Narrative: d. 2. A.

DVR continues to monitor and implement the state–level agreement between DVR and CDE. This agreement promotes flexible and collaborative planning and service delivery among DVR, local education agencies, local school districts, and other state and community agencies for youth who are transitioning from school to work and/or post–school activities which lead to employment. The agreement promotes accessible, timely and uniform vocational rehabilitation services for all Colorado students who have a disability and require vocational rehabilitation services. Additionally, the agreement encourages education agencies to develop, implement and promote pre–vocational services and career exploration for students with disabilities prior to their referral to DVR for services. Finally, the agreement assures that vocational rehabilitation services complement the transition services provided by education agencies and that the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) for students who are eligible for vocational rehabilitation services will be developed and approved before these students leave the school setting (or if Colorado DVR is operating under an order of selection, before each eligible student able to be served under the order leaves the school setting). The key tenets of the agreement have been developed into a desktop guide, updated annually and entitled the “CDE/DVR Cooperative Services Handbook for Youth in Transition". Thousands of these handbooks are distributed each year to youth, parents, educators, rehabilitation counselors and community–based agency providers.

Currently, DVR is partnering with CDE to update the interagency agreement and the accompanying handbook. The update will incorporate changes within WIOA and vocational rehabilitation regulation, upon their finalization. Once complete, the interagency agreement will guide local interagency operating procedures.

A. consultation and technical assistance to assist educational agencies in planning for the transition of students with disabilities from school to post–school activities, including VR services

Through collaboration with education officials, DVR provides consultation and technical assistance to assist educators, as early as possible in the transition process, in the planning and provision of services that facilitate the movement of students with disabilities from school to post–school activities.

Time was spent this year mediating partnerships at the local level between DVR and districts/BOCES due to a high number of staff turnover, lost connections and frustration with the DVR wait list. Focused training in a number of areas of the state included cross training. Training will continue to be a priority as DVR and CDE work with local partnerships to identify promising practices that can be replicated statewide to promote pre–employment transition services and skills for students. Pre–employment transition services will expand on work experience opportunities. Additionally, services to groups of students with disabilities will be considered as a mechanism for the delivery of pre–employment transition services.

DVR plays an integral role in annual institutes facilitated by CDE for local secondary education teams. The intent of DVR’s involvement with the institutes is to elevate awareness and expand DVR’s presence within education. The purpose of the institutes is to improve the quality of services in the area of secondary special education and transition at the local level through knowledge, capacity building, dissemination and outreach. The institutes, and the action plans which result from them, are supported and overseen by the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT). Institute efforts focus on improving indicator outcomes that lead to effective transition practices for youth with disabilities both at the state and local levels. DVR commits content experts, presenters, DVR counselors, and technical assistance to local institute teams.

This year, CDE took the lead in assembling a new group of agencies and stakeholders who have an interest in serving transition age youth. DVR is an active partner in this endeavor. Colorado’s Transition Community of Practice (CoP) was a result of a recent NSTACC gathering and recommendation. This group is formulating goals and objectives and is working to incorporate components of WIOA. The CoP has extended invitations to representatives from WIOA core partners.