Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for State Vocational Rehabilitation (Blind)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by sections 101(a) and 606 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA.
- b. Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA).
Section 101(a)(15), (17), and (23) of the Rehabilitation Act require VR agencies to provide an assessment of:
- b. Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA).
b. 1. D. Youth with disabilities, including students with disabilities and their need for pre-employment transition services. Include an assessment of the needs of individuals with disabilities for transition career services and pre-employment transition services, and the extent to which such services are coordinated with transition services provided under IDEA.
Current Narrative:
Agency Response:
An identified barrier for WA DSB youth is lacking early access (younger than age 14) to transition programming that address self and societal expectations for best fit employment as they exit the education system. Vocational assessment for students should be identified early on and training is recommended for WA DSB counselors and staff on best practices in working with Pre-Employment Transition Service students.
Several participant survey respondents in this age group recognized WA DSB’s youth programs as the most helpful WA DSB services. Specific examples given were YES I, YES II, and Good Vibe Friday. YES (or Youth Employment Solutions) are summer programs that assist students who are blind or have low vision with career preparation. YES is sponsored by WA DSB and the Washington State School for the Blind. Good Vibe Friday is a space for teenagers who are blind or have low vision to form a community, talk about important topics, play fun games, and practice skills. Topics covered have included ableism, healthy relationship-building including self-love, self-worth, and self-value. Pre-ETS skills practiced during the Good Vibe Friday sessions have included active listening, self-advocacy, and peer mentoring.
When asked if there were other services that youth feel they need to achieve their employment goals, participant survey respondents in this age group identified the following five services:
- Entrepreneurship experience and preparation,
- More assistance in attaining the first job,
- More career assessment and exploration,
- More counseling and guidance, especially after graduation, and
- Referral to services besides blindness-related services.
Barriers listed included meaningful time & access to DSB counselor; information about the agency, and public transportation.
Most respondents indicated that WA DSB’s current Pre-ETS were effective and that they would like to have more of these services, a greater variety of these services, or would like services to start before age 14.