Career Exploration and Employability Skills Program
The VR Transition Counselor should work with the classroom teacher to implement a career exploration curriculum for students with disabilities including students who are participating in an occupational diploma course of study. Any student with a disability may participate in the career exploration program including those who are not VR clients. Each student should sign the roster when participating in the Career Exploration and Employability Skills Program. The column listed, "other students'', should be signed by participants that are not VR clients.
The VR Transition Counselor is prepared to teach the curriculum and will do so as agreed upon with school personnel. In addition to being prepared to teach the curriculum, the counselor will provide the classroom teacher with information, technical assistance, and/or Career Exploration and Employability Skills Program curriculum materials as needed.
The VR Transition Counselor should document the students progress in AACE case notes. Case notes should show progress in various areas of performance as described on the student's IPE. The VR Transition Counselor should provide the classroom teacher a report of the student's participation and progress in the Career Exploration and Employability Skills Program on a regular basis.
Transition Specialist Program
MDRS and the local school district may enter into a Cooperative Agreement to jointly fund a Transition Specialist position to ensure a smoother transition of services between the school and VR. The Transition Specialist will provide services to selected secondary students with disabilities who are (a) in their exiting year of school, (b) in transition from school to work and community and, (c) eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. The addition of school-based transition services is intended to add a component to the overall school and rehabilitation service continuum, not supplant any existing employment-related or other services which are potentially appropriate for a particular student (any service the school is already responsible for providing). The Transition Specialist will not serve students who with or without modifications can benefit from existing school programs (career/technical and educational training programs, vocational education, etc.). The intended target student populations for receipt of services from the Transition Specialist are students who are (1) in their exiting year of school, (2) clients of vocational rehabilitation, and (3) require services that are more intensive.
The Transition Specialist will develop permanent jobs for students within the community and will provide temporary job-related support activities that are necessary to obtain and maintain employment. The Transition Specialist will coordinate all activities with, and provide monthly reports to the VR Transition Counselor as well as school personnel. The VR Counselor will provide program coordination and technical assistance as needed by the Transition Specialist, as well as providing oversight of the agreement for the position with the school.
32 Miss. Code. R. 22-3.17.4