing to become qualified to enter competitive job markets. It focuses on helping students set and achieve either postsecondary or occupational goals. All students receive national industry certifications upon completing this program.
Operating Entity: Mississippi School for the Deaf
Entity Type: Other
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Society for Disabilities
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program connects college students with blindness or visual impairment with career-specific mentors six months before graduation. All mentors are legally blind, and help prepare participants for workforce challenges unique to blindness. Additionally, participants receive Mississippi State University credit for participating in this program.
Operating Entity: Mississippi State University, National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision
Entity Type: College / University
Express Yourself! Art is an art, recreational, and vocational program that seeks to give individuals with disabilities skills to express themselves, explore creative interests, and discover career opportunities in the arts. The program also helps individuals with disabilities build confidence and leadership abilities.
Operating Entity: Mississippi State University, T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps train youth with disabilities to be farmers, and helps individuals with developmental disabilities become entrepreneurs of agribusiness. Career training opportunities include farm management, packing shed management, food safety, and alternative production methods such as aquaponics. The program gives graduates discounts on aquaponics or other agricultural systems, to facilitate a career in agriculture.
Operating Entity: Milestone Cooperative
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides workforce training and education to at-risk population groups, including individuals with disabilities. It helps participants attain careers in targeted industries, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, logistics, and energy. Participants receive counseling services, literacy training, job skills training, high school equivalency services, work experience, and more.
Operating Entity: Northeast Mississippi Community College
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program offers support and services for Mississippi residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorder. Eligible participants receive day service supports, pre-vocational support to explore job opportunities, supported employment services, and supported living services.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Department of Mental Health
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: LIFE (Living Independence for Everyone) of Mississippi
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides training to rehabilitation counselors in American Sign Language and other communication competencies, to enable them to provide employment services to individuals who are deaf.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with combined hearing and vision loss. Services include supported employment, independent living services, employment connections, transition services, and more.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
MSU Access is a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. It provides students an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in campus life.
Operating Entity: Mississippi State University
Entity Type: College / University
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides technical assistance to families and services providers of children/young adults with hearing-vision challenges, including around educational transitional services.
Operating Entity: University of Southern Mississippi
Entity Type: College / University
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides comprehensive job training and other job-related services for individuals with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities. It focuses on providing careers in gardening and lawn care, janitorial services, automotive maintenance, and carpentry. It also prepares participants with job seeking skills, such as completing job applications, creating resumes, mock interviews, job fairs, and more.
Operating Entity: REM Mississippi
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Mississippi
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This accredited Master’s degree program trains students to provide employment services for individuals with disabilities. Jackson State University is a Historically Black University.
Operating Entity: Jackson State University, Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation and Psychometric Services
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides support for individuals with significant disabilities to prepare for, retain, or regain employment. Participants work in a competitive setting and receive all the benefits of employment, including competitive wages, while learning social and work skills.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides training and employment for individuals who are blind or visually impaired to facilitate their full independence. Jobs and training through MIB are primarily in the manufacturing sector, although MIB also provides employees for the service sector (such as call centers).
Operating Entity: Mississippi Industries for the Blind
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides vocational rehabilitation services to eligible secondary school students with disabilities, including career exploration, preparation for employability, job readiness training, technical training, and on the job training. The program also connects participants with potential employment opportunities.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides pre-employment services to students with disabilities, including job exploration counseling, work readiness training, and paid internship opportunities.
Operating Entity: University of Southern Mississippi, Institute for Disability Studies
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program trains future vocational rehabilitation counselors to serve as vision specialists, to help them be more effective in their work with people who are blind or have low vision.
Operating Entity: Mississippi State University, National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision
Entity Type: College / University
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides Mississippi School for the Blind students (ages 14 and up) with on-campus work opportunities. Students work under the supervision of experienced staff members, and experience a “real world” employment experience, including filling out an application and completing a full interview.
Operating Entity: Mississippi School for the Blind
Entity Type: Other
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Missouri Assistive Technology
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps eligible blind and visually impaired persons achieve personal and employment success by helping them develop the skills and abilities for employment and independence.
Operating Entity: Missouri Department of Social Services, Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Missouri Department of Social Services, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides work experiences for transition-eligible students with visual disabilities to improve their success rate at post-secondary education and employment.
Operating Entity: Missouri Department of Social Services, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Every February Vocational Rehabilitation business specialists, transition specialists from the University of Missouri College of Education, local education agencies, and businesses provide job shadowing opportunities to students with disabilities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Missouri State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Missouri Parents Act (MPACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program is designed to assist transition-age youth (14-26) with disabilities, their parents, family members, guardians, and advocates to effectively engage in vocational, independent living, and rehabilitative services.
Operating Entity: Missouri Parents Act (MPACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
The state’s Centers for Independent Living provide students with disabilities access to job exploration activities, workplace readiness training, and social support and self-advocacy activities (including peer mentoring). Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation collaborates with businesses and school districts to provide support for the program.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation offers a paid, six-week summer work experience program for students with disabilities in coordination with community rehabilitation programs, local school districts, and employers. More than 600 students participate at over 200 work sites. The programs are coordinated with assistance from the state’s Centers for Independent Living.
Operating Entity: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides intensive on-the-job supports and extended services to help individuals with the most significant disabilities work in competitive integrated work settings. Individual placement with supports (IPS) services are a supported employment model used for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness.
Operating Entity: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a wide range of services to eligible students with disabilities to help them explore career possibilities, learn about educational opportunities after high school, and prepare for the future. Services include career exploration and assessments, career guidance and counseling, on-the-job training, internships, apprenticeships, and other work experiences, resume development and job-search activities, college or career training, job coaching, rehabilitation technology services, and more.
Operating Entity: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides workforce development activities to assist individuals with disabilities in preparing for, engaging in, and retaining competitive integrated employment. Activities include assessments, vocational guidance and counseling, and job preparation activities (including around resume writing and interviewing). The program also provides training programs around apprenticeships and customized employment.
Operating Entity: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation works with Wonderland Camp, an educational camp for children, teenagers and adults who have disabilities, to provide internship opportunities for students and youth with disabilities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides forums for high school students with disabilities to learn skills needed for employment, education, self-advocacy, and independent living.
Operating Entity: Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: University of Montana, Rural Institute on Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Blind and Low Vision Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Montana
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Disability Consultants can provide clients with information on a range of employment topics, including job listings and referrals, resume assistance, labor market Information, career exploration, job search assistance, career planning, occupational training information, and more.
Operating Entity: Montana Department of Labor and Industry
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at work, at home, and in the community. It provides day services that include self advocacy training and work skills and employment services and training.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Northern Rocky Mountain
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides additional and continuous employment support to some Vocational Rehabilitation clients, including ongoing job coaching to help participants overcome unique work barriers.
Operating Entity: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Disability Employment and Transitions Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides trainings to help individuals with disabilities achieve full community integration. One focus area is Working Well with a Disability, which prepares individuals to enjoy fully integrated employment and develop healthy work relationships.
Operating Entity: University of Montana, Rural Institute on Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
HELP-Link is a free workforce program for Montanans covered by Medicaid, which connects Medicaid enrollees with high quality workforce training, employment services and job openings in local communities. Services include assistance with resumes, cover letters, job applications, interview skills, and more.
Operating Entity: Montana Department of Labor and Industry
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps students who are blind, deaf, or deaf-blind prepare to transition out of high school. Based on a student’s IEP, they may take classes focus on life skills, applied math, employability, cooking, and career exploration. The program may also include job shadowing and employment opportunities.
Operating Entity: Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind
Entity Type: Other
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides advocacy services for individuals with disabilities, including self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Montana Independent Living Project (mILp)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides a variety of specialized services to help people with disabilities prepare for, find, and maintain meaningful employment. These services include job readiness training, job coaching, job development, placement services, long term employment supports, and job skills classes and workshops.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Northern Rocky Mountain
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides information, technical assistance, and professional development to families and professionals who provide services to individuals who are deaf-blind, in order to improve their outcomes. Transition is one area of focus for the project.
Operating Entity: University of Montana, Rural Institute on Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program seeks to enrich the lives of youth with disabilities through the arts, as well as assisting participants in pursuing education, employment, and interdependence and developing self-advocacy skills. Specific programming includes improv comedy nights, dance and movement classes, all-abilities yoga classes, art groups and classes, and more.
Operating Entity: Summit Independent Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps youth with disabilities develop leadership skills, academic and career goals, a strong work ethic, and independence through technology, community support, and peer mentoring.
Operating Entity: Montana Youth Leadership Forum
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program guides students with disabilities through the transition from high school to college. Participants develop the study skills, social skills, and personal skills of successful college students; develop their own transition portfolios; and spend four days on the Montana State University Billings campus living in the residence hall and attending classes.
Operating Entity: Montana State University – Billings, Montana Center for Inclusive Education
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Montana Empowerment Center, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program is designed to improve transition outcomes for middle school youth with developmental disabilities, by providing quarterly teleconference training about transition and employment to families, teachers, and agency staff, and by developing and disseminating a toolkit to help families learn about transition needs and services. This program is a collaboration between the University of Montana Rural Institute’s Transition Projects, the Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Parents, Let’s Unite for Kids (PLUK).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program matches individuals with similar disabilities in peer support and counseling settings to empower each other through encouragement and support. This service assists individuals adapting to life with a disability or transitioning through different life stages.
Operating Entity: Montana Independent Living Project (mILp)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Montana
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps individuals with severe mental illness secure and remain in competitive and fully-integrated employment opportunities. The program integrates individual choice of employment with integrated mental health treatment, personalized benefits planning, and continuous follow-along work supports.
Operating Entity: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Addictive and Mental Disorders Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals with visual disabilities or blindness find or maintain employment. Services provided through this program include career counseling and guidance services, mobility training, job training, job development and placement services, rehabilitation technology, post-employment services, and referral services.
Operating Entity: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Blind and Low Vision Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Montana State University – Billings, Montana Center for Inclusive Education
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program assists youth with disabilities ages 14-24 in transitioning to post-secondary education and/or employment. Services include referrals to vocational rehabilitation services, employment and education assistance, independent living skills training, self-advocacy training, and peer mentorship.
Operating Entity: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow (LIFTT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program builds relationships between local schools and Montana Vocational and Rehabilitation Services (VRBS) by establishing regular office hours at larger high schools for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors. These counselors connect students with disabilities to VRBS and establish collaborations with special education teachers, 504 coordinators, teachers, school administrators, parents, advocacy groups, and others regarding the role of VRBS in transition.
Operating Entity: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Family Engagement, School-Based Prep, Systems Coordination
This program provides low-interest loans to individuals with disabilities for the purchase of assistive technology devices and services. This includes mini-loans, larger loans, and loans for telework.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education, Assistive Technology Partnership (ATP)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals served by Nebraska VR to take full advantage of available state and federal work incentives and make an informed decision about working while disabled.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CPAP enables individuals with disabilities to explore and access opportunities to advance in their employment through a combination of classroom and on-the-job training. It focuses on equipping participants with recognized postsecondary credentials required for advancement within the high-demand industries of Architecture and Construction, Healthcare, Information Technology, Manufacturing and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics (TDL). Employers are then provided access to this group of potential employees.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Certificate Programs offer hands-on training programs to students and adults with disabilities. This opportunity results from a partnership with local Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation service offices, three to five core business partners in the area, a community college, and local schools. Students take classes, tour business, and either work part-time or participate in an internship with employer partners.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Client Assistance Program (CAP)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Nebraska State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation and the Nebraska Department of Education’s Special Education division offer enhanced transitions services for students with disabilities, including around benefits planning in relation to career choices, communicating disability-related work support and accommodation needs, and finding and requesting support or accommodations in education, training, and employment settings.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The program provides mentorship and work experiences to transition-age students who are blind or have low vision by connecting them to blind and visually impaired adults in various occupations who can help them navigate the transition years. Participants interact weekly with mentors, develop leadership skills, and participate in work-based experiential learning opportunities. The program is a collaboration between the Nebraska Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides youth with disabilities with a unique recreational experience that prepares them for school, work, and life inclusion. Participants learn about their disabilities, understand the importance of communication and listening skills, explore and share their talents and strengths, understand accommodations in the school and workplace, learn about independent living, and learn about the services necessary for job seeking and secondary education.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
NYLC is a group of young leaders with disabilities who promote disability awareness and educate their peers on transitioning to college or work. It is co-sponsored by the Nebraska Departments of Vocational Rehabilitation and Special Education.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: PTI Nebraska (Parent Training and Information)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides ongoing employment support to individuals with disabilities for one full year. Employment Monitors check in and can assist with transportation, job retention, career advancement, financial wellness, and more.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Nebraska VR provides financial support and consultation for five regional Transition Youth Conferences for students, aged 16-21, hosted at local community college sites. The conferences focus on employment, post-secondary educational opportunities, self-advocacy, utilizing community supports, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program includes a series of community trainings for people with disabilities, family members, and concerned citizens and professionals who are interested in promoting the best outcomes for individuals with disabilities and their families in Nebraska. It focuses on leadership and advocacy training regarding systems of services and supports to individuals with disabilities and their families. It is a collaboration between the Munroe-Meyer Institute University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and the State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The Region C PTAC offers a targeted and intensive TA designed to increase the capacity of parent centers to reach and provide services to parents of children with disabilities and youth with disabilities and to effectively manage their centers. Region C PTAC works with each center and tailor services to meet their unique needs. Strategies used are shared professional learning, coaching and mentoring, and collaboration and leadership.
Operating Entity: Region C Parent Technical Assistance Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program includes numerous trainings for youth with disabilities and their families, including around Self-Advocacy, Person-Centered Planning, and Transitions.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides comprehensive transition services for special needs students, to equip them for transitioning successfully into adulthood. Services include experiences to prepare participants for life in the community and workforce, activities and experiences to help students develop career goals and plan for post-secondary life, and more.
Operating Entity: Autism Center of Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program includes eighteen short-term programs that provide career exploration, job readiness, and work-based learning opportunities to students with disabilities. Topics include self-advocacy, independent living, workplace readiness, job exploration, and more.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: Omaha Tribe Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This paid internship focuses on disability advocacy and leadership and will include self-study, seminars, experiential learning, and position-shadowing opportunities. Preference is given to adults with disabilities and their parents and family members, with the goal of enhancing trainee’s skills and knowledge regarding intellectual and developmental disabilities history, philosophy and practice.
Operating Entity: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Munroe-Meyer Institute
Entity Type: College / University
Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) conducts monthly trainings for staff, based on case review results or requests from staff members. Speakers are frequently invited to keep VR staff up-to-date on current trends and processes.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
WAGES is a six-week work-based learning experience program held annually for blind and visually impaired youth ages 16 to 21. Participants live on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus and engage in work opportunities, professional skills training, self-advocacy activities, transportation practice, and more.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides employment services to individuals with disabilities, including identifying necessary job skills and connecting clients to other supports like assistive technology and accessible transportation.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps individuals with disabilities secure employment in state government on a trial period. Participants receive a position for 700 hours of work, which can transform into full-time long-term employment during or immediately following the trial period. The program is a collaboration between the Nevada Department of Administration’s Division of Human Resource Management, and the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation’s Rehabilitation Division.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides individuals with disabilities assistive technology to overcome independent living and community integration barriers. The program involves a consultation to discuss independent living goals, followed by assistive technology training and provision.
Operating Entity: CARE Chest of Sierra Nevada
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program trains people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in music, dance, theater, and visual arts. It encourages self-expression and creativity, while simultaneously enabling participants to obtain a potential career in the arts. Courses are three days per week, with new class offerings every six months.
Operating Entity: Opportunity Village
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables individuals with disabilities to develop employment experience and work toward gaining permanent employment opportunities in the community or onsite at Capability Health. Participants earn a paycheck in the program making minimum wage.
Operating Entity: Capability Health
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Career Exploration Program (CEP) is a community-based on-the-job training program for individuals with disabilities. Participants volunteer at local non-profits and gain vocational skills through service-learning. An Opportunity Village job coach is on-site to assist participants at no cost to the individual.
Operating Entity: Opportunity Village
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program is offered at Western Nevada College and Truckee Meadows Community College in conjunction with Nevada Vocational Rehabilitation. It provides career readiness training to students with disabilities over the course of a three-week program, focusing on soft skills, resume writing, and job application best practices.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This annual three week program prepares high school students with disabilities to either attend college or move into the workforce. Participants learn to navigate a college system and various higher-education-related concerns. Participants also learn about STEM careers through recreational activities.
