Narrative: b. 1.

VR is requesting a waiver of statewideness.  VR has entered into 32 Interagency Transfer Agreements with the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to facilitate a seamless transition of students with disabilities from high school to employment (also known as Transition School to Work or TSW).  All funds made available to VR are non-federal funds.

The TSW programs are open to any student with a disability who is eligible for VR and not on an Order of Selection waitlist, regardless of disability type. The enhanced TSW services provided by the participating high schools are structured and goal oriented vocational-educational services and assist the students in developing work readiness skills, selecting their vocational goals, and preparing them for successful transition from school to work. Each student is receives services that lead to the acquisition of knowledge/skills in the following areas:

• Self-assessment (interest inventories, learning styles, aptitudes, strengths), disability awareness and personal accommodations for disability, self-determination skills, career exploration;
• Disability awareness and building skills in self-determination, identification of career goals, including a complete labor market research, initial development of job readiness skills;
• Identification of post-secondary education/training opportunities, including training and funding options, career tracks, development of résumé/cover letter writing skills, practice in mock interviews, and familiarity with filling out job applications;
• Knowledge of how to apply to training institutions, how to apply for scholarships and Pell Grants, how to obtain accommodations for their disabilities, how to perform job searches (for either paid employment or community service);
• Development of a portfolio to record the skill building process with an end goal of self-actualization and successful career planning.  The content of the portfolio will meet individual student needs; each portfolio will contain individualized information similar to the following:
  1. Self-Awareness (Orientation and Adjustment to Disability) content including but not limited to:  student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP), assessment results, abilities, interests, and independent living skills addressed; transportation;
  2. Career Exploration including but not limited to:  career path research, informational interview reports, financial planning, student’s Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE);
  3. Job Readiness including but not limited to:  Job Applications, information regarding post-secondary school choices, Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other financial aid information, resume, interview skills, IPE amendments (if applicable);
  4. Work Experience including but not limited to:  campus and/or community work experience, career planning, issue resolution, job shadowing, volunteer experiences, IPE amendments (if applicable);
  5. Post High School Plan including but not limited to:  Contact information for VR counselor, Community Career Center and Disability Support Services, Supported Education at Post Secondary School (if applicable).   

TSW school districts provide 42.6%, non-federal funds, of the agreed upon TSW Budget. TSW budgets can be amended at any time.