Narrative: d. 1.

Transition services provide eligible or potentially eligible students with disabilities the knowledge, skills and opportunities to make a successful transition to postsecondary education/training, independent living and competitive integrated employment based on their educational and career goals.

MVR, in collaboration with DESE’s Office of Special Education and local education agencies, will provide or arrange for the provision of pre-employment transition services in the areas of job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, counseling on opportunities for post-secondary education/training, workplace readiness training, and self-advocacy, including peer mentoring, for all students in need of such services who are eligible or potentially eligible for VR services.

Each local MVR district office will also participate in pre-employment transition coordination with the local education agency to include attending IEP meetings when invited, using conference calls and video conferences, when necessary; working with local workforce development entities and employers to develop work opportunities for students with disabilities; coordinating pre-employment transition services with transition services provided in accordance with IDEA; and, when invited, attending person-centered planning meetings for youth receiving services under Title IX of the Social Security Act. To effectively coordinate these services, MVR:

• conducted statewide training to include guidance regarding IEP participation for all MVR staff that serve students in Missouri high schools;

• worked in partnership with the Parent Advocacy Coalition Educational Rights Center to develop a video introducing VR services that can be shown at IEP meetings;

• conducted cross training on services to youth with local job center staff and MVR staff in Kansas City and St. Louis, the two largest metropolitan areas of the state;

• invited special education personnel to train new MVR counselors on transition services within the IEP;

• provided cross training with local CILs to include information regarding benefits planning; and

• is currently working in collaboration with DMH’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DD) to provide cross training with MVR counselors and DD support coordinators regarding their respective services.

To deliver pre-employment transition services, MVR developed two summer projects, which include a six week paid summer work experience, one for VR eligible students with disabilities in partnership with CRPs and a project with CILs for students with disabilities who are eligible or potentially eligible for VR. MVR collaborated with businesses and school districts to provide services in these projects.

In addition, MVR is contracting with the University of Missouri, College of Education, to provide assistance with the provision of pre-employment transition services. The University hired 37 transition specialists located across the state, who are certified teachers and can go into the classroom, to collaborate with local education agencies and MVR to provide pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities who are potentially eligible for VR services. Six of the 37 provide pre-employment transition services in the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled.

MVR is also working with Wonderland Camp, an educational camp for children, teenagers and adults who have disabilities, to provide internship opportunities for both students and youth with disabilities. This past year, MVR sponsored students and youth with disabilities to participate in a week long Missouri Youth Leadership Forum, developed by the Governor’s Council on Disability, that focuses on leadership, citizenship, and social and career development skills. The agency also covered the costs for students with disabilities to participate in the Kansas City Summer Transportation Institute, which is designed to increase the number of students with disabilities pursuing transportation-related careers. MVR is utilizing its business outreach specialists to work with employers on creating work experiences for youth and students with disabilities. And, it is collaborating with its WIOA partners in providing seamless, coordinated services to youth and students with disabilities.

MVR has a policy that outlines transition activities and services including the timely development and approval of an individualized plan for employment (IPE) for each eligible student prior to leaving high school. MVR will provide for the development of the IPE as early as possible during the transition planning process, but, at least, by the time the eligible student leaves the school setting. The IPE will include specific transition services or pre-employment transition services and supports needed for an eligible student with a disability or a youth with a disability, including youth with the most significant disabilities, to achieve an employment outcome or projected post-school employment outcome. An IPE is required to be developed in consideration of the IEP of a student with a disability under IDEA or a student’s Section 504 services.