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OVR to work on Pre-Employment Transition Services
The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation is now working on its Pre-Employment Transition Services, commonly referred to as Pre-ETS, which is intended to help students with disabilities by enabling them to avail of vocational rehabilitation services.
According to OVR director Maryann Borja Arriola, the OVR is looking to continue its Pre-ETS program with the Public School System’s special education program, as it is required by the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act.
This act was signed into law in July 2014 and it requires public vocational rehabilitation programs to reserve 15% of its Title I federal funds to provide Pre-ETS, which is provided to students with disabilities who are eligible or potentially eligible for vocational rehabilitation services.
The WIOA definition of a “student with a disability” is: an individual with a disability in a secondary, postsecondary, or other recognized education program who is between 16 and 21 years old, is eligible for and receiving special education or related services under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or is an individual with a disability, for purposes of section 504.
Arriola said that Pre-ETS is intended to help students begin to identify career interests and to learn skills in preparation for their transition to employment and/or postsecondary education. “The OVR will make every effort to provide to help out these students,” she said.
Pre-ETS is mandated to conduct job exploration counseling, provide work-based learning experiences, provide counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or secondary education program, provide workplace readiness training to develop social skills and independent living, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Arriola said that OVR is looking for a Pre-ETS coordinator and have a job vacancy announcement at the Office of Personnel Management.
For more information about the Pre-ETS, contact OVR at (670) 322-6537/8 or send an email to nmidir@ovrgov.net.
