Okla. Admin. Code § 612:10-7-242

Current through Vol. 42, No. 7, December 16, 2024

Section 612:10-7-242 - Pre-Employment Transition Services

(a)Students with a Disability. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) must collaborate with local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide, or arrange for the provision of, Pre-employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for all students with a disability in need of such services.

(1) A "Student with a Disability" as defined in Oklahoma is ages 16 through 21 and eligible for and receiving special education or related services under an Individualized Education Program (IEP); or an individual with a disability for purposes of Section 504 (individual does not need to have a 504 plan to meet the definition requirements).

(2) An individual as young as 14 years old may be considered a "Student with a Disability" if Pre-ETS is determined necessary by the IEP team.

(3) The definition of "Student with a Disability" applies to all students enrolled in educational programs, including postsecondary education programs or other recognized education programs, so long as they satisfy the age requirements. The definition is inclusive of secondary students who are homeschooled, as well as students in other non-traditional secondary educational programs.

(4) A student with a disability receiving pre-employment transition services is a client for whom goods and services may be procured in the same manner as for clients with an approved Individualized Plan for Employment.

(5) Students with disabilities do not need to apply and be determined eligible for the VR program to receive pre-employment transition services. However, these students may not receive any VR services other than pre-employment transition services until they apply, and are determined eligible, for VR services, and have an approved IPE.

(6) Eligible students with disabilities, that is, those students who have applied and been determined eligible for the VR program, are able to receive any VR services, including pre-employment transition services, necessary to assist them in achieving their employment outcome, so long as those services are identified on their IPEs.

(b)Required Activities. Services may be provided to students, or groups of students, with disabilities who are eligible or potentially eligible for VR services in the following areas. The following pre-employment transition services represent the earliest set of services available for students with disabilities under the VR program. These are short-term services designed to help students identify career interests:

(1) Job exploration counseling.

(2) Work-based learning experiences, which may include in-school or after school opportunities or experience outside the traditional school setting, including internships, that is provided in an integrated environment to the maximum extent possible.

(3) Counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs at institutions of higher education.

(4) Workplace readiness training to develop social skills and independent living.

(5) Instruction in self-advocacy, including instruction in person-centered planning, which may include peer mentoring, including peer mentoring from individuals with disabilities working in competitive integrated employment.

(6) Auxiliary aids or services. Any "student with a disability" with a sensory or communicative disorder who needs auxiliary aids or services to access pre-employment transition services, regardless of whether the student has applied or been determined eligible for the VR program.

(A) The provision of pre-employment transition services to pay for auxiliary aids and services for students with disabilities with sensory and communicative disorders who need such aids and services in order to access or participate in pre-employment transition services.

(B) DRS is required to work in collaboration with education agencies to identify how these funds can be used for such costs. The VR agency may use the funds to pay for auxiliary aids and services needed to access or participate in pre-employment transition, no other public entity is required to provide such aids or services.

(C) DRS need not conduct a search for comparable services and benefits when providing auxiliary aids and services to either eligible or potentially eligible students with disabilities to the extent that these aids and services constitute "rehabilitation technology" and are necessary for the student with a disability to participate in pre-employment transition services.

(c)Delivery of Services. Pre-ETS may be delivered in collaboration with school districts/LEAs via any combination of:

(1) Vocational rehabilitation counselors

(2) The vocational rehabilitation counselor will coordinate Pre-ETS with other entities who maybe delivering these services.

(3) Other entities contracted with VR such as:

(A) Community Rehabilitation Programs

(B) Independent Living Centers

(d)Considerations under 00S. VR must continue to provide Pre-ETS to students with disabilities who were receiving such services prior to being determined eligible for SBVI and are placed in a closed category.

(e)Pre-Employment Transition Coordination.

(1) District office staff will be responsible for attending IEP meetings for students with disabilities when invited; using conference calls and video conferences, when necessary;

(2) working with local workforce development boards, job centers and employers to develop work opportunities for students with disabilities, including apprenticeships, internships, summer employment and other employment opportunities available throughout the school year;

(3) working with schools to coordinate and ensure the provision of Pre-ETS; and

(4) attending person-centered planning meetings for individuals with developmental disabilities receiving SSI-D/Medicaid when invited.

(f)Eligible students with disabilities are able to access. any other VR services needed to participate in pre-employment transition services or other VR services that are unrelated to pre-employment transition services, none of which would be available to them without approved IPEs, these eligible students with disabilities may need certain VR services to fully benefit from pre-employment transition services. By receiving other VR services and supports, along with the pre-employment transition services, enables eligible students with a disability to develop the skills to experience competitive, integrated employment as they leave school and enter the workforce.

Okla. Admin. Code § 612:10-7-242

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 36, Issue 22, August 1, 2019, eff. 8/11/2019

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 37, Issue 24, September 1, 2020, eff. 9/11/2020

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 38, Issue 23, August 16, 2021, eff. 8/26/2021