Operating Entity: Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides assessment, support, and guidance to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in problem identification and resolution in the areas of personal adaptation including interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, community participation, independence, work, and psycho-social challenges.
Operating Entity: Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Disability Services Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program coordinates training and technical assistance for Nevada educators, administrators, parents, and other service providers on issues and trends in the education of youth with disabilities ages 3-22. The program includes the Severe Disabilities Summer Institute, in which educators and service providers learn to support transition-age students with significant disabilities.
Operating Entity: University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program is a daily work experience service for individuals with disabilities who are not quite ready for integrated community-based training programs. Participants work at the Fletcher Jones Imports Car Wash in a part-time capacity. After completing this program, participants transfer into advanced vocational training programs or obtain a wage-paying job.
Operating Entity: Opportunity Village
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program is designed to prepare students with disabilities for competitive employment. Participants train in a group setting with an Opportunity Village training instructor and attend different work sites, rotating between sites every nine weeks. It is a collaboration between Opportunity Village and the Clark County School District.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in obtaining meaningful employment and living skills to achieve community inclusion, independence, and productivity. This program involves day habilitation, facility-based work training programs, prevocational services, and supported employment services.
Operating Entity: Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Disability Services Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This annual two-day training helps transition-age students with disabilities develop leadership and self-determination skills. Conference sessions focus on helping students fulfill their post-secondary education, employment, and overall life goals.
Operating Entity: University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 11 western states plus two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Nevada PEP
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a series of free events to educate individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, their families, and service providers about services and supports available in their community.
Operating Entity: Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
This on-the-job training program helps individuals with disabilities achieve competitive employment. It includes classroom instruction, training at a community site, paid work experience, and coaching. It is a collaboration between Opportunity Village, the Desert Regional Center, and the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Nevada Rural Regional Centers provide services for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in rural regions. These services include service coordination, supported living, job and day training, family preservation and support, psychological services, and more.
Operating Entity: Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Disability Services Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program is a partnership between Sephora, Capability Health, and the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation. It offers a 9-week training course for individuals with disabilities, with the opportunity to become a permanent Sephora employee who is held to the same standards as their peers and receives equal pay and benefits.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals who are blind or visually impaired access employment opportunities. Services include assistance with job seeking, assistive technology tools, assistance with job site modification, transition services for high school students, and independent living services.
Operating Entity: Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides discounted taxicab fares and services to individuals with permanent disabilities.
Operating Entity: Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Disability Services Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Washoe County School District offers multiple transition services for high school students with disabilities. Students can receive elective credits for employment experience or authorized volunteer or community service. Additionally, the Community Based Vocational Exploration and Training Program provides non-paid vocational training placements for students with disabilities. The program also provides transition technical assistance and professional development to teachers and staff to meet the post-secondary goals of students transitioning to adult life after high school
Operating Entity: Washoe County School District, Transition Services Department
Entity Type: Other
This program provides trainings and guidance to help youth with disabilities and their parents plan for transition.
Operating Entity: Nevada Parents Encouraging Parents
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides employment assistance services to individuals with disabilities, including a skills assessment, personalized employment counseling with a personalized employment plan, agency referral services, and connections to job opportunities.
Operating Entity: Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Ability Connection Colorado
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program is designed to help 11th and 12th-grade students with disabilities make the transition from high school to a post-secondary educational setting. Students obtain post-secondary education experience and have the opportunity to earn three credits with the College of Southern Nevada and half a high school elective credit. It is a collaboration between the Clark County School District and the College of Southern Nevada.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Systems Coordination
This program brings transition, advocacy, and self-determination information into the schools with a peer to peer education model that reaches youth transitioning out of middle and high school while paying youth with disabilities to teach the curriculum to their peers. The program has been paused due to COVID-19, but materials are being offered remotely.
Operating Entity: Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
This program helps youth with disabilities access employment, education, and support services necessary to succeed in the labor market. This includes assessments to determine skills and abilities, assistance with college or trade school education, on-the-job training, and help retaining employment (such as through assistive technology and job coaching). The program also collaborates with school districts to assist in transition planning.
Operating Entity: Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: University of New Hampshire, The UNH Institute on Disability (IOD)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: New Hampshire Governor’s Office, The Governor’s Commission on Disability (GCD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program assists individuals with disabilities in developing and implementing an individualized day program based on their needs and skills. This can include job development, employment, volunteer work, daily living skills, and a variety of community activities.
Operating Entity: Granite State
Independent
Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps students with disabilities obtain academic credits outside of their traditional school walls. Students are matched with professions and learn more about the skills and education required to be successful in that field. Classroom skills training includes resume building, mock interviews, appropriate work-site behavior, and professionalism.
Operating Entity: Granite State
Independent
Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides assistance and training to help individuals with developmental disabilities maintain and improve their skills in vocational activities and enhance their social and personal development and well-being within the context of vocational goals. These services develop paid employment opportunities in integrated settings.
Operating Entity: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Developmental Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides consultation services on financial planning to individuals with disabilities. Staff review a person’s current situation and use the tools, resources, government benefits, and work incentives available to help them create greater financial independence and achieve the best employment outcome.
Operating Entity: Granite State
Independent
Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This commercial cleaning service is operated by Easterseals New Hampshire and employs veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals without disabilities who provide quality floor care and custodial services to businesses throughout New Hampshire.
Operating Entity: Easterseals New Hampshire
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities find employment by offering the following services: resume and cover letter assistance, job leads, job coaching, job shadowing, skills identification, and more.
Operating Entity: Granite State
Independent
Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of services to parents of youth with disabilities, including individual assistance by telephone, help navigating systems (including education systems), trainings on topics like “family/professional partnerships,” and more.
Operating Entity: New Hampshire Family Voices, Family to Family Health Information Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Parent Information Center of New Hampshire
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program offers funding to individuals with developmental disabilities for Employment and Post-Secondary Education, Personal Education and Leadership Development, and Personal Technology for Individuals and Families.
Operating Entity: New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Center – New Hampshire
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides information, training and technical assistance, and support to youth and young adults with disabilities and their families, including transition services to help youth and their families navigate multiple programs and service systems; actively participate in the development of plans for independence; and collaborate with transition professionals. It is a collaborative effort between Parent Centers in nine northeastern states.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: New Hampshire Governor’s Commission on Disability
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides direct and indirect services to help youth with disabilities transition from school to work and obtain successful employment.
Operating Entity: New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides rehabilitation services such as counseling and skills training, as well as adaptive aids, to help people with visual loss enter, re-enter, or maintain employment.
Operating Entity: New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides services to help at-risk students with disabilities transition out of high school. Services include career assessments, independent living skills, internship development, benefits planning, interview and soft skill training, and more.
Operating Entity: Granite State
Independent
Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides technical assistance to Parent Centers in Region A, which includes New Hampshire. Services include strategies for reaching underserved families, on-site training and support, an annual conference, program evaluation, and consulting around the nonprofit management process.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides virtual transition educational events on family resources, self-determination and advocacy skills, post-secondary opportunities, and more to individuals with disabilities and their families.
Operating Entity: Next Steps New Hampshire
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
This virtual series is designed to prepare young adults with intellectual disabilities in pursuit of college and career with important takeaways, including around self-discovery, occupational/academic direction, advocacy, confidence with technology, social connections, and furtherance of college and career plans.
Operating Entity: University of New Hampshire, The UNH Institute on Disability (IOD)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps people with physical, psychiatric, and learning disabilities find and keep a job. New Hampshire’s Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation offers services at 7 locations across the state.
Operating Entity: New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Maine Medical Center, Department of Vocational Services
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides community-based, in-school, or in-home supports as well as remote learning activities to help youth with disabilities achieve their transition goals. Services include employer visits, job shadowing, work-based learning opportunities, adult living skills, and more.
Operating Entity: Easterseals New Hampshire
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Participants in the day training program get a personalized service plan that focuses on the following: 1) social and communication skills, 2) functional life skills, 3) recreation, 4) health and wellness activities, 5) educational, volunteer, and employment opportunities, and 6) self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: Easterseals New Jersey
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps blind and vision impaired New Jersey residents acquire assistive technology that is necessary to gain or retain employment. Technological Services Specialists perform technology assessments and skill evaluations and make recommendations suitable for each consumer’s unique situation.
Operating Entity: State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights New Jersey (DRNJ), The Richard West Assistive Technology Advocacy Center (ATAC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: State of New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program sends Transition Counselors to high schools to work with students who are blind or visually impaired. Counselors describe transition programs and initiate arrangements for students to participate in these programs.
Operating Entity: State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The Career Pathways Connections program provides opportunities for individuals with hearing loss to enter the workforce and obtain sustainable employment. The program is run by staff that are proficient in American Sign Language, experienced in identifying workplace accommodations, trained in assistive technologies, and knowledgeable in resources for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Operating Entity: Easterseals New Jersey
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights New Jersey
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides personalized college support for students with learning and social challenges. This includes providing high school students with an introduction to college, and college students with ongoing support. The program consists of an Individualized College Plan, peer mentorship, pre-employment training, self-advocacy training, and more. It is a collaboration between College Steps, high schools, colleges, families, and agencies.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides trainings and information sessions to underserved populations, parent groups, and other agencies and organizations who want to learn more about transitioning from high school to the work force and also about employment rights for people with disabilities (including the full scope of vocational services that may be available to them).
Operating Entity: Disability Rights New Jersey
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Association for Special Children and Families
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
These conferences provide opportunities for students and adults with disabilities to gain insight into the transition and self-advocacy process. Students participate in workshops led by their peers, which touch on goal setting, self-discovery, student self-advocacy, and planning for the future. Parents are also welcome to attend.
Operating Entity: State of New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps individuals with disabilities who might be experiencing discrimination in the workplace due to their disability. The team provides information about a person’s rights and provides guidance on how to vindicate those rights. The program also assists individuals who are seeking a reasonable accommodation so that they may maintain their employment.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights New Jersey
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of vocational services to individuals with developmental disabilities, including assistance with developing job skills, writing a resume, completing job applications, interviewing, and getting to work.
Operating Entity: State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Easterseals New Jersey offers a range of services – including pre-vocational evaluation, work adjustment training, school to work transition, supported employment, extended employment, and job placement services – at two employment sites located in Central and Southern New Jersey.
Operating Entity: Easterseals New Jersey
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Kach is a three-year program for individuals with disabilities that provides classroom and experiential learning opportunities at Brookdale Community College. Students attend Kach classes to strengthen basic academic skills, audit regular college courses, and enjoy full integration into the Brookdale community. It is a collaboration between Brookdale and The Arc of Monmouth.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of professional development and technical assistance activities to help families, educators, and community service providers improve the existing educational service systems for children with deafblindness in the state.
Operating Entity: The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), Center on Sensory and Complex Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
OSYES helps out-of-school and unemployed youth and young adults with disabilities, ages 16 to 24, get back on the path to self-sufficiency through the development of job skills and career pathway planning.
Operating Entity: State of New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: SPAN Parent Advocacy Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This statewide project assists young adults with developmental disabilities and their families in charting a life course for adulthood. The program offers a variety of resources including informational sessions, webinars, and resource guides/materials related to postsecondary education, employment, and self-direction. The program also runs monthly student and parent clubs and coordinates various transition events throughout the year.
Operating Entity: The Arc of New Jersey
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This supported employment program connects people with disabilities to integrated employment opportunities in their community. Job Developers work closely with program participants to determine interests and aptitude, and connect them with appropriate employers. Job Coaching staff train participants in on-the-job skills and provide ongoing support.
Operating Entity: The Arc of New Jersey
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights New Jersey
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides information, training and technical assistance, and support to youth and young adults with disabilities and their families, including transition services to help youth and their families navigate multiple programs and service systems; actively participate in the development of plans for independence; and collaborate with transition professionals. It is a collaborative effort between Parent Centers in nine northeastern states.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
Through workshops, regional meetings, and parent leadership development activities, START helps parents become informed about their child’s education, partner with educators in improving educational programs for students with disabilities, and strengthen parent advisory groups or parent support groups in their areas.
Operating Entity: SPAN Parent Advocacy Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program helps prepare students with special needs for post-graduation employment. Transition students explore career opportunities through job sampling at a variety of local businesses, which gives them real-life experience to better understand and participate in the world of work.
Operating Entity: The Arc Union County
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides training courses to both new and veteran employment specialists to help them understand and apply best practices in supported employment. Technical Assistance is provided via consultation to support capacity building and systemic growth.
Operating Entity: Rutgers University, The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
NE-PACT provides technical assistance to Parent Centers in Region A (which includes New Jersey), including strategies for reaching underserved families, on-site training and support, an annual conference, program evaluation, and consulting around the nonprofit management process.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence-Parent Assistance and Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program supports individuals with disabilities who are participating in post-secondary programs or vocational school, technology or trade school, and business school training. Funding can be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, assistive technology, interpreting services, and support services, depending on need and financial eligibility.
Operating Entity: State of New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, School-Based Prep
The Division works with various partners to ensure that individuals approaching the age of 21 have the tools and resources needed to successfully transition from school into adulthood. This includes offering presentations on transitions, supporting transition programs, and more.
Operating Entity: State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides information, training, and technical assistance to youth with disabilities, their families, and professionals in order to support informed and effective transition from school to adult life. Services include information on rights, workshops on best practices in transition planning, technical assistance on IEPs, and more.
Operating Entity: SPAN Parent Advocacy Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
This program helps individuals who are blind or visually impaired become more employable and ultimately obtain employment. Services include vocational evaluation, counseling and guidance, career exploration, training, job placement, supported employment services, post-employment services, high school transitional services, college counseling/support, assistive technology services, computer training, and more.
Operating Entity: State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides vocational counseling, job search skill development, supported employment, assistive technology evaluations, and more to individuals with disabilities achieve their employment goals. The program also includes services specifically for deaf and hard of hearing individuals and English learners.
Operating Entity: State of New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The Joseph Kohn Training Center offers people who are blind and visually impaired an opportunity to learn independent life skills, including skills to attend college or seek employment. The program includes a career assessment and vocational counseling component.
Operating Entity: State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program works with local groups and community-based organizations to provide leadership training for young people with developmental disabilities, through eight training sessions.
Operating Entity: New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program consists of eight, two-hour training sessions that seek to teach young people with developmental disabilities a wide variety of skills and information that they can take with them out into the world of self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Office of New Mexico State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides advocacy services on an individual level and a systems level for individuals who are deaf and who face communication barriers in employment, government, legal, and business settings.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps people with diverse disabilities build and refine their leadership abilities, through a series of learning opportunities, resources, and hands-on experiences. Topics include disability awareness, disability advocacy, policy and legislation, and coalition building. The program is implemented through three Regional Resource Networks in the state.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, Center for Self Advocacy
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability, New Mexico Technology Assistance Program (NMTAP)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps promote employment and self-sufficiency among people with by disabilities by helping them understand how work will affect their social security disability and/or social security income.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Public Education Department, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides paid work experiences for youth ages 15-22 whom have barriers to employment, such as disability or health conditions. Leadership Crew members train service dogs and serve as Camp Counselors at Camp L.E.A.D., a leadership, empowerment, and abuse prevention day camp in Taos for younger children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights New Mexico
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Education for Parents of Indian Children with Special Needs (EPICS) Project
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program helps individuals find employment opportunities in the community at minimum wage or higher. Services are designed to help individuals identify skills and interests, develop relationships with community businesses, and ultimately carve out a long-term career path.
Operating Entity: Mandy’s Farm
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides guidance and counseling, transition services, job search and placement, assistive technology and equipment, as well as other services tailored to the specific needs of individuals with disabilities. It also provides various resources to help people attend state community colleges and career/technical schools, including tuition, fees, books, tools, uniforms, and supplies.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Public Education Department, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides financial support for students with disabilities who seek to maximize their education and career opportunities through Special Services or Occupational Training programs in New Mexico.
Operating Entity: The Arc of New Mexico
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) secure jobs, focusing beyond the typical jobs in which a person with IDD might be placed and working to find jobs that match a job seeker’s interests and talents.
Operating Entity: Best Buddies in New Mexico
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program serves clients with high levels of social, mental, or behavioral health needs following discharge from juvenile justice facilities. Transition Coordinators work with clients to develop transition plans, which cover areas like housing, behavioral and mental health, education, employment or vocational training, and life skills.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Children, Youth & Families Department, Juvenile Justice Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program trains and places individuals with disabilities into jobs, on behalf of the New Mexico Council for Purchasing from Persons With Disabilities.
Operating Entity: Horizons of New Mexico
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program educates and empowers people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to become leaders, public speakers, and advocates, and to build a more inclusive world for people with IDD. It includes an Ambassadors program to teach public speaking, self-esteem, and confidence skills.
