High School
The West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) helps students with disabilities, beginning at age 14, assess interests and abilities, explore career options and develop a plan to reach their future employment goals.
Students, ages 14 and up, who have limitations and need assistance with learning, seeing, hearing, communicating, coping with stress or participating in physical activities may be eligible for transition services from DRS.
Transition Services
Transition services help students with disabilities move from high school to postsecondary education, specialized training or employment. The services provided vary depending upon individual needs and may include:
- Career exploration and assessments
- Career guidance and counseling
- On-the-job training, internships, apprenticeships and other work experiences
- Vocational training
- College assistance
- Tutoring
- Mentoring
- Résumé development
- Job search and placement assistance
- Job coaching
- Assistive technology
- Workplace accommodations
DRS also provides pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) to students with disabilities, ages 14-21.
Pre-ETS are mandated under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and include the following activities:
- Job exploration counseling – to help students identify potential occupations and career paths.
- Work-based learning experiences – to help students gain information about occupations in the workplace.
- Postsecondary education counseling – to help students understand postsecondary options and plan training.
- Workplace readiness training – to help students develop social and independent living skills.
- Self-advocacy instruction – to enable students to learn how to represent themselves, their views or interests.
Pre-ETS can help students:
- Identify strengths, abilities and capabilities for work and adult living.
- Set goals for work and adult living.
- Learn habits, attitudes and behaviors for work and skills for adult living.
- Participate in job exploration activities and community work experiences.
- Explore postsecondary training options.
PathwaysWV.org is an online Pre-ETS resource that provides tools to help students with disabilities through the journey from youth to adulthood.