Narrative: d. 1.

The designated state unit's plans, policies, and procedures for coordination with education officials to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities from school to the receipt of VR services, including pre-employment transition services, as well as procedures for the timely development and approval of individualized plans for employment for the students.

DSB has agreed with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services for students with a disability beginning at age 16 through the age of 21.  Students with a disability who are eligible for VR services will receive their Pre ETS services through their Individualized Plan for Employment.

DSB has a cooperative agreement with the Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education, regarding transition services to students who are blind or severely visually impaired and are in public schools, including Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ASBVI). The interagency agreement with the Department of Education outlines the roles and responsibilities, financial responsibility, determination of lead agency, and qualified personnel.

DSB also has cooperative agreements with Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Arkansas School for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired, Educational Services for the Visually Impaired (ESVI), and 33 Institutions of Higher Education.

DSB is a charter member in the Arkansas Interagency Transition Partnership (AITP), which coordinates transition services and discusses related issues. AITP has representatives from agencies and organizations including, but not limited to, Arkansas Transition Services (ATS), Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS), Arkansas Transition Program (ATP), Department of Human Services (DHS), DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS), DSB, parent centers, the private sector, and public and private schools. AITP involves transition agencies and organizations at a state level through quarterly meetings and shares information through its website. AITP held a Summer Agency Connections conference in the summer of 2018 in Little Rock and sponsors bi-annual Transition Summits.

DSB sends representatives to these conferences and will continue to participate in 2020-2023. As a part of AITP at the local level, DSB reaches out to Local Education Area Supervisors in the school districts across the State to strengthen the relationship between the Department of Special Education and DSB. Each DSB regional office maintains a contact list for all secondary schools in its service area and regularly sends information by mail and email to contacts on the list. As part of AITP and the initiative to reach as many participants as possible under pre-employment transition services, DSB is reaching out to each Local Education Area Supervisor in the school districts across the State and each high school across the State to give presentations/information on services available under pre-employment transition services. DSB has seven designated pre-employment transition services counselors and one Pre-ETS Area Manager to reach participants throughout the state.

DSB Transition Counselors assist participants in developing Individual Plans for Employment (IPE’s) before students determined to be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services leave the school setting.

In regard to the development and approval of IPE’s, all DSB participants, including transition students, receive services based upon their IPE. The counselor and the participant and/or a representative, as appropriate, develop the IPE jointly and mutually approve its contents. The IPE must be designed to achieve the specific employment outcome chosen by the individual and be consistent with the individual’s unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, career interests, and informed choice. The services, service providers, and all activities selected by the participant must be necessary to meet the employment outcome goal. The VR Counselor communicates with the participant and other service providers, such as ARS, to avoid duplication of services and to ensure consideration of comparable benefits, where applicable.

Potentially Eligible consumers are those students with a disability that have not applied and been determined eligible for the VR program.  Once a student has been determined ineligible for VR services, they no longer qualify to receive Pre-ETS because they are no longer considered potentially eligible.  A consumer who is determined eligible for VR services would receive their Pre-ETS services under the VR Case Type. 

Secondary schools invite DSB to their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings to be part of the planning team to assist education agencies in preparing students who are blind or severely visually impaired for transition from school to post-school activities, such as employment, training, supported employment, and other VR services. The IEP outlines the roles and responsibilities of DSB, the student, the school, and any other agency/organization involved in providing transition services.

In June of each year, DSB conducts Jump Start, a statewide career development program for high school students age 16 to graduation who are blind or severely visually impaired. Thirty (30) students from across the state are accepted into the program each year. DSB coordinates with the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ASBVI) in the planning and operation of Jump Start. ASBVI holds its summer learning program for youth under age 16 at the same time that DSB has Jump Start for high school students, so the two agencies share cafeteria staff, infirmary nurses, and security guards, and at least one ASBVI staff member is assigned to assist during Jump Start. DSB houses the students at ASBVI during the week (students go home on weekends). This three-week program exposes Jump Start students to the world of work and assisted them in transitioning from high school to competitive integrated employment or post-secondary education. Students were placed in part-time jobs appropriate for their skills, abilities, and interests. They worked in the mornings and during the afternoons and evenings participate in educational and recreational activities. Students learned independent living and job readiness skills; computer technology; and, if needed, orientation and mobility skills. Jump Start increases the students’ confidence, social skills, and self—esteem. It also strengthens DSB’s relationship with ASBVI.

DSB has an RSA-approved agreement with the Department of Education/Special Education, which provides information on financial responsibilities, the lead agency, and qualified personnel. DSB participates in monthly conference calls with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services to ensure transparent fiscal monitoring and oversight of the Pre-ETS funds allocated to the State of Arkansas.

Each DSB regional office maintains a contact list for all secondary schools in its service area and sends letters, emails and information to contacts on the list. This process gives schools a pathway for increased communications with DSB.  DSB Pre-ETS counselors continue to make face to face visits to all schools across the state in their areas throughout the school year, including Arkansas School for the Blind and Visionally Impaired.  DSB Pre-ETS counselors also present and visit schools during transition fairs, open houses, parent nights, school staff meetings, and any other school functions they can attend to discuss available Pre-ETS services.  DSB Pre-ETS counselors mail out letters annually to all schools across the state regarding the DSB Pre-ETS Jump Start program.  The letters sent to the schools, provide information about DSB for potential referrals.  Counselors have also hosted transition fairs for schools.