Operating Entity: Best Buddies in New Mexico
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides vocational rehabilitation services leading to employment for the American Indian adults with disabilities in the Acoma and Laguna Pueblos. It is run through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and administered by New Vistas of Santa Fe.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program facilitates coordination between various entities (including 15 states agencies and the Governor’s office) involved in behavioral health prevention, treatment, and recovery. It funds comprehensive and vocational services to individuals with significant disabling mental illness, including long-term supported employment services and extended services.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This residential program is designed to equip blind persons (especially those who are newly blinded) with the skills needed to become employed. It includes six to nine months of intensive training in Braille, orientation and mobility, assistive technology, personal management, home management, and industrial arts.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 11 western states plus two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Parents Reaching Out (PRO)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program offers workshops and daily activities on a farm, as well as community activities, to help clients build life skills and form meaningful relationships in the community. Clients take part in service learning, farmer’s market sales, and extensive recreational activities.
Operating Entity: Mandy’s Farm
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to students with disabilities who live in the Pueblos of Jemez, Zia, Santa Ana, Sandia, Santo Domingo, and Cochiti, as well as students from Jemez Valley Walatowa Charter and Bernalillo school district. The work-based learning component provides opportunities for students to integrate with their communities to learn work skills. It is run by Jemez Vocational Rehabilitation in coordination with the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides technical assistance to families, service providers, and educators to ensure that all children who are deaf-blind receive the supports to achieve full inclusion in their schools and communities, academic achievement, and successful graduation to college, career and independent or supportive living.
Operating Entity: University of New Mexico
Entity Type: College / University
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights New Mexico
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Ten regional cooperatives serving 89 school districts across the state provide support services in a variety of special education areas, including Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and technology assistance.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Public Education Department
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides paid internships for people with disabilities, who work to train therapy animals and assist with therapy dog visitations in a variety of settings. Participants are also provided with Pre-Employment Services and will identify interests, abilities, talents, needs, learning style preferences, and goals towards employment. It is a collaboration between the Taos School District, New Mexico School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Assisted Dogs of the West, and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program facilitates School-to-Work Transition Teams (SWT) in twelve communities throughout New Mexico, supporting local efforts to improve employment outcomes for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and increase school-to-work interagency collaboration.
Operating Entity: University of New Mexico, Center for Development & Disability, Partners for Employment
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides blind and visually impaired students ages 14-21 with employment training experiences. Activities are designed to reinforce blindness skills and to build self-confidence, and students also participate in seminars and presentations from successful blind adult role models.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program coordinates Supported Employment Local Leaders meetings in each region of the state to provide a forum for employment support professionals to network, learn, and collaborate.
Operating Entity: University of New Mexico, Center for Development & Disability, Partners for Employment
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides expertise, training, and coordination to Division of Vocational Rehabilitation staff, other state agencies, and supported employment vendors to facilitate best practices in Supported Employment services.
Operating Entity: University of New Mexico, Center for Development & Disability, Partners for Employment
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides transition assistance services to Native American youth in the state.
Operating Entity: Education for Parents of Indian Children with Special Needs (EPICS) Project
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides the full range of vocational rehabilitation services to blind children and young adults, to improve their employment outcomes. MOUs exist with the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Public Education Department, and the Department of Health, to collectively enhance transition services.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides transition planning, beginning at age 14, and transition services, beginning at age 16, to help students who are deaf or hard of hearing move from school to adult life. Services focus on students’ needs or interests in areas such as higher education or training, employment, adult services, independent living, and taking part in the community.
Operating Entity: New Mexico School for the Deaf
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, School-Based Prep
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This intensive, eight-week job training program helps individuals with developmental disabilities (14+ years of age) navigate the transition into adult life. Students participate in life-skills based courses, job fairs, job site tours, benefits counseling, mentoring with employed peers, and complete 40 hours of paid work in customized internships within local nonprofits and businesses
Operating Entity: Mandy’s Farm
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program is designed to connect individuals with developmental disabilities to experience working in public or private sector jobs that are non-stereotypic for people with disabilities. The program covers wages, worker’s compensation, and taxes for individuals who participate, and it includes a microenterprise (or self-employment) option for individuals who want to operate their own businesses.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Department of Health, Developmental Disabilities Supports Division (DDSD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Southern Nevada Center for Independent Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
These 23 “one-stop” centers provide employment services and supports to job seekers, including those with disabilities. The New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Commission for the Blind both provide intensive technical assistance and training to promote disability awareness and ensure ADA compliance of the WCCs.
Operating Entity: New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Westchester Institute for Human Development
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: New York State Office of Children and Family Services, New York State Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists the New York State Education Department (NYSED) in carrying out its mission of improving the quality, access, and delivery of career and technical education through research-based methods and strategies. It focuses on ensuring equitable access and participation, including for students with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Successful Practices Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This credential is intended to show a student’s readiness for entry-level employment. It is available to students who receive special education services, and requires them to either pass a nationally-recognized work-readiness assessment, or take two units of Career and Technical Education coursework, complete a career plan, and complete 54+ hours of work-based learning. Students can earn this credential as a supplement to a regular high school diploma or as their only credential.
Operating Entity: New York State Education Department
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights New York
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides personalized college support for students with learning and social challenges. This includes providing high school students with an introduction to college, and college students with ongoing support. The program consists of an Individualized College Plan, peer mentorship, pre-employment training, self-advocacy training, and more. It is a collaboration between College Steps, high schools, colleges, families, and agencies.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program helps individuals with disabilities, their families, and the professionals supporting them within the Hudson Valley to better understand and navigate disability systems. Services include resources, training, direct services, and support and guidance on disability related issues and topics, including graduation requirements, IEPs and 504 plans, and transition.
Operating Entity: Westchester Institute for Human Development
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides advice on financial assistance and work incentives for individuals with disabilities who are working or seeking work. The Benefits Advisory System was developed through a collaborative effort between seven New York State agencies to create a single approach to the coordination of employment supports, and to provide all New Yorkers – regardless of their disability – with a single point of access for all employment-related services.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Systems Coordination
This program helps individuals with disabilities find and maintain work, including through pre-employment programs, an internship program, help with job searches, on-the-job support, and more.
Operating Entity: Starbridge
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports individuals with disabilities in developing the necessary skills to obtain work in the community, find a suitable job, and succeed in the workplace. Prevocational services focus on identifying vocational interests and sharpening job-specific skills and global job skills, such as employer expectations and workplace behavior.
Operating Entity: The Arc of New York
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program offers Supported Employment and Prevocational Services to assist people with developmental disabilities in finding paid competitive jobs in the community (including internships). Services include job coaching, travel training, assistance with technological aids, counseling, and job placement.
Operating Entity: New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program advances financial capability for people with disabilities through broad engagement and education, one-on-one financial counseling, outreach and tools, and specialized benefits support services. It is a collaboration between the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Citigroup, and the National Disability Institute.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program teaches special education students about how to participate meaningfully in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings and advocate for the accommodations they need to be successful in school. Each student sets personal goals and creates a thoughtful plan to achieve them.
Operating Entity: includeNYC
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides information and support to culturally and linguistically diverse families who have children with disabilities in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Harlem. Workshops cover topics like the special education process, transitions, IEPs, and more.
Operating Entity: United We Stand of New York
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Comptroller of the State of New York
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides technical assistance to consumers, families, and professionals to help them prepare students who are deaf-blind with through lifelong learning, postsecondary education, and/or employment readiness. It is funded through 2021 by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs.
Operating Entity: The City University of New York, Queens College
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides services at 10 Career Centers in the state, through designated Disability Resource Coordinators, to help people with disabilities search for jobs, develop resumes, and complete job applications. It is jointly funded and administered by U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and the Office of Disability Employment Policy.
Operating Entity: New York State Department of Labor
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps young adults with disabilities and their families access and navigate vocational rehabilitation and other public systems that can help with financial stability, meaningful employment, and post-secondary education. Services include conferences, a newsletter, and other resources. It is a collaboration between Starbridge, the Parent Network of Western New York, and includeNYC.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program certifies disadvantaged youth (including those referred by a rehabilitation agency) for work, then provides counselors to connect youth to opportunities at participating businesses.
Operating Entity: New York State Department of Labor, Career Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This coordinated and cohesive network focuses on enhancing services and supports for students with disabilities from early childhood and school-age education to engagement in post-school opportunities. It includes five Technical Assistance Partnerships and Regional Teams across the state, which provide technical assistance and professional development to families, public schools and districts, and community partners.
Operating Entity: New York State Education Department, Office of Special Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program offering groups for parents of children with disabilities to increase their capacity and build their self-advocacy skills.
Operating Entity: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Rose F. Kennedy Children’s Evaluation & Rehabilitation Center
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides an array of integrated rehabilitation, treatment, and support services to help people with serious mental illness manage their illness and live successfully in their communities, including finding and keeping a job.
Operating Entity: New York State Office of Mental Health
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This service helps youth with disabilities ages 18-24 with career exploration, college or occupational training preparation, resume writing, searching for jobs, paid work experience, transportation, and money management.
Operating Entity: Starbridge
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides intensive, direct support for youth with disabilities in New York City who are transitioning into adult life. Participants create and implement a practical plan designed to lead to job training, employment, higher education, or other community engagement.
Operating Entity: includeNYC
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights New York
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides information, training and technical assistance, and support to youth and young adults with disabilities and their families, including transition services to help youth and their families navigate multiple programs and service systems; actively participate in the development of plans for independence; and collaborate with transition professionals. It is a collaborative effort between Parent Centers in nine northeastern states.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
Ten Regional Special Education Technical Assistance Support Centers help school districts improve results for students with disabilities. Each Center includes both regional technical assistance specialists (including transition specialists), as well as special education school improvement specialists.
Operating Entity: New York State Education Department, Office of Special Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program prepares students to become professional counselors to assist persons with all disabilities toward achieving their personal, social, psychological, and vocational independence, and includes specialty courses for working in mental health and other specialized settings.
Operating Entity: Hofstra University
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides program evaluation services, training, and technical assistance on the topics of transition and employment, to help build the capacity of programs, schools, and organizations to serve youth and young adults with disabilities.
Operating Entity: University of Rochester, Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides parents of children with disabilities information, resources, and strategies to promote meaningful involvement in their children’s education programs, including around transition planning. Services are provided through 13 Centers throughout the state.
Operating Entity: New York State Education Department, Office of Special Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Family Engagement
The Yang-Tan Institute provides professional development, coaching, and training support on various projects (and with various entities in the state), to improve the quality of transition services being provided to youth with disabilities. Projects include providing technical assistance to the New York State Office of Special Education’s Transition Technical Assistance Partnership, and to the New York State Youth Advocacy & Leadership Network.
Operating Entity: Cornell University, Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides technical assistance to Parent Centers across fourteen states and territories, including New York. It offers strategies for reaching underserved families, on-site training and support, an annual conference, program evaluation, and consulting around the nonprofit management process.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence-Parent Assistance and Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
TRIAD helps people with disabilities obtain needed assistive technology services and devices for use at home, school, and work.
Operating Entity: New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
These programs help teens who are blind or visually impaired prepare for work. They include a Summer Transition Program at Queens College, a Pre-College Program at Manhatanville College, and Work Experience Training Internships.
Operating Entity: VISIONS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
New York has 28 college programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Programs offer peer mentoring, job training, and academic and employment experiences.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program offers guidance and counseling to assist consumers who are legally blind find or retain employment. Services include vocational assessments and training, help with assistive technology, and more.
Operating Entity: New York State Office of Children and Family Services, New York State Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
ACCES-VR provides a range of services to help individuals with disabilities (including youth) prepare for, find, and maintain employment. This includes vocational counseling and guidance, assessments and evaluations, adaptive driver training, work readiness training, youth services, job coaching, on-the-job training, and more.
Operating Entity: New York State Education Department, ACCES-VR
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides employment support to students ages 14 to 21, transition services to youth, and vocational rehabilitation services for all students who are legally blind, including those with additional disabilities. Opportunities include summer work experiences, job coaching, and mobility and orientation training.
Operating Entity: New York State Office of Children and Family Services, New York State Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This network is run for and by youth and young adults with disabilities (and/or who are involved in systems like foster care, addiction recovery, mental health, juvenile justice, and special education). It provides technical assistance, training, and education opportunities to peers, including in the areas of independent living and employment.
Operating Entity: Families Together in NYS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
YLFs are peer-run forums that enable young people with disabilities, ages 14-24, to speak up, build leadership and self-advocacy skills, and prepare to take on leadership roles.
Operating Entity: Families Together in NYS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with autism spectrum disorder transition to adulthood and find, keep, and succeed in a job. Services include job skills exploration and training, vocational assessment, job development, on-the-job training, and long-term training and support.
Operating Entity: Autism Society of North Carolina
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: ServiceSource North Carolina
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program is designed to ensure that special populations (including students with disabilities) have equal access to career and technical education services and job training. Preparatory services are provided in the middle school or prior to a student’s enrollment in a career and technical education program at high school. These services include recruitment of potential career and technical education students, career guidance, vocational assessment, and monitoring.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program offers a master’s degree in clinical rehabilitation and mental health with concentrations in working with persons with developmental and psychiatric disabilities.
Operating Entity: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Allied Health Sciences
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program offers employment-related and support services to vocational rehabilitation consumers with specialized needs, including vocational evaluation, community-based assessment, job development, and job coaching. They are provided through partnerships with independent community rehabilitation programs across the state.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports individuals with disabilities and their families, including by connecting individuals to vocational, social and educational opportunities. Services are provided at thirteen regional chapters across the state.
Operating Entity: First in Families of North Carolina
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
This program helps people with disabilities find a job, keep working, or advance professionally. Activities include career assessment, counseling, education, job readiness training, job placement assistance, and assistive technology evaluation and training.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This initiative seeks to mobilize personal support networks for people with disabilities. During a 24-month program, participants complete a self-paced online course, engage in in-person learning forums, and receive ongoing mentoring and support. Participants receive training in community involvement, decision-making job finding, and other areas.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
This program supports transition-aged youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in achieving a fulfilling and self-empowered adult life. HEELS Prep provides career exploration, self-management, social participation, independent living and safety programs. HEELS UP is an abridged inclusive postsecondary education program. The HEELS Bridge program bridges the transition to higher education. The program is a collaboration between the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, TEACCH Autism Program, Kidpower International, and other University of North Carolina and community partners.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program offers comprehensive services help individuals adjust to vision loss and learning to live independently and safely in the home and community. Services include assistive technology, daily living skills instruction, orientation and mobility training, and more.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides support to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities with one-to-one services tailored to their needs in acquiring and maintaining daily living skills (including employment skills).
Operating Entity: Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps people with severe mental illness find competitive community employment and provides ongoing, individualized services with a focus on employment. Services include personalized benefits counseling, ongoing treatment to manage medications, and peer support.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps families of children with special needs to get involved in their child’s education and development, learn about their child’s and families’ rights, and feel more supported in the community. HOPE operates a local network of trained parent mentors to provide a helping hand to other families. Staff provide information in Spanish, Hmong, and English.
Operating Entity: HOPE Parent Resource Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The North Carolina Postsecondary Education Alliance is a group of leaders with intellectual and developmental disabilities, educators, families, advocates and policymakers who work together to expand postsecondary education options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is facilitated by the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
NCYLF is an overnight, multi-day program that fosters emerging leaders by teaching youth and young adults with disabilities about how to advocate in their communities and for themselves.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project STIR collaborates with other local, state and national agencies and organizations to increase awareness of inclusion, self-advocacy and self-determination among individuals with disabilities. It provides interactive workshops and technical assistance on a range of inclusion and advocacy topics through a team of trainers with and without developmental disabilities.
Operating Entity: University of North Carolina, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights North Carolina
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program includes transition services for high school students who are blind or visually impaired; career counseling; summer transition programs; and vocational and college training.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides comprehensive services for people with disabilities and their families, including around understanding the education system, coordinating transition services, and identifying and gaining access to community resources.
Operating Entity: FIRST Resource Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program is offered to students who are blind or visually impaired and includes three tracks. SAVVY World of Work provides career exploration activities, paid internships with job coaching, interviewing skills training, and counseling opportunities. SAVVY Youth in Transition provides classroom training and field trips to help students develop confidence, greater independence, life skills, social skills, and vocational and study skills. The SAVVY College Prep program provides training in college survival skills such as independent study habits and use of assistive technology.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps connect adults with disabilities to employment opportunities by providing assessment, planning, job development, job coaching and long-term support services.
