Nebraska VR Services Janet Drudik

Janet.drudik@nebraska.gov

(402) 484-1908

Objective

Explanation of the process Nebraska VR uses while working with a student

Discuss the importance of the school information within the VR process

Share other activities that are going on and involve transition

Partnerships

Nebraska Department of Education - Office of Special Education and Nebraska VR have an Interagency Agreement for VR to provide transition services. The agreement is signed by the Directors from each agency.

Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) monitors our interagency agreement and the services that we provide to students

Transition Services

Partner with Nebraska High Schools Referral made to VR

Transition from High School to Career

Focus on Juniors and Seniors

• Work with Freshmen and Sophomores is possible in specific cases

The Student must be willing to participate

Referral•Enter into QE2 right away

Contact with Student and Family•10 days

VR Application and Release•Student and Parent Signature

Eligibility•MDT Report•Medical paperwork

•60 Days

Job Planning•Evaluation Resources from the School

•Career Scope, Compass, Refer to Evaluation

IPE•Training•Post Secondary

•Project Search

•Certificate Program

Placement• Job Search•Employment follow-up

Transition Services Timeline

Referral

Special Education Staff

School Counselor

School Nurse

Teachers

Parents

Other referral sources Doctor, Probation Officer,

Parent, Friend, etc

Referral Sources

Client C

ontact

Contact with Student Outreach at the high schools

Contact the client within 10 days of the referral to schedule an appointment to meet

Mail, email, phone, and create a task note

Include the parents

Gauge the clients interest

Start the process for application and release

Applicatio

n and

Release

Application and Release

Application Client and parent/guardian must sign unless the student is 19 Eligibility and VR services cannot start without a completed

application If the parent is not involved, complete a parent waiver form

Release Receive all the releases that you will need to continue to work

with the client

Eligibilit

y

Eligibility Program

Disability / Impairment Cognitive, Emotional, Physical Diagnosis from a Licensed

Professional

Impediment to employment

Benefit from VR Services

Requires VR Services

Voluntary Program

The student must be willing to participate with VR.

VR uses informed choice

EligibilityFrom a Licensed Professional that can diagnose

Multidisciplinary Team Report (MDT) Must be signed by a School Psychologist Individual Educational Plan (IEP) alone cannot be used for

eligibility since it is not signed by the School Psychologist, but will be necessary for eligibility in QE2 and career planning

Doctor

Psychologist

• Autism (AU)

• Behavior Disorder (BD)

• Deaf-Blindness (DB)

• Hearing Impairment (HI)

• Mental Handicap (MH)

• Mild (MH:MI)

IQ 50-75

• Moderate (MH:MO)

IQ 35-55

• Severe/Profound (MH:S/P)

IQ 35 and below

• Multiple Impairments (MULTI)

• Orthopedic Impairment (OI)

• Other Health Impairment (OHI)

• Specific Learning Disability (SLD)

• Speech-Language Impairment (SLI)

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Visual Impairment including Blindness (VI)

Special Education Services (Rule 51, pg. 24)

Hearing and Visual ImpairmentsVR has requirements for eligibility on the basis of a hearing loss.

If a student is identified blind or visually impaired, VR will refer to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. If the student is not eligibility for services with the commission, VR can continue the process of working with a student.

The Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Nebraska VR have created a Memorandum of Understanding

504 Plan

VR can work with students that experience a disability, but do not receive special education services.

A student with a 504 plan is an example of a student that could be referred to VR if they experienced an impairment.

Job P

lanning

Job PlanningTools available from the school Interest inventories, learning styles testing, etc

Scheduled events at the school ACT testing, Compass testing, etc.

Vocational Evaluation with VR

IPE

Individual Plan for EmploymentIPE and the IEP

• IEP is the school, IPE is Nebraska VR

• VR uses the IEP to help develop the IPE

Complete by Exit of Educational Setting (Graduation)

• It is our goal to complete the IPE by graduation, but there are times that this is not possible (plans change, late referral, pending information).

IPEEmployment

Is employment the best fit for now

What can VR do to help the student achieve employment for their life after graduation.

Post Secondary Training

Emphasize that college is training for a Job

• Interest

• Aptitude

• Financial Factors

• Vocational Evaluation

• Labor market information

• Education Quest

Development Disability Services

Is the student and family planning to apply for DD Services

• Nebraska VR and DD Services are separate agencies and it is important for VR to allow the family to work directly with DD Services.

Is the student and family planning to participate in a 18 to 21 year old program through the school

VR works to consider where we fit and can be the most helpful to the student and their family?

School in

formatio

n

helpful to V

R

How Schools can helpOutreach

Referrals

Evaluation information

School testing dates

Help with developing a relationship with the family

Information for VR eligibility and planning MDT and IEP

Other Tra

nsition

Activit

ies

Other Transition Activities

Nebraska Youth Leadership Councils (NYLC)

Juvenile Justice Referrals (Probation and YRTC’s)

State DD Planning Council

Out of Home Placements Committee

Nebraska Children Commission Juvenile Services Committee

What to

take

away fro

m this

informatio

n

How we help People

Prepare for a job

Get a Job

Keep a job

VR advocates for Clients

What we need from ClientsMedical verification of an impairment Licensed Professional that can Diagnose

Be prepared to go to work

Actively participate with VR

A willingness to learn

Contact with VR during the process

How VR is UniqueVR Services

Vocational (Employment)

Rehabilitation (Self-sufficiency)

Voluntary Program

Eligibility Program

Career Orientated

Other Resources

Therapeutic Counseling, Food, Housing

Long-term services

Varied Participation requirements

Varied Eligibility requirements

Job Service Program

Office Locations

• Columbus

• Fremont

• Grand Island

• Kearney

• Lincoln

• Norfolk

• North Platte

• Omaha

• Scottsbluff

• South Sioux City

Questions Thank you