Narrative: d. 2. G. ii.

Beginning in 2015, ARS has partnered with the National Apprenticeship Training Foundation (NATF) and the Arkansas Apprenticeship Coalition to provide pre-employment training, job development, and placement for ARS consumers. In addition, NATF is working with Arkansas Career Technical Institute (ACTI) to develop a week-long pre-apprenticeship training program that includes interviewing with employers for both placement and for feedback for those needing additional training or vocational rehabilitation services. The pre-apprenticeship competencies include employer expectations, employee responsibilities, team building, workplace safety; workplace scenarios; and interview techniques. Throughout this program, trainers from business and industry ensure the curriculum and training aligns with the standards of registered apprenticeships. In light of the conversion of ACTI to a non-residential model, pre-apprenticeship training may occur at Community Rehabilitation Programs across Arkansas, as well as at ACTI on a non-residential basis. The first cohort of ACTI students completed the pre-apprenticeship training in September 2016. In this group of 20, 19 successfully completed the training. To date we have the following outcomes for those completing the training. Seventy-four percent (14/19) are employed. Fifty-three (10/19) percent are employed in the skilled trades, and one of the program completers is making over $60,000 per year. At the end of FFY 2017, over 40 ARS clients have completed pre-apprenticeship training at ACTI. Beginning in the second quarter of FFY 2018, a new delivery method for pre-apprenticeship will be implemented. This will stretch the training over a month and allow it to be co-curricular with the training programs at ACTI. Access and Accommodations provides assistive technology assessments and presentations, expertise and assistance to students, therapists, educators, and employers seeking to provide school and workplace accommodations. ARS, in collaboration with Increasing Capabilities Access Network (ICAN, State AT Program) and community partners, provides assistive technology training, demonstrations, and loans as it relates to transition to school or work. ARS will continue to pursue opportunities currently under development with CRPs around the state to provide pre-employment transition services and other transition services for students living with a disability. ARS will collaborate with employers by fostering integrated systems, coordinating services, and providing career pathways for adults and youth/students with disabilities. ARS will collaborate with secondary education institutions to coordinate partnerships with employers to provide summer and non-seasonal employment, apprenticeship programs, and internships for students with significant disabilities. ACTI works directly with potential employers to provide internship sites for students nearing the completion of their training programs; all of whom have significant disabilities. In FFY 2017, 25 employers provided 221 paid and non-paid internship and work-based learning opportunities. Supervisors from the businesses provided weekly feedback on the interns’ quality of work and the students are graded based on the measures included on the employer feedback form. This allowed ACTI students to receive 6,603 hours of experience working for employers in the Hot Springs area. Additionally, ACTI offers internship opportunities at ACTI to prepare students with significant disabilities for employment opportunities available in the Hot Springs area. Field Services and business relations representatives will continue to work with employers to identify competitive integrated employment opportunities for students with disabilities, including internships as part of the Transition Employment Program (TEP).