Operating Entity: The Arc of North Carolina
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
T-STEP supports transition to employment and/or postsecondary education settings for adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The program covers six transition skills modules and enables students to practice these skills on a weekly basis at a volunteer internship site. Students also receive individual career counseling, higher education counseling, and self‐advocacy counseling. The program is offered at six colleges.
Operating Entity: University of North Carolina, TEACCH Autism Program
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides education and training to spread financial awareness and conduct financial literacy training to individuals and families to raise expectations for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities to develop financial assets.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
Individuals who are blind or visually impaired can receive assistance from the Division of Services for the Blind in finding a job, keeping a job, or returning to work. Services and programs include assistive technology training, college/university training, on-the-job training, transitional services, and vocational training.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Services for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
ECAC coordinates a youth leadership team that meets monthly, and also conducts several trainings for youth around topics related to transition and self-determination.
Operating Entity: Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides Pre-Employment Transition Services to students eligible for special education-related services, as well as more intensive case management services to help young people with disabilities explore career options, develop goals for their future, and overcome challenges.
Operating Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
ASTEP is a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. It provides students an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in campus life.
Operating Entity: Minot State University
Entity Type: College / University
The North Dakota School for the Deaf provides assistance for students transitioning from high school, including around assistive technology, career exploration, and transition supports unique for people with hearing loss.
Operating Entity: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, North Dakota School for the Deaf
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: North Dakota Assistive
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: North Dakota Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights North Dakota
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program includes prevocational services, as well as small group and individual employment supports, to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities obtain and maintain employment.
Operating Entity: North Dakota Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists individuals with disabilities in assessing job interests and locating jobs, obtaining employment, and maintaining employment.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Goodwill of North Dakota
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The North Dakota Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind co-sponsor an annual summer program for students who are blind or visually impaired and who are currently in grades 9-12. It focuses on lessons regarding college and employment readiness, including higher education access and employment skills such as interviewing and job research.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind offers in-service training for teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, and others working with persons with visual impairments. Training may focus on any aspect of service to individuals with visual impairments, with a particular emphasis on the expanded core curriculum which includes career education.
Operating Entity: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind (NDVS/SB)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The IMPCCT Consortium provides training and technical assistance to help institutions of higher education develop inclusive programs consisting of inclusive college course work, career development, self-determination, independent living and pre-employment skills training, and campus inclusion.
Operating Entity: Minot State University, North Dakota Center for People with Disabilities (NDCPD)
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The North Dakota Community of Practice for Transition promotes and improves the scope, opportunity, and quality of opportunities for youth with disabilities to prepare for life and career beyond high school. It works across groups and localities to share information, address issues, learn together, find shared goals and define shared work, and improve practice. The group focuses on developing the community by inviting relevant state agencies, and identifying groups that are involved in transition.
Operating Entity: North Dakota Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
ND CREATE collaborates with agencies to build capacity to deliver customized employment services and support integrated, competitive employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in day supports and/or non-integrated environments. Services include face-to-face training sessions, webinars, training modules, individualized coaching and technical assistance, in-field mentoring, and on-site visits.
Operating Entity: Minot State University, North Dakota Center for People with Disabilities (NDCPD)
Entity Type: College / University
These 16 programs assist eligible students (including those with disabilities) in achieving a bachelor-level post-secondary education. All TRIO programs provide retention-based academic and personal services that are designed to prepare participants for subsequent levels of education.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Pathfinder Services of North Dakota
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights North Dakota
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps clients with disabilities pursue self-employment through a systematic, step-by-step process that includes helping clients understand the challenges of self-employment and assess their self-employment readiness.
Operating Entity: North Dakota Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps facilitate a smooth transition to post-secondary education or employment for students with disabilities. Services focus on evaluations, assistive technology, training, and employment.
Operating Entity: North Dakota Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Supported Employment provides training and ongoing support to help individuals with the most significant disabilities maintain employment.
Operating Entity: North Dakota Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program offers both Small Group and Individual Employment Support, to provide long-term ongoing supports to assist individuals with disabilities in maintaining paid employment in an integrated setting or self-employment.
Operating Entity: Anne Carlsen Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Montana State University – Billings, Montana Center for Inclusive Education
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps deaf and hard of hearing students further their education, gain employment experience, and develop and improve their independent living skills while receiving support from teachers and staff.
Operating Entity: Ohio Department of Education, Ohio School for the Deaf
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: The Ohio State University, Assistive Technology of Ohio
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Ohio
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Ohio
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The CLE Team works to transform current adult day and employment supports away from facility-based services toward a community-minded emphasis and practice. This includes empowering people with disabilities and their families to make informed decisions, promoting interagency collaboration, ensuring access and availability of supports, enhancing the skills and knowledge of service providers and families, and more.
Operating Entity: Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Easterseals provides multiple construction skills training opportunities in the Cincinnati area where individuals with disabilities can gain on-the-job experience, certifications, soft skills, and professional connections.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Greater Cincinnati
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CCD provides support and communication services to deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind individuals. Services include independent living skills training, peer support, advocacy, interpreting/communication services, walk-in office hours, and public videophone access.
Operating Entity: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
It’s My Turn GPS is a three-day self-determination curriculum for students with disabilities in middle school through high school. The workshops include four sections: vision, transition plan, building skills, and future planning. It was developed by the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities
(OCECD) and is currently supported by the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps individuals with disabilities, including substance use disorders, find employment with the assistance of a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
Operating Entity: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Ohio College2Careers provides academic and employment support to students with disabilities at 15 public colleges and universities in the state. Counselors are located within the disability services offices at colleges and assist students with career exploration and counseling, assistive technology, resume and interview preparation, internships and permanent employment, assistance navigating OhioMeansJobs resources, and connection to an expansive employer partner network.
Operating Entity: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Ohio Treasurer’s Office
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This partnership between the Ohio Department of Education and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities increases the availability of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors for students with disabilities beginning at age 14 to improve post-school outcomes. Forty-three counselors partner with local education agencies to serve students with disabilities throughout the state.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides individual assistance, workshops, resources, and more to help youth and young adults with disabilities pursue meaningful careers, live as independently as possible, and enjoy inclusion at work and in the community. Guidance and information is also offered to families, and focuses on transition, employment, the role of vocational rehabilitation counselors, and more.
Operating Entity: PACER Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project STIR is a training program for self-advocates designed to provide individuals with disabilities with the tools to advocate for themselves, mobilize others in advocacy, and gain leadership experiences.
Operating Entity: Ohio Self Determination Association (OSDA)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Ohio
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a range of services to students with disabilities ages 14 or older, including job exploration, paid work experiences with job coaches, soft skills and self-advocacy training, counseling on educational and training options, and more.
Operating Entity: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides services to help individuals who are visually impaired achieve meaningful employment, mental and physical restoration, and personal independence. Services include vocational guidance and counseling, job search preparation, and assistance with job retention.
Operating Entity: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides young adults with autism who have finished their participation in the secondary education system with additional training and support to prepare for higher education, employment, or volunteer opportunities.
Operating Entity: Easterseals of Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana Counties
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides youth with disabilities opportunities to explore careers and gain work experience. The career exploration component helps individuals explore their interests and gain work related skills such as time management and budgeting. The work experience component pairs individuals with disabilities with the community to gain valuable work experience and advance skills to prepare for competitive integrated employment.
Operating Entity: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
DODD works with county boards of developmental disabilities to ensure that technology is considered as part of all service and support plans for people with disabilities. Services include Assistive Technology and Remote Support.
Operating Entity: Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Systems Coordination
TTW programs prepare secondary educators and rehabilitation professionals to support youth with disabilities as they pursue college, careers, and community membership, and are offered at six universities in the state. The TTW endorsement can be issued to individuals who hold a valid standard Ohio intervention specialist, career-technical teaching, or professional pupil services license or certificate.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Through this program, eligible students and adults with disabilities gain work experience, exposure, and access to state government employment through paid apprenticeships with state agencies. The goal of this program is for apprentices to secure permanent employment in state government upon completion of the apprenticeship.
Operating Entity: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides vocational services to individuals with disabilities ages 18 and over, including career exploration, job search assistance, job placement, and coaching.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Northern Ohio
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation provides individuals with disabilities a variety of vocational services such as counseling, training, job placement, educational guidance, interpreters, transportation services, and occupational tools and equipment.
Operating Entity: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with disabilities move out of subminimum wage employment and into competitive integrated jobs. Works4Me brings together partnerships across the state as an extension of Ohio’s Employment First partnership to expand community employment opportunities, reduce barriers to competitive integrated employment, and align state policy for individuals with developmental disabilities. Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is partnering with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD), county boards of developmental disabilities, and service providers, to offer a robust support network.
Operating Entity: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YLF is a five-day career leadership training program for 11th and 12th grade high school students with disabilities. It is a collaboration between the Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program assists youth with disabilities and their parents in establishing employment and post-secondary education goals and connecting with employment services and resources.
Operating Entity: Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living (SOCIL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
This skill-building program helps prepare students with disabilities, ages 14 to 21, for their transitions to adulthood. Instruction focuses on building self-confidence, practicing effective communication skills, identifying appropriate career interests, encouraging successful decision-making, setting goals, learning how to take responsibility, and more.
Operating Entity: The Center for Independent Living Options (CILO)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
LEAP works with high school students with disabilities year round and prepares them for the transition to the adult world of work or postsecondary education/training. LEAP’s School-to-Work Transition program combines work-related instructional activities with on-the-job training.
Operating Entity: Linking Employment, Abilities, and Potential (LEAP)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
YouthMOVE Ohio is a youth- and young adult-led organization devoted toward improving services and systems to promote youth inclusion, mental wellness, positive supports, and healthy transitions. YouthMOVE empowers youth (including those with mental health conditions) to advocate for themselves and live healthy, meaningful lives.
Operating Entity: NAMI Ohio
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Oklahoma State University, Department of Wellness, Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Oklahoma Office of Disability Concerns
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program promotes independence for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities through paid work and training activities in the community. Services include assessment, individual and group job placement training, and ongoing supports by a certified job coach in a community business.
Operating Entity: Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Service Division (DDSD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Pervasive Parenting Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program supports people of working age who have developmental disabilities to achieve competitive integrated employment. Services include assessment, job development and placement, as well as on the job training and supports.
Operating Entity: Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Service Division (DDSD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This two-day workshop was designed to increase expectations for competitive employment and increase knowledge of local, state, and federal resources to support the employment of the youth and young adults who have disabilities. It is offered to self-advocates, families, and professionals.
Operating Entity: Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program is designed to build the competence and confidence of young adults with disabilities to access independent living and employment services so they can more successfully transition to adulthood. It also helps family members and professionals improve their capacity to support these young adults with disabilities on their journey. It is a joint effort between the Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides technical assistance and training to families and service providers to meet the unique needs of children and youth who are deaf-blind in rural and suburban areas, including supporting youth preparing to transition to postsecondary education and employment.
Operating Entity: The University of Oklahoma, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education
Entity Type: College / University
The Oklahoma Family Leadership Network is a group of family advocates working to improve the lives of Oklahomans with disabilities. Family Mentors provide an opportunity for future professionals to learn more about family advocacy and the impact of family professional partnership for advocacy and systems change.
Operating Entity: The University of Oklahoma, The Center for Learning and Leadership
Entity Type: College / University
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Oklahoma State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program promotes systems change in the content and delivery of professional development for educators and parents aimed at ensuring better academic and social outcomes for students with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Oklahoma State Department of Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This annual program convenes regional transition teams from across the state to learn about innovative practices and programs and to develop a plan for how to improve transition in their local areas. It is run by the Oklahoma Transition Council – comprised of 34 members from various agencies and organizations – as well as the National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Oklahoma Parents Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Oklahoma Disability Law Center, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program allows individuals with disabilities to work and receive training in a controlled environment with other people with disabilities. Workers are paid in accordance with individual production and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Services include assessment, training, and transitional services leading to community job placement if the individual chooses.
Operating Entity: Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Service Division (DDSD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a paid work experience program for high school transition students. Students participate in a week of in-house training on employability and independent living skills (such as how to apply for a job, interview, perform the job, budget, and use public transportation), then work part-time on jobs throughout the summer (with support from staff).
Operating Entity: Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program is designed to increase the quantity and quality of transition education knowledgeable personnel to address the shortage of secondary special education professionals in Oklahoma and surrounding states. Scholars obtain either a Masters of Special Education or a Masters of Social Work degree and can also receive a Graduate College certificate for Transition Strategies for Diverse Adolescent Youth.
Operating Entity: The University of Oklahoma, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps students with disabilities prepare for employment and life after high school. Services include vocational counseling and guidance, assessment and evaluation, school work study, work adjustment training, on-the-job training, supported employment, and job development and placement.
Operating Entity: Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: University of Oklahoma Board of Regents
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YLF offers students with disabilities the opportunity to spend a week on a college campus with other students from Oklahoma. Students participate in activities to help improve leadership and advocacy skills, explore career options, meet with state legislators, and create a leadership plan to reach employment and educational goals.
Operating Entity: Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma
Entity Type: Other
The Oklahoma Parent Center (OPC) provides one-on-one assistance to youth with disabilities, including around available resources, their rights and responsibilities, participating in IEPs, and making decisions.
Operating Entity: Oklahoma Parents Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables students at the Oregon School for the Deaf to learn additional workforce skills until the age of 21. It is divided into the College Bound program, which enables students to take classes through a local community college with additional support, and the Extended Studies Program, which focuses on building independent living skills.
Operating Entity: Oregon Department of Education, Oregon School for the Deaf
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, School-Based Prep
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Access Technologies Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Oregon Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This week-long, immersive leadership camp helps youth with disabilities develop self-advocacy and social skills while giving them paid work experience and career exposure in the natural resources industry. It is a collaboration between the Youth Transition Program (YTP) within the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Oregon State Parks.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
CCS is a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. It provides students an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in campus life.
Operating Entity: Portland State University
Entity Type: College / University
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Oregon
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Northwest Disability Support
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program provides deaf students with independent living skill training and work experience, and trains them on employability skills.
Operating Entity: Oregon Department of Education, Oregon School for the Deaf
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, School-Based Prep
This program provides job development assistance, coaching, resume workshops, mock interviews, and English classes to help individuals with disabilities who either have a language barrier or speak English as a second language attain employment.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Oregon
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program assists young people with early onset psychiatric disabilities by helping them obtain and maintain employment. It is a collaboration between the Center for Human Development and the Oregon Health Authority, with input from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program includes internship programs and job training and coaching services to help people with disabilities attain employment. It also includes the Latino Connection program, which provides training and education to Latino and non-native English speaking participants focusing on employment.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Oregon
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps adolescents and young adults with disabilities to transition from school into productive employment. Services include strengths assessments and planning. It is a collaboration between the Oregon Health & Science University and the University of Oregon.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides financial literacy training to individuals and families with disabilities, with support from MetLife Financial and Capital Area Asset Builders.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Oregon
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program offers a Masters of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling, as well as a Masters of Science in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling for the Deaf (RCD), which is one of only four deafness specialty programs in the United States.
Operating Entity: Western Oregon University (WOU)
Entity Type: College / University
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Oregon Treasurer’s Office
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program supports families and parents of children with developmental disabilities, by connecting them to resources. It focuses on helping them become strong advocates for their children and to build healthier family units, and is made up of 3,500 families who help families connect with other families and their communities.
Operating Entity: Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program provides technical assistance to mental health agencies providing Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Supported Employment. It oversees the fidelity of the 37 programs that currently offer IPS services throughout the state, and educates and advises local and state-level policymakers. It is a partnership between the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the IPS Employment Center, and Options for Southern Oregon.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides services to transition-age youth with disabilities to support their employment or career-related postsecondary education or training goals. It services include individualized planning, academic and vocational instruction, instruction in independent living, career development services, and connection to paid employment opportunities. It is a collaboration between the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Oregon Department of Education, and the University of Oregon.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This in-depth residential training program provides people who are blind or visually impaired with training and assistance on how to adapt to employment opportunities, utilize adaptive devices, explore career options, and develop various other career preparatory skills. Clients can also learn specific trades, such as woodworking.
Operating Entity: Oregon Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 11 western states plus two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Family and Community Together (FACT) Oregon
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides classes and mentoring to help people with developmental disabilities share information and skills to attain employment. It is a collaboration between the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) and the Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition (OSAC).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program establishes, implements, and evaluates a multi-level interagency transition model, which includes bringing vocational rehabilitation counselors into high school settings so they can collaborate with special education teachers in the planning and delivery of transition services. It is a collaboration between public high schools in three school districts, Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation, and the University of Oregon.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Systems Coordination
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Oregon
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
SWEP includes a five-week foundational program and a six-week more advanced program each summer in which youth who are blind or visually impaired engage in paid employment experiences and live in residences to develop skills in independent living and self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: Oregon Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This seven-week program at Portland State University enables students to live in the dorms, work at paid internships, and engage in activities and classes for career exploration. Through the program, participants develop independent living and work skills, and gain confidence and awareness.
Operating Entity: Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides job development, job coaching, and employment path services to people with developmental disabilities through county Community Developmental Disability Programs (CDDPs).
Operating Entity: Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides technical assistance to support the provision of transition services in school, through a number of Transition Network Facilitators. Services include providing consultation, training, and technical assistance around the development and implementation if IEPs, student goals and plans, and secondary transition curricula.
Operating Entity: Oregon Department of Education, Special Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Universal Access Navigators provide information to WorkSource Oregon staff regarding service delivery for customers with a disability or with multiple barriers to employment. For example, they provide information on assistive technology and accommodations that WSO staff can use to assist employers who will be employing individuals with disabilities. WorkSource Oregon is a statewide partnership with the Oregon Employment Department and state, local, and nonprofit agencies.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Oregon
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides services to help young adults (17.5 to 25 years old) who experience complex behavioral health challenges develop the skills they need for successful transition into adulthood. Services include supported education and employment services.
Operating Entity: Oregon Health Authority, Child and Family Behavioral Health
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program offers Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), including instruction in self-advocacy and job exploration counseling, to help youth who are blind or visually impaired prepare for employment. It includes a collaboration with the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) to provide exposure to social and environmental experiences that prepare them for dealing with challenges and opportunities in independent living and work.
Operating Entity: Oregon Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program is designed to engage marginalized youth – including those with mental health conditions – through accessible and developmentally appropriate services, including employment support and skills training. It is overseen by the Oregon Health Authority and implemented at a county level.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and other services to help youth with disabilities transition to post-secondary education or employment. The program includes a partnership with AntFarm to provide work experiences in gardening and farming, Motivational Enhancement Group Intervention interviewing to help students gain self-advocacy skills, and benefits planning services. The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation also collaborates with Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA) to provide career support services to youth with psychosis.
Operating Entity: Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Temple University, Institute on Disabilities, TechOwl
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This supported employment program for individuals with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses takes place at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and provides vocational readiness assessments; vocational counseling and planning; assistance developing interview skills, finding jobs, and resume writing; internship placement; and coordination with the individual’s medical team and community agencies, schools, and potential employers.
Operating Entity: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program evaluates and supports people in the following areas of assistive technology: positioning and mobility; computer access; augmentative communication; environmental controls; driver evaluation; vehicle modification; devices for activities of daily living; devices for visual and/or auditory impairment; and home and work modifications. The Learning Technology Program assesses student’s needs in the classroom and trains them in the use of assistive technology, as needed.
Operating Entity: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Hiram G. Andrews Center
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Pennsylvania Client Assistance Program
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program matches people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to unpaid internships at Temple University Hospital and Temple’s University Main Campus in Philadelphia with a goal of achieving long-term, part-time employment.
Operating Entity: Temple University, Institute on Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides training, information, individualized support, and resources to youth with disabilities and families of children with disabilities in both Spanish and English. It also includes the Hispanic Outreach Project (HoP), which provides culturally and linguistically appropriate workshops and information specifically for Hispanic families and youth.
Operating Entity: Hispanos Unidos para Niños Excepcionales (Philadelphia HUNE, Inc.)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This after-school and summer inclusion program focuses on increasing graduation rates and decreasing drop-out rates for youth with and without disabilities ages 14-21. It provides academic, transition, social, behavioral, and other supports.
Operating Entity: Hispanos Unidos para Niños Excepcionales (Philadelphia HUNE, Inc.)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides support for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to attend events that promote leadership, education, and self-advocacy knowledge and skills. Scholarships can be as much as $750 per person, and funding can be used for event-related expenses (such as registration, travel, food, and assistive equipment).
Operating Entity: Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council
Entity Type: Other
This program builds the capacity of local educational agencies (LEAs) to address the academic and behavioral needs of middle school students with emotional disturbance to ensure that all Pennsylvania students graduate from high school college- and career-ready.
Operating Entity: Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides extensive training, assistance, and job coaching to individuals with disabilities, beyond what employers are able to provide. It also reimburses employers for a percentage of an Office of Vocational Rehabilitation client’s weekly wage for a specified period of time.
Operating Entity: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Pennsylvania Treasury Department
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Parent Education and Advocacy Leadership Center (PEAL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
PYLN helps young people with disabilities develop the self-determination, empowerment, and leadership skills to support successful post-school outcomes in the areas of education, employment, independent living, and health and wellness.
Operating Entity: Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Pennsylvania
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides information, training and technical assistance, and support to youth and young adults with disabilities and their families, including transition services to help youth and their families navigate multiple programs and service systems; actively participate in the development of plans for independence; and collaborate with transition professionals. It is a collaborative effort between Parent Centers in nine northeastern states.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
STRIVE ON is designed to help students who are blind or visually impaired prepare for post-secondary and employment goals, by promoting access and utilization of assistive technology and helping students develop self-advocacy and employability skills.
Operating Entity: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
NE-PACT provides technical assistance to Parent Centers across 14 states, districts and territories (including Pennsylvania). Services include strategies for reaching underserved families, on-site training and support, an annual conference, program evaluation, and consulting around the nonprofit management process.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence-Parent Assistance and Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides workplace readiness services to students with disabilities, including workplace readiness instruction, work-based learning experiences (such as job shadowing), career training supports, and independent living skills related to employment. The program is a collaboration between the Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC) and Reading Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) Work Partners.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This youth-lead program for grades 8 to 12 enables youth to explore their strengths, give back to the community through volunteering, develop their leadership capabilities, and set goals for high school and beyond. It is open to youth both with and without disabilities.
Operating Entity: Mission Empower
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
ACAP is a fully-integrated, comprehensive system of care for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder to help them (among other things) help them achieve their employment goals. Support include physical health, behavioral health, social, recreational, transportation, employment, therapeutic, educational, crisis, in-home, and independent living services.
Operating Entity: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: University of Puerto Rico, Assistive Technology Advisory Council of Puerto Rico (PRATP)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with disabilities understand the impact that their salary will have on the disability benefits they receive.
Operating Entity: Caribbean Center of Work Incentives Planning Assistance (CWIPA)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Puerto Rico Office of the Governor, Ombudsman for the Disabled
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program places Vocational Rehabilitation counselors at the Río Piedras and Mayagüez campuses of the University of Puerto Rico to provide services to eligible students with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Puerto Rico Vocational Rehabilitation Administration (PRVRA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Systems Coordination
This program offers a range of services – including occupational counseling, re-employment services, employment services, and referrals – to help connect employers and job applicants, and pays special attention to serving people with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources (PRDOLHR)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals with intellectual disabilities develop, strengthen, and maintain daily living and work skills through seven Transitional Service Centers. Employment Trainers work with clients to help them achieve their employment goals.
Operating Entity: Puerto Rico Department of Health, Division of Services for People with Intellectual Disability (DSPID) Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides a range of vocational services to individuals with disabilities, including supported employment services, post-employment and sustained employment services, trainings around vocational and personal adjustments, personal assistance services, and interpretation and reading services.
Operating Entity: Puerto Rico Vocational Rehabilitation Administration (PRVRA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Apoyo a Padres de Ninos con Impedimentos (APNI)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Puerto Rico Office of the Governor, Ombudsman for the Disabled
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides social and economic rehabilitation for people with various disabilities through remunerated work opportunities in nonprofit workshops.
Operating Entity: Puerto Rico Department of the Family
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program uses a peer-to-peer approach to provide support, information, and resources to family members of children and youth with special health needs, including intellectual disabilities.
Operating Entity: University of Puerto Rico, Institute for Developmental Deficiencies (IDD)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Family Engagement
These Centers help schools throughout Puerto Rico effectively serve students in special education, including by collaborating with school counselors to provide counseling services to students with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This project seeks to improve the capacity of Puerto Rico to identify, evaluate, place and provide early intervention, transition and related services to the deafblind population. Technical assistance and in-service trainings will be delivered to families and service providers.
Operating Entity: Universidad Ana G. Méndez, School of Education
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides technical assistance to Parent Centers in Region A, which includes Puerto Rico. Services include strategies for reaching underserved families, on-site training and support, an annual conference, program evaluation, and consulting around the nonprofit management process.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps students with disabilities move from school to post-secondary activities and independent living, including through Pre-Employment Transition Services, work-based learning experiences, and career fairs. Services are coordinated with Local Educational Agencies, the Department of Labor and Human Resources, the Department of Education, and Puerto Rico Industries for the Blind.
Operating Entity: Puerto Rico Vocational Rehabilitation Administration (PRVRA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Movimiento para el Alcance de Vida Independiente (MAVI)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
OSCIL provides training in self-advocacy to individuals with disabilities. This includes learning disability rights and learning to effectively communicate individual needs in a variety of circumstances.
Operating Entity: Ocean State Center for Independent Living (OSCIL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: TechACCESS of Rhode Island
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program trains individuals with disabilities, including transition-age youth with disabilities, in starting businesses. It consists of six classes, focusing on launching, managing, and growing businesses. It then provides technical assistance as individuals with disabilities first start small businesses.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Rhode Island
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides services and assistance to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. These services include assistive technology training, financial training, transportation assistance, peer counseling and advocacy services, and employment education services.
Operating Entity: Ocean State Center for Independent Living (OSCIL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides vocational rehabilitation services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. This includes vocational counseling and guidance; vocational evaluation to determine skills, abilities, and potential to work; vocational training; purchase of hearing aids and appropriate communications devices; interpreter services for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining employment; job placement assistance; and rehabilitation technology services.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides a number of comprehensive trainings and technical assistance opportunities for disability employment service providers. Trainings focus on person centered career planning, assessment strategies, job development and placement, job support, community resources, and systems change and program development.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island College, Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides supported employment services to Rhode Island residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It focuses on providing work readiness training, preparing participants for careers playing to their strengths, developing community ties, counseling participants on career options, and engaging participants in customized training for their selected job.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Rhode Island
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides assistance for individuals with disabilities seeking home modifications to enable said individual to seek competitive integrated employment. Home modifications are provided free of cost, and include widened doorways, ramps, bathroom modifications, and other functional modifications to meet individualized needs.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program focuses on assisting participants with disabilities in obtaining self-sufficiency in adulthood. Trainings cover social and communication, self-advocacy, and self empowerment skills, as well as mobility and transportation, personal resource management, and general self-care.
Operating Entity: Ocean State Center for Independent Living (OSCIL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: Ocean State Center for Independent Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island Parent Information Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Rhode Island
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides technical assistance to educational teams and families who serve learners with deaf-blindness, including around preparing for transition and maximizing a child’s independent living.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island College, Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
These four centers provide direct technical support, training, and information on transition services to school personnel in each region and assist in the development of statewide training and information activities.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island Department of Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program facilitates the provision of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities through device demonstration, device loaning and re-use, assistive technology training, public awareness promotion, and referral services. It is a partnership between Rhode Island assistive technology organizations, including the Adaptive Telephone Equipment Loan Program (ATEL), East Bay Educational Collaborative (EBEC), Ocean State Center for Independent Living (OSCIL), and TechACCESS of RI.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides vocational rehabilitation and independent living services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Services include vocational counseling and guidance, career assessments, job placement and training, and more.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals with particularly significant disabilities find and maintain employment. Services include job preparation services, work training opportunities, work interest assessments, job placement services, job coaching and retention services, and general assistance finding competitive employment.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides long-term technical support for parents of individuals with disabilities, including in the areas of employment, financial management, transportation, community resources, and more.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island College, Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program provides trainings for disability employment service providers, including around vocational assessment provision, employment law, job retention, training, and coaching. Participants can earn up to three certifications representing improved skills in disability employment.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island College, Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program represents a collaboration of educators and service providers of students who share resources and experiences across a range of transition areas. This includes designing and managing transition programs, facilitating community and work-based instruction, coordinating services with adult agencies, and identifying best practices and overcoming disability-related barriers. It is run by the Rhode Island Secondary Transition and Employment First
Operating Entity: Rhode Island Department of Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This graduate-level program prepares students to implement effective, research-based transition practices to improve transition outcomes for youth with exceptionalities. The certificate requires 15 credit hours of work over two years, and provides transition service workers for the state of Rhode Island.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island College, Department of Special Education
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps individuals with disabilities choose, prepare for, obtain and maintain employment. It involves personalized employment counseling and creating an employment plan, the provision of assistive technology, vocational training, housing and vehicle modification, and post-employment services.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island College, Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Rhode Island College, Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
OSCIL provides assistance to help 11th and 12th grade students with disabilities successfully enter the post- high school world. Services include trainings on independent living, self-advocacy, job skills, interviewing, and financial management, as well as peer support and advocacy, job shadowing, transportation assistance, and college visits.
Operating Entity: Ocean State Center for Independent Living (OSCIL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps adults with serious, long-term mental illness find and maintain employment.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Department of Mental Health
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: University of South Carolina, Center for Disability Resources
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This six- to eight-week paid pre-apprenticeship training program provides a career path for individuals who are blind or visually impaired into employer-based apprenticeships or direct placement. The program includes work readiness development, job shadowing, and a Job Club experience.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to explore a new way of life through socialization and friendship with college students.
Operating Entity: The Arc of South Carolina
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a series of camps for people with a range of disabilities, including PALMETTO (Providing Adults Lifestyle Management Education Through Therapeutic Opportunities), which assists young adults/adults in their transition from high school to adult life through independent living skills training, community service projects, and work-related activities.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program coordinates services to help individuals with disabilities and their families navigate and facilitate enrollment in the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs services.
Operating Entity: The Arc of South Carolina
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Department of Administration
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program includes a Masters of Arts in Counseling and Rehabilitation, with a specialization in clinical rehabilitation counseling, as well as a Certificate of Graduate Study in Psychiatric Rehabilitation.
Operating Entity: University of South Carolina, School of Medicine
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program places people with severe mental illness in competitive employment, with supportive on-site assistance as needed. IPS is a collaboration between the South Carolina Department of Mental Health (SCDMH) and the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
IMPACT is a state-wide self-advocacy council for South Carolina, whose members present and attend statewide and national conferences and represent South Carolina by participating in various committees. The Council provides information, training, and leadership opportunities to enhance self-advocacy for people with disabilities, and promotes the development of local self-advocacy groups in the state.
Operating Entity: University of South Carolina, Center for Disability Resources
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
These trainings help prepare and place people with disabilities into computer-related fields, including customer service and office support, computer-aided drafting, networking and server support, and jobs that require the Microsoft Office suite.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides five comprehensive transition programs in the state, which help individuals with intellectual disabilities advance their academic and independent living skills in a college environment. These are Carolina LIFE, Clemson LIFE, Coastal Carolina LIFE, College of Charleston REACH, and Winthrop Think College. Counselors from the Vocational Rehabilitation Department monitor progress and assist with transition planning as students approach program completion.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Treasurer of South Carolina
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Family Connection of SC
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights South Carolina
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
The program offers two Rehabilitation Counseling Training (RCT) tracks; one leads to a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, with a focus on school-to-work transition and career assessment, and the other provides a certificate of completion in school-to-work transition and career assessment for rehabilitation counseling professionals.
Operating Entity: South Carolina State University, School of Graduate Studies
Entity Type: College / University
Rehabilitation engineers provide consultation, individual assessment, and design and fabrication to assist people with disabilities in using assistive technology to overcome barriers at home and work.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This statewide system is designed to improve employment recruitment, retention, and advancement for South Carolinians with disabilities, including by raising awareness, supporting systems that improve outcome for people with disabilities, disseminating information, and collecting data. Partners include the Vocational Rehabilitation Department, the state’s Centers for Independent Living, and a range of other state agencies and offices.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program provides job-readiness opportunities for students with disabilities who are unable to earn a state high school diploma, to ensure they have evidence of employability skills, and to honor their work in school.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Department of Education, Office of Special Education Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program is designed to improve educational achievement and outcomes for children who are deaf-blind, by providing technical assistance and training to service providers and expanding supports to children who are deaf-blind and their families, including during the transition to postsecondary education or employment.
Operating Entity: South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind
Entity Type: Other
The South Carolina Youth Leadership Forum is a four-day, three-night leadership-intensive experience to help young adults with disabilities become strong leaders and advocates in their communities. It is a collaboration between several state agencies and community organizations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides blind and visually impaired high school and college students the opportunity to gain work experience during an eight-week summer internship with a local business. Participants receive a stipend after successful completion of the program.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides students with exposure to post-secondary opportunities through college tours, information sessions on career fields, visits to various employment settings, and guest speakers.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides youth who are blind or visually impaired with meaningful work experience and career exploration, while reinforcing their adjustment to blindness. The curriculum includes orientation and mobility training, vocational evaluation, braille training, and more.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides Supported Employment training and technical assistance to Supported Employment providers in the state. It also seeks to develop a comprehensive statewide Supported Employment service delivery system for the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Agency (SC DDSN).
Operating Entity: University of South Carolina, Center for Disability Resources
Entity Type: College / University
TASC provides training, professional development, technical assistance, information, and support to help local communities build capacity to support youth with disabilities who are transitioning from school to adult life. It is spearheaded by the Center for Disability Resources (CDR) at the University of South Carolina and is comprised of 16 partner entities (including state agencies, school districts, and community organizations).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides a variety of skill-building and educational services to prepare people with disabilities for the workforce. This includes job preparedness instruction, job readiness training, job tryouts, internships, and on-the-job training. It also includes Job Driven Vocational Training, which trains individuals based on specific business needs in local communities.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides educational and career guidance for youth ages 13-21 who are blind or visually impaired. Services focus on job counseling, technology assistance, college information, and more.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals who are blind, deaf-blind, and visually impaired reach their employment goals. Services range from adjustment to blindness to job placement assistance to assistive technology training.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Commission for the Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Able South Carolina
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides workshops for youth with disabilities and their families focusing on a range of topics, including Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), self-determination, employment hard and soft skills, and more.
Operating Entity: AccessAbility
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps youth with disabilities build self-esteem, learn teamwork, gain communication and leadership skills, prepare for employment, and achieve independence. Services include Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), group transition services, and individualized transition services. The Vocational Rehabilitation Department collaborates with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice to provide service to adjudicated youth.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program includes peer-to-peer young adult leadership groups and forums, transition services delivered in partnership with schools, as well as professional development opportunities for educators and service providers.
Operating Entity: Able South Carolina
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides teachers, school staff, families, students, and others with information about transitioning from school to the adult world.
Operating Entity: South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Intellectual Disability and Related Disability Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps prepare youth with disabilities for their transitions to work and adulthood. It includes a youth transitions program and a Peer Support Group for young adults ages 18 to 24.
Operating Entity: Walton Options
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to high school students who have disabilities, including through self-advocacy workshops, work-based learning experiences, college tours, and more. It is a collaboration between the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, the state’s independent living centers, and South Carolina’s public school system.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps middle school students with disabilities obtain self-advocacy, self-determination, and leadership skills. It focuses on promoting a greater access to general education curriculum, a greater participation in IEP and transition planning, improved self-management and self-regulation skills, and more. It is a partnership between the South Dakota Council on Developmental Disabilities, South Dakota Parent Connection, and the University of South Dakota Center for Disabilities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides evaluation and training in use of assistive technology devices to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Devices range from “low tech” devices such as Braille watches or magnifiers to “high tech” devices such as magnification and speech output computer programs or handheld electronic magnification devices.
Operating Entity: South Dakota Department of Human Services, South Dakota Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Augie Access is a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. It provides students an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in campus life.
Operating Entity: Augustana University
Entity Type: College / University
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: South Dakota Department of Human Services, South Dakota Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including case management, residential, supported employment, career exploration, day habilitation, nursing, and healthcare services. CHOICES also connects participants with applicable legal services when necessary.
Operating Entity: South Dakota Department of Human Services, South Dakota Division of Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This one-day conference enables high school students with disabilities who are considering post-secondary education to hear from current college or technical institute students who have disabilities, ask Disability Coordinators about entrance and eligibility requirements, learn how to secure appropriate accommodations, and practice self-advocacy and communication skills. It is run by the Transition Services Liaison Project (TSLP), which is funded by the South Dakota Special Education Programs Office and Division of Rehabilitation Services and managed by Black Hills Special Services Cooperative (BHSSC).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights South Dakota
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides employment assistance to individuals with disabilities who have the most significant limitations. It focuses on building employer-employee relationships and providing long-term employment support.
Operating Entity: South Dakota Department of Human Services, South Dakota Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides technical assistance, training, and resources to families and service providers of children (birth to 21) with varying levels of both hearing and vision loss. Services are geared toward improving educational outcomes for children of all ages in order to help prepare them for eventual transition into adulthood.
Operating Entity: University of South Dakota, Center for Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides four trainings throughout South Dakota for rural and Native American communities, informing community members of best practices to provide services for individuals with disabilities. These services include Native American vocational rehabilitation and college counseling services.
Operating Entity: University of South Dakota, Center for Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program involves an annual one-day session to help high school students with disabilities improve their employability skills and increase their likelihood of obtaining competitive employment. It is run by the Transition Services Liaison Project (TSLP), which is funded by the South Dakota Special Education Programs Office and Division of Rehabilitation Services and managed by Black Hills Special Services Cooperative (BHSSC).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: South Dakota ParentConnection
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project Skills is a paid work experience program for high school students with disabilities. It provides participants the opportunity to learn different skills in a variety of job placements with the assistance of a job coach. It focuses on improving participants’ work history, references, and future job opportunities.
Operating Entity: South Dakota Department of Human Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights South Dakota
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides various communication and technology services to South Dakota residents who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or late deafened. It includes telecommunications and telephone translation services, telecommunication equipment distribution, assistance with accessing and operating hearing aids and cochlear implants, communication assistance services, interpreting services, and more.
Operating Entity: South Dakota Department of Human Services, South Dakota Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides specialized services designed to enhance quality of life and community inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It provides short-term individualized treatment services to promote skill development and self-management. It also encourages active participation of the person’s support network (family, friends, etc.) to strengthen natural supports.
Operating Entity: South Dakota Department of Human Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
The South Dakota Rehabilitation Center for the Blind in Sioux Falls provides pre-employment transition services during the summer months for transition-age students who are blind or visually impaired. Students receive individualized training through skills of blindness classes and vocational training.
Operating Entity: South Dakota Department of Human Services, South Dakota Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This week-long program helps prepare high school students who are blind or visually impaired for careers or postsecondary education. Participants stay in dormitories at Augustana University and participate in a variety of activities that promote vocational learning, career exploration, social skills, self-advocacy, and independence.
Operating Entity: South Dakota Department of Human Services, South Dakota Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program focuses on training youth with disabilities ages 16-21 on independent living skills, including budgeting, grocery shopping, and accessing transportation, as well as their options around employment, housing, post-secondary education, and more.
Operating Entity: Independent Living Choices
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This summer program focuses on preparing youth with disabilities for a successful transitions out of high school. It highlights self-awareness and advocacy skills and assists participants in exploring options such as vocational training, employment, education, adult services, independent living, and community participation.
Operating Entity: Western Resources for Independent Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps individuals with the most severe disabilities find and maintain fully integrated employment. The program provides workplace training at job sites and ongoing support.
Operating Entity: South Dakota Department of Human Services, South Dakota Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides training opportunities to help individuals with disabilities find competitive employment. Employment preparedness training covers training and skill development; understanding the workday, breaks, and use of sick/vacation days; feedback on job performance; pay for work completed while learning skills; and training for catering, baking and food preparation services, custodial and maintenance services, clerical, data entry, and pre-sort mail services.
Operating Entity: LifeScape
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides professional development training for service providers of individuals across a wide-spectrum of disabilities. Trainings are divided by disability type, and focus on subjects including transition, employment first, supported and customized employment, community supports, leadership, self-determination, health care transition, person-centered training, social skills, and more.
Operating Entity: University of South Dakota, Center for Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
These workshops provide secondary special education teachers and directors an overview of how the transition process can guide IEP development to assist the student in achieving their postsecondary goals. It is run by the Transition Services Liaison Project (TSLP), which is funded by the South Dakota Special Education Programs Office and Division of Rehabilitation Services and managed by Black Hills Special Services Cooperative (BHSSC).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program connects students who are blind or visually impaired to transition specialists, who provide information on transition processes and post-high school training, education, and independent living options; assist in preparation for employment; assist in securing appropriate work experience through the Project Skills Program; and provide technical assistance, consultation, and training to students, parents, local school districts, and service providers. It is a joint effort between the South Dakota School for the Blind and the Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program generates recommended “next steps” for successful transitions for youth with disabilities or chronic healthcare needs. The program makes recommendations for future education, health, employment, and independent living opportunities. It focuses on family engagement throughout this process and highlights participants’ strengths in future planning.
Operating Entity: University of South Dakota, Center for Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This project provides support to employment specialists, other vocational rehabilitation service providers, and vocational rehabilitation counselors through ongoing face-to-face training and online networking sessions. Training sessions are offered monthly, and other technical assistance is offered on an as-needed basis. It is a collaboration between the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the University of South Dakota’s Center for Disabilities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides specialized vocational rehabilitation services for South Dakota residents who are blind or visually impaired. Services include vocational counseling, work skills training, job site accommodation assistance, job placement, and more.
Operating Entity: South Dakota Department of Human Services, South Dakota Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides supplementary training to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) service providers and job counselors. It focuses on improving participant skills in job development, employer relations, job carving, creating a good job match, and promoting success after placement. The program also provides technical assistance to VR counselors who request it.
Operating Entity: University of South Dakota, Center for Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Montana State University – Billings, Montana Center for Inclusive Education
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The YAT Program provides students and youth with disabilities training, opportunities, and services to achieve competitive integrated employment. It specifically connects students with internship opportunities, in which students earn work experience and develop independent living skills. It is a partnership between school districts, the Division of Rehabilitation Services, and ADVANCE.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This week-long leadership and career preparation training program enables students with disabilities to learn more about their disability, different leadership styles, how to analyze their strengths and weaknesses, how to enhance their organizational skills, how to influence others, and more. It is run by the Transition Services Liaison Project (TSLP), which is funded by the South Dakota Special Education Programs Office and Division of Rehabilitation Services and managed by Black Hills Special Services Cooperative (BHSSC).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Department of Treasury
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Office of Student Success and Office of Academic Affairs have been engaging community and technical college campuses in dialogue, training, and assessment activities to make educational resources more accessible to more students, including those with disabilities. This includes assessing each campus’ educational materials to meet accessibility standards and training faculty and staff on how to make materials accessible.
Operating Entity: The College System of Tennessee
Entity Type: College / University
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Department of Human Services, Tennessee Technology Access Program (TTAP)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Disability Coalition
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps individuals with disabilities find jobs in Tennessee’s growing health care industry. It provides job training in a mock CVS Pharmacy inside the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation’s Tennessee Rehabilitation Center (TRC), which leads to consideration for a career with CVS Health. It is a partnership between CVS and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Law and Advocacy Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Council on Development Disabilities convenes state agencies to discuss transition services for students with disabilities. The goals of the Roundtable are to increase communication across agencies, better support individuals with their employment goals, and increase employment outcomes among people with developmental disabilities across the state.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program provides services to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities become employed and live independently. It follows an integrated, home and community-based services program, aligning incentives toward promoting and supporting integrated, competitive employment and independent living.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Division of TennCare
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program includes six inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities on college campuses across Tennessee. These non-degree programs enable students to take college courses, have internships and jobs, and build relationships with their peers, with the goal of developing employment and independent living skills and experiencing a variety of potential work environments.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides supported employment services to individuals with mental illness and substance-related disorders, including those with other diagnoses.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Division of Mental Health Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Job Club is a safe place where young adults and adults with disabilities who are working or want to work come together to share their experiences and problem solve together. Job Club topics have included skill identification, turning hobbies into paid work, resume writing, dressing for success, interview skills, working with difficult bosses, customer and co-workers, and more.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Tennessee
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This diploma is available for students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and requires them to meet or exceed performance levels on specific skills and complete two years of paid or unpaid work experience.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Department of Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: TN STEP (Support and Training for Exceptional Parents)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
PFTN is a grassroots membership disability rights group led by self-advocates with the goal of empowering people with disabilities to have voices in addressing issues of equality that affect them. PFTN teaches youth and adults with disabilities about their legal rights and responsibilities, how to become effective self-advocates, and the power of self-determination.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Tennessee
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This self-advocacy initiative develops a corps of trainers, who themselves receive disability support services through a Medicaid waiver, to teach advocacy skills to other individuals who receive similar services. The training helps individuals with disabilities become more active in developing and implementing their individual service plans.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The Department of Education offers three courses to better prepare students with disabilities to enter into postsecondary education or training, employment, community involvement, and independent living, with an emphasis on understanding how to navigate postsecondary service systems. The courses are Introduction to Self-Determination, Focus on Adulthood, and Planning for Postsecondary.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Department of Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Tennessee
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program trains and upskills vocational rehabilitation counselors, including counselors who specifically work with deaf individuals.
Operating Entity: University of Tennessee
Entity Type: College / University
This program offers rehabilitation services including vocational evaluation, situational assessments, training, and job readiness classes to prepare individuals with disabilities for employment. Clients have opportunities to engage with business through internships, externships, job tours, job shadowing, and mentoring. Services are offered at seventeen Community Tennessee Rehabilitation Centers (CTRCs) across the state.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
S-TEC tracks employment activities and keep providers informed and trained in Tennessee employment policies and practices, in order to increase the employment rate of people served by the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD). The group receives a monthly update from DIDD, Vocational Rehabilitation, TennCare, the TennesseeWorks Partnership, and at least one TN employment provider.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides individuals the opportunity to earn living wages and other employment benefits, develop new skills, increase community participation, and increase self-esteem, empowerment and quality of life.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Tennessee
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This project helps Tennessee’s state and local educational agencies, teachers, related service providers, and families address education, related services, transition, and early intervention needs of children who are deaf-blind (DB) to ensure that these children will graduate from high school ready for college and a career.
Operating Entity: Vanderbilt University
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides consultation and mentoring to intellectual and developmental disability providers around the state as they transition people with disabilities from sheltered workshops to competitive integrated employment opportunities in the community.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The Tennessee Inclusive Higher Education Alliance meets quarterly to increase the postsecondary educational opportunities for students with disabilities. It is comprised of representatives from state and local agencies, self-advocates and family members, representatives from colleges and universities in Tennessee, and business owners.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program enables students with disabilities to choose and engage in areas of study that all have an emphasis on work-based learning and community integration through volunteer, practicum, and internship opportunities with business and industry. Upon completion of all courses, students receive a certificate of completion and have the opportunity to obtain national certifications and licenses that are industry-recognized, portable, and/or stackable.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides training and professional development to families who have children with disabilities, transition-age students with disabilities, teachers, and related service providers who work with transition-age youth. It includes transition information fairs, transition planning activities and workshops, and provides information to families who first language is not English.
Operating Entity: TN STEP (Support and Training for Exceptional Parents)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides vocational rehabilitation services to eligible and potentially eligible high school students with disabilities who are interested in employment after leaving high school. The goal is a smooth, seamless transition from high school to post-high school career development and/or employment.
Operating Entity: Tennessee Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with mental illness find jobs that pay competitive wages in an integrated setting. Services are provided by local mental health and behavioral health authorities across the state.
Operating Entity: Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides services to people with disabilities looking to obtain or retain employment. Employment services include counseling and guidance, on-the-job training, supported employment, and more.
Operating Entity: Texas Workforce Commission, Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Center for Disability Studies, The Texas Technology Access Program (TTAP)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides students with autism and Asperger syndrome with training in socialization skills and academics. Through a mixture of didactic presentation, demonstration, role-play and discussion, students learn how to do the activities of daily living needed in order to be successful in school and to get a job.
Operating Entity: Tarrant County College
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
This program seeks to improve transition to adulthood outcomes and academic success for children with significant developmental disabilities and complex communication needs through interdisciplinary practice. The program trains Master’s level personnel from three related services (Speech Language Pathology, Social Work, and Applied Behavior Analysis) to provide services to children transitioning from the public schools to adulthood.
Operating Entity: The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Center for Disability Studies
Entity Type: College / University
This program secures jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), allowing them to earn an income, pay taxes, and continuously and independently support themselves. It is offered in Dallas and Houston.
Operating Entity: Best Buddies in Texas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
BCVDDP provides a range of services to youth with vision impairments and their families, including confidence-building activities, caregiver support and training, training to increase a child’s independence and ability to participate in vocational related activities, and more.
Operating Entity: Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Texas Workforce Commission, Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Texas Workforce Commission
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Camp Sign is a week-long summer program for children who are deaf or hard of hearing between the ages of 8 and 17. The camp helps participants develop self-confidence and leadership skills and engage in social growth opportunities.
Operating Entity: Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Texas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Children’s Disabilities Information Coalition
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program offers individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities training that emphasizes skills and knowledge required for a particular job function (such as customer service, janitorial or sorting clothes) or a trade (such as landscaping).
Operating Entity: Community HealthCore
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, including information and referral, assistive technology assistance, tuition waivers for post-secondary education, and more.
Operating Entity: Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Employment Specialists help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities find and maintain competitive integrated employment in the Austin community. Services include supported employment, job placement, work experience, job skills training, and more.
Operating Entity: The Arc – Capital Area
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps adults with disabilities find and keep jobs through one-on-one support. All services are provided free of charge.
Operating Entity: Easterseals – Central Texas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This job readiness program utilizes technology in schools and community centers to provide training to students with disabilities ages 14 to 24 to prepare them for future employment. The program introduces students to job search engines and the online job application process, and offers hands-on experience with technology students might find in the workplace.
Operating Entity: Easterseals – Central Texas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This faith-based, three-year program helps students with intellectual disabilities develop independence skills and receive specific vocational training leading to employment in a college-like environment. It includes hands-on training in one of the following areas: Culinary Arts, Hospitality, Horticulture.
Operating Entity: Green Oaks School
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program offers two types of employment services to individuals with disabilities. The first is Employment Assistance, which helps people find competitive, integrated employment. The second is Supported Employment which helps people maintain their current employment.
Operating Entity: Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This two-semester training program provides instruction and support to help individuals with disabilities gain the necessary skills and experiences to successfully transition into competitive integrated employment in the horticulture industry. The program focuses on five core Pre-ETS areas: career exploration, work-based learning, job readiness, self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: Texas A&M University, Center on Disability and Development
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Family to Family Network helps individuals with disabilities navigate life as a young person and find success in adulthood. The program also provides support to family members. Services include case management, referrals to community resources, support groups, Pre-Employment Transition Services, and more.
Operating Entity: Family to Family Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps individuals with disabilities, family members, and community members improve their self-advocacy and leadership skills and learn more about disability issues. Topics include Inclusive Education & Communities, Employment First, Self Determination and Self Advocacy, and Social Security & Work Incentives.
Operating Entity: Family to Family Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
LEAP is a summer program designed to help students with disabilities gain the confidence and skills for independent living and employment.
Operating Entity: Texas A&M University, Center on Disability and Development
Entity Type: College / University
The PACT Project serves Texas parents of children and youth with disabilities ages 0-26. Services include one-on-one consultation on disability rights, webinars on a variety of educational topics, online resources and publications, and more.
Operating Entity: Partners Resource Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program provides paid job training opportunities for people with disabilities through The Easterseals Lawn & Landscape company. Paid Job Trainees may also seek additional support from the Easterseals onsite Transitions Team, including mental health counseling services and referrals to community services.
Operating Entity: Easterseals – Central Texas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The TxP2P Pathways to Adulthood program assists families in planning for life after high school for their children with disabilities, and provides support, information, and tools for carrying out this plan. Youth with disabilities and their parents/guardians can also call the program office and receive emotional support with issues like decision making around guardianship, applying for SSI, and managing school services.
Operating Entity: Texas Parent to Parent
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
PCEP is a two-day training for individuals with disabilities and their families that provides them the skills training and experiences necessary for a successful transition into postsecondary education and/or competitive integrated employment.
Operating Entity: Texas A&M University, Center on Disability and Development
Entity Type: College / University
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Texas
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides in-house opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to earn a paycheck. Participants create fused glass products, and are guided by instructors and volunteers.
Operating Entity: Reach Unlimited
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides support to Parent Centers in a 12-state region, which includes Texas. Services include information dissemination, boot camps, one-on-one assistance, intensive technical assistance, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Texas Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Texas Deafblind Project provides information and training to families of deafblind children and professionals. The project’s Transition Specialist assists with issues related to transitions for youth ages 14-25.
Operating Entity: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides individuals, families, and providers with resources to help build skills that will enhance the employability of individuals with disabilities. The project’s goal is to provide up-to-date access to free and for-fee resources to teach these skills.
Operating Entity: Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps children and youth with serious mental, emotional, and behavioral difficulties build confidence and self-advocacy skills. YES builds on family and community support and utilizes program services to help build each participant’s family’s natural support network and connection in the community.
Operating Entity: Community HealthCore
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
This small group program trains young adults with autism in industry-standard skills necessary for employment. The program focuses on technical skills such as programming and soft skills such as leadership and teamwork. The program also aims to strengthen the networks of young adults with disabilities by creating cohorts of like-minded and supportive individuals.
Operating Entity: nonPareil Institute
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
The 2021 Community Inclusion Project is designed to improve the disability system’s capacity to work together and find creative ways to overcome barriers, in order to better support community inclusion and competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Utah Department of Human Services, Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
The ALPS (Advocacy, Leadership and Policy Success) program is designed to help people with disabilities, family members, and allies improve their advocacy skills. Participants learn about services that support people with disabilities, policy, and how to drive change in the state of Utah.
Operating Entity: Utah Developmental Disabilities Council
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides individual, group, and systems advocacy to help individuals with disabilities protect their rights and obtain necessary resources. Individual advocacy involves teaching individuals self-advocacy skills and helping them communicate and negotiate with agencies, service providers, employers and others in order to obtain needed benefits, services or accommodations.
Operating Entity: Utah Independent Living Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Utah State University, Center for Persons with Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are working, or thinking about going to work, figure out how earnings may affect the help they get from the government. The program is primarily intended for transition-age youth (14-25) and day program or sheltered workshop participants.
Operating Entity: Disability Law Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Utah Department of Workforce Services, Office of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides statewide job development and placement services to Utah job seekers with disabilities, then works with employers to help them recruit, hire, retain, and promote individuals with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Utah Department of Workforce Services, Office of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Law Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The EmployAbility Clinic is dedicated to helping students and individuals with disabilities attain their employment goals. Services include Pre-Employment Transition Services, employment skills assessments, social skills classes, job development activities (including resume building and interview skills development), job coaching, and ongoing support.
Operating Entity: Utah State University, Center for Persons with Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program works to safeguard the rights of people with disabilities in a range of work environments, including assisting Social Security beneficiaries in removing barriers to employment, ensuring that employers do not discriminate because of a person’s disability, assisting employees in obtaining reasonable accommodations in the workplace, and helping people get necessary services from the state’s Vocational Rehabilitation program.
Operating Entity: Disability Law Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This 10-part workshop series teaches students with disabilities the basic skills necessary to be successful in the workplace. Topics include self-discovery, job-readiness, job-seeking, and job-keeping.
Operating Entity: Utah Department of Workforce Services, Office of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This conference provides youth with disabilities the opportunity to network with other youth statewide and gain leadership skills. Youth also receive guidance and support for successful transitions from school to achieve their individual education, employment, recreational, and housing goals.
Operating Entity: Utah Statewide Independent Living Council
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 11 western states plus two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Utah Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Law Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program consists of pilot projects in five Utah school districts to help students with disabilities work toward competitive, integrated employment prior to graduation from high school. Teams work collaboratively to serve students and blend/braid funding so students can access wrap-around services needed to become employed and independent.
Operating Entity: Utah Department of Human Services, Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps individuals with the most significant disabilities find, learn, and keep a job, including individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, serious mental illness, acquired brain injury and other significant disabilities. The Office of Rehabilitation partners with Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRP), the Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD) and the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) to assist individuals in their employment goals.
Operating Entity: Utah Department of Workforce Services, Office of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Youth Leadership Committee (YLC) is a group of youth with disabilities, ages 16 to 26, who are emerging leaders in the state of Utah. YLC’s mission is to get youth involved in self-advocacy, peer mentoring, and other activities that will improve the quality of life for youth with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Utah Statewide Independent Living Council
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps blind and visually impaired students achieve greater independence through classes like Cane Travel, Braille Literacy, Computers and Adaptive Technology, Home Management, Wood Shop and Needle Arts. Students master skills through completing course curriculum, and engage in group discussions and activities to help them build confidence, gain new experiences, and integrate into society.
Operating Entity: Utah Department of Workforce Services, Office of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program offers numerous Transition Mentoring Events to youth with disabilities. For example, each Transition Mentoring Day introduces students and job seekers with disabilities to workplaces where they can learn about various career opportunities.
Operating Entity: Utah Department of Workforce Services, Office of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This statewide resource offers information and technical services to help people with disabilities acquire and use assistive technology devices. UCAT offers free evaluations to anyone within the state of Utah.
Operating Entity: Utah Department of Workforce Services, Office of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Utah Department of Workforce Services, Office of Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YESS helps transition-age youth ages 16 to 25 successfully transition into adulthood by strengthening their skills and increasing their stability in housing, employment, education, and community living. The program is available in Utah County for those experiencing early psychosis. The program includes a large youth empowerment component, and provides training, mentoring, public speaking, and other opportunities for growth.
Operating Entity: Utah Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The Youth Transition Program helps students with disabilities ages 14 to 22 gain independent living skills to prepare for their transitions out of high school. Topics include life skills, money and time management, looking for and maintaining a job, riding the bus, and reading bus schedules. These skills are taught on location in high school classrooms and post-high school classrooms.
Operating Entity: Utah Independent Living Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program assists high school students, ages 14-24, in transitioning from high school into community life. Services include individual and family advocacy, technical support to special education teachers, and assistance to students and parents with advocacy in facilitating individualized education plans (IEPs). The program also includes a Youth Summer Program, where youth participate in social activities and life skills classes.
Operating Entity: Ability 1st Utah
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Vermont Assistive Technology Program (VATP)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Vermont Legal Aid, Disability Law Project
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides personalized college support for students with learning and social challenges. This includes providing high school students with an introduction to college, and college students with ongoing support. The program consists of an Individualized College Plan, peer mentorship, pre-employment training, self-advocacy training, and more. It is a collaboration between College Steps, high schools, colleges, families, and agencies.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Core Transition Teams increase capacity of high school special education staff, Agency of Human Services (AHS) staff, and community partners at the local level to develop, provide, and manage an effective transition process for students with disabilities. They also coordinates services between multiple agencies.
Operating Entity: Vermont Family Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides financial, medical, and legal information to help Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, late Deafened, and Deaf-Blind people access community resources.
Operating Entity: Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides people with disabilities, family members, and organizations with referrals and information on an array of issues, to help individuals find the resources they need to achieve or maintain their independence.
Operating Entity: Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program offers intensive assistance to youth transitioning to adulthood to help them access and succeed in employment, education, housing, positive relationships, community connections, and independent living. The program is available to youth ages 16 to 21 who are experiencing significant emotional or behavioral challenges that interfere with their potential. It is a collaboration between the Vermont Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Departments of Corrections, Mental Health, and Children and Families.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides paid summer employment to blind and visually impaired youth in a residential setting. It requires students to also secure internships in their local community, in order to make connections and expand their summer experience into year-long career exploration.
Operating Entity: Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 eastern states plus DC and two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Navigating Excellence Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team (NE-PACT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Vermont Family Network
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Peer advocate counselors (PACs) work one-on-one and in groups with individuals with disabilities, to find solutions and improve options for independent living. Together, PACs and peers create independent living plans to reach their goals, which might include budgeting finances, acquiring adaptive equipment, communicating more effectively, or finding a job.
Operating Entity: Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Progressive employment consists of short-term placement opportunities that allow individuals to try out a new work scenario, build valuable skills, and demonstrate their capabilities to employers. Work placement opportunities can include everything from an informational interview and company tour to job shadowing and short-term placements.
Operating Entity: Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Vermont, Inc. (DRVT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides information, training and technical assistance, and support to youth and young adults with disabilities and their families, including transition services to help youth and their families navigate multiple programs and service systems; actively participate in the development of plans for independence; and collaborate with transition professionals. It is a collaborative effort between Parent Centers in nine northeastern states.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
SUCCEED is a post-secondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities or autism. It focuses on education, campus life, career development, and student housing. While enrolled in the program, students receive support from SUCCEED staff and feedback from their peers, professors, and employers.
Operating Entity: Howard Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps individuals with developmental disabilities find and keep employment. Employment specialists help clients find a job that matches their needs and interests; identify the need for training, and work with employers to provide it; adapt the work site; and design the supports needed to do a job. The program provides support for as long as it is needed.
Operating Entity: Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program trains Vermonters with developmental disabilities to be advocates for positive social change. Lessons include steps to be a leader, how to get your point across, and key issues in disability rights. Workshops are comprised of presentations, panels, and interactive exercises.
Operating Entity: State of Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Vermont State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Maine Medical Center, Department of Vocational Services
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL) offers a number of youth transition services including youth group support, a youth advocacy council, and numerous trainings around employment skills, communication skills, confidence and leadership, and more.
Operating Entity: Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Virginia529 / Virginia College Savings Plan
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This taskforce was designed to enhance accessibility of the Virginia Career Works Network and customer service experience, including by incorporating universal design in its planning process. The Taskforce consists of members from a range of state agencies.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
ATLFA provides affordable financing alternatives (loans with below-market interest rates, no down payments, longer repayment terms, etc.) to help make adaptive equipment a possibility for individuals with disabilities who might not otherwise be eligible for borrowing.
Operating Entity: Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Virginia Assistive Technology System (VATS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program uses a team-based model to help individuals on the autism spectrum prepare for the work.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: ServiceSource Virginia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This Center helps people with disabilities become leaders in their communities, by providing information and trainings, including around finding a job.
Operating Entity: Virginia Commonwealth University, Partnership for People with Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
The Center works with families of children with disabilities to increase their skills as advocates, mentors, and leaders. Services take the form of direct service, training, technical assurance, and information dissemination, as well as one-on-one peer support.
Operating Entity: Virginia Commonwealth University, Partnership for People with Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Family Engagement
CTI conducts research and demonstration projects to advance employment outcomes for youth with disabilities and to support the Virginia Department of Education in its efforts. One specific initiative is Start on Success, which has nine sites in the state and is a model transition program that provides selected students with high incidence disabilities with a community-based work experience.
Operating Entity: Virginia Commonwealth University, Partnership for People with Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides personalized college support for students with learning and social challenges. This includes providing high school students with an introduction to college, and college students with ongoing support. The program consists of an Individualized College Plan, peer mentorship, pre-employment training, self-advocacy training, and more. It is a collaboration between College Steps, high schools, colleges, families, and agencies.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Formed Families Forward
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program assists individuals with severe physical and sensory disabilities in building a life of their choosing through self-direction, support, and community resources. Services focus on assistive technology, education, independent living, job training, and more.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Division for Community Living
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deafblind get ready for work, find a job or keep a job. Services include vocational counseling, training, help with assistive technology, resources related to hearing loss, and job placement.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
EDSN serves as an employment agency that helps people with disabilities obtain integrated, competitive employment with a wide range of private sector employers.
Operating Entity: Easterseals DC MD VA
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program assists children and youth who are blind, vision impaired or deafblind succeed in school and transition into the world of work. Information is also provided to families to assist them in navigating the educational system.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Family Engagement, School-Based Prep
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This project focuses on helping youth, especially youth with disabilities, take control in their lives, through direct instruction, models, and opportunities to practice skills associated with self-determined behavior.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department of Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program is offered to middle school-age youth who live in Fairfax County to help promote personal development. It covers topics such as making decisions, communicating effectively, and being assertive.
Operating Entity: Formed Families Forward
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
These services assist individuals with significant disabilities with maintaining employment.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
PERT is a school-to-work transition initiative that includes various assessments, as well as a Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Career Day, a Transition Academy, and a Manufacturing Academy.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center (WWRC)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The Division of Rehabilitation Services works with students, youth, families, schools and community agencies and organizations to provide services that promote successful transitions from school to work and adult life. Services are delivered in collaboration with the Department of Education and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs).
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
PREP is a nine-week introductory program designed to provide clients with introductory exposure to soft skills relating to securing employment, interpersonal interactions, and independent living.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center (WWRC)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides specialized services to female students with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), including a peer mentoring program, individualized case management and vocational rehabilitation, and assistance with job placement and maintenance.
Operating Entity: Virginia Commonwealth University, Partnership for People with Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This project is a model demonstration grant designed to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to live independent, healthy, and fulfilling lives. It uses evidence-based practices to increase knowledge and skills of people with IDD and their families, including around career discovery.
Operating Entity: Virginia Commonwealth University, Partnership for People with Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program is designed to optimize employment outcomes of individuals with vision impairments through assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with disabilities become self-employed, including by helping them develop business plans, cash flow projections, and personal budgets.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides vocational development, placement, and job retention services, primarily in conjunction with 10 Community Services Boards and Behavioral Health Authorities located throughout the Commonwealth.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This group plans statewide trainings to discuss transition and vocational services available to students with disabilities and federal and state regulations related to transition services. It includes representatives from the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, the Department of Education, and the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI).
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides situational assessment, job development, placement and training services, and long-term follow along to help individuals with significant disabilities gain and maintain employment.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides training and technical assistance to Employment Service Organizations related to Customized Employment services for individuals with the most significant disabilities. The Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) collaborates with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and Griffin and Hammis, LLC to provide this support.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program oversees and provides support to the Randolph-Sheppard Program of Virginia, which helps individuals who are legally blind operate vending or cafeteria services within a federally-owned, funded, or leased facilities.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This network was formed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and NAMI Virginia, to help families with children and youth with mental health needs support one another. Specific programs include trainings on mental health conditions, family support groups, parent leadership training, and parent leadership retreats.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This enterprise provides a full range of employment, training, and other vocational services to help people who are blind, visually impaired or deafblind achieve their desired level of employment. VIB currently has operations in twenty-one locations throughout Virginia, and operates two manufacturing facilities.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Council works to promote successful transition outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities by providing leadership and innovation in employment, education, training, independent living, community participation, and community support systems. Members of the Council include state and local agencies and organizations, parents, and youth.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program provides vocational and rehabilitative services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired to help them prepare for, secure, and retain employment. Services include vocational and adjustment counseling; post-secondary school or vocational training; adaptive equipment for training and/or employment; customized and supported employment services; and job placement and follow-up services.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Work Incentives Specialist Advocates (WISA’s) provide work incentives counseling services to Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) clients who are receiving Social Security Disability (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, to help them understand how their benefits may change once they go to work.
Operating Entity: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YET empowers Virginia students with disabilities, ages 14-22, as they begin their transition from high school to adulthood. Through the Council, youth learn self-advocacy and leadership skills.
Operating Entity: Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
YLA is a summer program, set on a university campus, which seeks to empower young people with developmental and other disabilities to further develop their leadership skills. Students participate in a range of activities and learning experiences.
Operating Entity: Virginia Board for People with Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
YLF seeks to empower young people with developmental and other disabilities to further develop their leadership skills. Students participate in a wide range of activities and learning experiences during this summer program set on a university campus.
Operating Entity: Virginia Board for People with Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps youth and young adults with mental health conditions develop self-empowerment and self-advocacy skills. Programs include youth groups, youth leadership trainings, and young adult leadership retreats. The program is a collaboration between the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and NAMI Virginia.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program trains youth with disabilities on topics related to transition, employment, and self-determination.
Operating Entity: Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This internship program gives students with disabilities from seven school districts in South King County and Pierce County the opportunity to gain practical work experience in aerospace manufacturing and finishing while earning credit toward their high school diplomas. In addition to receiving one-on-one training, mentoring and personalized instruction, interns learn life skills like punctuality, teamwork, and receiving and carrying out directions.
Operating Entity: Skills Incorporated
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: University of Washington, Center on Human Development and Disability (CHDD)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides free benefits planning for individuals with developmental disabilities to help them understand the impact of work on their various benefits (including cash, medical, housing, personal care services, and food benefits).
Operating Entity: The Arc of Washington State
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Washington State Department of Services for the Blind (DSB)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Washington State Client Assistance Program
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Open Doors for Multicultural Families
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
CEP assists people with disabilities who need to work part-time in finding and maintaining work. Participants work in various positions, from janitorial and administrative to quality-assurance and production, and receive in-depth training, job coaching, access to a benefits specialist, and ongoing support.
Operating Entity: Skills Incorporated
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides support to people with disabilities to enhance their employability. Services include employment preparation, volunteer work, and one-to-one support.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Washington
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired in developing and refining skills that will enhance their ability to enter and maintain employment. Counseling activities may include assessments to determine a person’s strengths and support needs as related to a job – from technology use to activities of daily living – and then creating a training plan.
Operating Entity: Washington State Department of Services for the Blind (DSB)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This provides various services to individuals with developmental disabilities, including information and referral, complaint resolution, monitoring of services, and more.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Washington, Office of Developmental Disabilities Ombuds
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provide culturally and linguistically appropriate information about transition to adult services, post-secondary resources and services for culturally and linguistically diverse youth with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families.
Operating Entity: Opening Doors
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 11 western states plus two territories. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: PEAK Parent Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment (PAVE)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This one-on-one matching program pairs parents of youth with disabilities to volunteer parents who offer emotional support, information and referrals to community resources, and more.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Washington State
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Family Engagement
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Washington
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This youth transition program connects students with disabilities to a job coach who works with them, their school, their parents, and the Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation on their employment goals. The job coach will work with the individual on job hunting, resume and interview skills, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program trains and educates self-advocates throughout the state and supports the goal of independence, productivity, self-determination, and integration into the community.
Operating Entity: Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This clinic assists multicultural families in resolving complex special education challenges. Services are provided in family’s first language, when possible. The program is a collaboration between the Office of Education Ombuds (OEO) and Open Doors for Multicultural Families.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Family Engagement
Student trainers help peers with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn how to set up and run their own clubs in the high school setting that will allow them to develop their leadership skills and demonstrate the importance of self-advocacy and self-determination.
Operating Entity: People First of Washington
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program advocates for the provision of accommodations, services, treatment, and technology for individuals with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Washington
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides customized trainings and technical assistance to Washington State’s Developmental Disabilities Administration, county developmental disability programs, and supported employment agencies to promote employment for Washingtonians who experience developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Operating Entity: Wise
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides specialized rehabilitation training and technical assistance in Washington and other states, including to state and community-based rehabilitation professionals, organizations and businesses, educators, and schools, as well as people with disabilities and their families.
Operating Entity: University of Washington, Center for Continuing Education in Rehabilitation (CCER)
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports competitive employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct services include job development, job placement, job training, and continued employment support. Other activities include assessment and career exploration for youth with disabilities.
Operating Entity: University of Washington, Center on Human Development and Disability (CHDD)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program offers a wide range of employment services for individuals with disabilities, including community-based assessments, internships, job placement, and job coaching.
Operating Entity: Skills Incorporated
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Washington State Department of Commerce
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This intensive four-week summer program provides culturally and linguistically diverse youth and young adults with disabilities ages 16-21 with pre-employment skills and college exploration opportunities. Participants learn skills such as résumé building and budgeting, practice mock interviews, learn about on-the-job etiquette, and learn how to ask for accommodations. Participants also take hands-on field trips to job sites or local college programs.
Operating Entity: Open Doors for Multicultural Families
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
YLF is a six-day, five-night program for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities. Participants cultivate their potential leadership, citizenship, and social skills.
Operating Entity: Washington Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps students who are blind or visually impaired, as well as their families, think about and plan for life after high school. Counselors assist with transition by connecting students to part-time employment and internships, providing information regarding available services, participating in individualized education program meetings, and more.
Operating Entity: Washington State Department of Services for the Blind (DSB)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides culturally and linguistically diverse families of students ages 14-21 with special needs with the information they need to smoothly and effectively make the transition from high school to adult life. The program produces resources guides and provides educational outreach to families on youth transition. Services are provided in the family’s first language, when possible.
Operating Entity: Open Doors for Multicultural Families
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: West Virginia University, Center for Excellence in Disabilities, West Virginia Assistive Technology System (WVATS)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with low vision prepare for and obtain a Class G driver’s license, which allows them to drive during daylight hours using a bioptic lens system.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights West Virginia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program offer individuals with disabilities job coaching, direct placement services, life skills training, and work skills development services to assist them in finding and maintaining employment.
Operating Entity: West Virginia University, Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program offers a range of employment services for individuals with disabilities, such as a work-based learning experience program, supported employment and job coaching, and school to work transition services.
Operating Entity: Mountain State Centers for Independent Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program offers a range of supports and services to help individuals with significant vision loss work and live independently, including assistive audio devices, braille instruction, computer literacy and access technology, and vision utilization training.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities develop a variety of independent living skills, such as using assistive technology, navigating transportation, transitioning from school, managing money, and searching for work.
Operating Entity: Appalachian Center for Independent Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program assists individuals from birth to 21 years old who have neurodevelopmental and autism spectrum disorders and who are encountering a problem with transition, are having school system issues, or who are in need of help with coordinating their care. The program translates the child’s diagnosis into a “Life Plan” that supports parents and educational programs.
Operating Entity: West Virginia University, Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Parent Training and Information
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program assists individuals with developmental disabilities in developing leadership skills and becoming knowledgeable, confident, and effective advocates. Training topics include self-determination, employment, IEP development and advocacy, inclusive education, and more.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program provides person-centered planning to individuals with disabilities, through an interactive eight-step process that helps participants develop goals and create an action plan for achieving their goals and increasing their quality of life.
Operating Entity: West Virginia University, Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights West Virginia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides assistance to deaf, blind, and deaf-blind students to foster independence and self-determination, independent decision-making, and self-advocacy skills
Operating Entity: West Virginia Department of Education, West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep, Youth Development & Leadership
SPOKES is an academic and job preparation skills program providing a range of services, and includes a cycle of modules related to job readiness, work process skills, technology skills, work-related academics, and vocational training in customer service. It is a collaboration between the West Virginia Departments of Education and Health and Human Resources. The Division of Rehabilitation Services works within this partnership to increase efforts to reach potential Vocational Rehabilitation consumers being served by the SPOKES program.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program is designed to connect individuals with disabilities to assistive technology.
Operating Entity: The Arc Mid Ohio Valley
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program assists youth with significant disabilities in transitioning to post-secondary life. Services include trainings around self-determination, job preparedness, IEP rights and responsibilities, and independent living.
Operating Entity: Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program supports youth with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment, including through vocational evaluation and planning, career counseling and guidance, work-related training and education, job coaching, supported employment, on-the-job training, and more.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program brings together employers, employees/job seekers, and community agencies to explore best practices around helping individuals with disabilities gain and retain employment. Topics include Transition to Higher Education, Transition to Vocational Training, Preparing Employers, and Preparing Employees.
Operating Entity: West Virginia University, Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This program assists youth with disabilities in their transitions to post-school life through services related to job preparedness, independent living, and IEPs.
Operating Entity: Appalachian Center for Independent Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
WVU Country Roads is a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. It provides students an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in campus life.
Operating Entity: West Virginia University
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program serves as a central source for families of children and adults with disabilities to obtain support and information about advocating for services and working effectively with professionals in providing family-centered, coordinated care.
Operating Entity: West Virginia University, Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Family Engagement
YLF is a statewide training and leadership development event for high school juniors and seniors and college freshmen with disabilities who are transitioning to adulthood.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: West Virginia University, Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Wisconsin’s Assistive Technology Program (WisTech)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program serves people receiving services for developmental disability, mental health, and substance use, and works to promote and consult on client rights.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Client Rights Office
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps ensure underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children who are English learners, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children.
Operating Entity: Alianza Latina Aplicando Soluciones (ALAS)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This behavioral support program serves children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities and their families, to address behavioral, psychological, and emotional needs to facilitate participation in supported community life. Services include crisis response, psychiatric care and consultation, and an Adaptation & Modification program to create safe and appropriate home and work environments.
Operating Entity: University of Wisconsin, Waisman Center
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program seeks to increase the knowledge and engagement of families to take a more active role in the education of their children with disabilities. It is a collaboration between WI FACETS and school districts throughout the state.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program works with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the Department of Health Services (DHS) to help students transition from school to the world of work and community services. This includes providing Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) beginning as early as age 14.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These programs help people with developmental disabilities maintain, improve, and grow their skills, including in the areas of work, daily living, education, and more. Facilities are operated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, county governments, and non-profits.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This project provides partial scholarships to select graduate students enrolled in the MS in clinical mental health counseling with clinical rehabilitation counseling specialization.
Operating Entity: Marquette University, College of Education
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps people with mental illness find and keep jobs, through a rapid job search, time-unlimited job support, and benefits counseling. Services are provided in 21 counties through ten employment agencies.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program works with state agency departments to target and increase paid on the job training (OJT) limited term employment (LTE) internship opportunities for job seekers with disabilities. It also helps interns develop valuable experiences and references to prepare them to compete for LTE or permanent state agency positions.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program assists individuals with disabilities in accessing necessary services and supports, including Disability Benefits, Drug Benefits and Medicare Part D, and SSI Managed Care programs.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program links parents whose children who have social, emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges with trained parent peer specialists (PPSs), who help families navigate relevant systems.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Family Ties (WFT)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a range of training and skill building opportunities to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, including around orientation and mobility, daily living, communication, counseling and vocational exploration, adjustment, and social skills.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
These services help people with disabilities develop and pursue self-employment opportunities, in the form of one-on-one assistance to evaluate business ideas, identify opportunities, develop business plans, and understand funding alternatives.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Wisconsin
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides training and technical assistance on a wide variety of special education topics, to support Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), parents, and students with disabilities. Topics include evaluation, educational placements, parental involvement, transition goals, post-school outcomes, and more.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Special Education Team
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
These groups meet to improve transition services for students in their local communities, through relationship-building and the sharing of best practices. Each CCoT consists of individuals from local schools, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, service provider agencies, long-term support agencies, Aging and Disability Resources Centers (ADRCs), parents, and employers.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This online learning program helps people with disabilities increase their leadership, self-determination, and self-advocacy skills, and improve their well-being.
Operating Entity: The Arc Wisconsin
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps individuals with intellectual disabilities access college. It includes transition-based programs, which are developed between school districts and local technical colleges or universities to provide access to college courses, job opportunities, and campus activities for individuals with disabilities. It also includes Adult Learner Options, for individuals who have finished high school and no longer receive transition services from their school district.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program offers financial assistance of up to $5,000 per year to assist individuals with disabilities with the costs of postsecondary education tuition. The program also makes referrals to technical college Career Pathways programs and to adult and youth apprenticeship programs.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides statewide technical assistance and professional development to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and teachers in the area of postsecondary transition planning, to improve post-school outcomes for students with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Special Education Team
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides funding to school districts and charter schools to support the successful transition from high school for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), including through transportation options, Competitive Integrated Employment Training Programs, post-secondary tuition and supports for students, and transition training for staff members.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Special Education Team
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) provides disability awareness training to all WIOA partners at WIOA Roundtables. This includes an overview of accessibility, the DVR talent pool, innovative business services, and other topics related to customer service for individuals with disabilities seeking employment.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
REDI is a 4-week, paid in-store training program that aims to help individuals with disabilities gain retail and customer service skills. The program is implemented in collaboration between Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Walgreens.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This group brings stakeholders together to improve outcomes for students with disabilities through interagency collaboration. Participants include state agencies, WI FACETS, the University of Wisconsin Waisman Center, Wisconsin Technical Colleges, and parents.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
This week-long forum teaches high school students with disabilities about leadership, self-advocacy skills, and career awareness.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Employment Resources, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YiPPE is a group of youth and their parents who meet multiple times a year to learn about and plan for transitions to adulthood. Parents and youth engage in parallel but tailored programming that includes hearing from speakers and participating in hands-on activities.
Operating Entity: University of Wisconsin, Waisman Center
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Youth Development & Leadership
These services are designed to alleviate behavioral and emotional challenges and are provided in a non-residential setting. Services include vocational services, social work services, counseling, and more, and are offered at a variety of non-residential settings across the state.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This week-long summer program serves Milwaukee and surrounding area high school students with disabilities, to help them learn independent living topics related to conflict resolution, college and employment issues, money management, disability rights, and more.
Operating Entity: Wisconsin FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: University of Wyoming, Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND), Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources (WATR)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Protection and Advocacy System, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program works to ensure that all students in Wyoming who are deaf-blind receive the appropriate support and tools they need to become contributing members of their community. It provides technical assistance, resources, and training to educators, service providers, and families.
Operating Entity: Wyoming Department of Education, Special Education Programs Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides families of individuals with disabilities with support, resources, and communities. Families are paired with mentors to discuss important issues regarding their family member with disabilities, locate community resources, and receive support at meetings and appointments.
Operating Entity: University of Wyoming, Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Family Engagement
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Parents Helping Parents of Wyoming
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Protection and Advocacy System, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program promotes equity in Career and Technical Education (CTE) by focusing on the recruitment and retention of special populations (including special needs students) to prepare them for high-skill, high-wage, and high-need employment.
Operating Entity: Wyoming Department of Education
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides various employment services to individuals with disabilities, including counseling, job search, referrals, placement assistance, job retention follow-ups, training services, transportation services, assistive technology, self-employment opportunities, Supported Employment Services, and more.
Operating Entity: Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Division
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Wyoming Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Ability Connection Colorado
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: —
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project