Viability�Pre-ETS Program

Revised 01/2023

Pre-Employment Transition Services

Viability, Inc.

What is Pre-ETS?

• Enables students to gain the foundation necessary to achieve employment in competitive integrated settings and promote independence.
• Pre-ETS prepares students with disabilities for employment, explores their post-secondary education options, develops their employment related soft skills, and assists them in obtaining work experience.

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Eligibility:

• Individuals are between the ages of 14-21
• Students already approved for ACCES-VR services, will not be qualified for the Viability Pre-ETS program
• Students must participate in a secondary program (including non-traditional or alternative programs), post-secondary programs, or other recognized education programs.
• Students must receive services identified in an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP); OR
• Students must be eligible for a Section 504 plan of the Rehabilitation Act and Americans with Disabilities Act.
• A student is NOT required to have an actual 504 plan but must be an individual with a disability for the purposes of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Five Components of the Pre-ETS Program

• Self-Advocacy
• Job Exploration Counseling
• Workplace Readiness Training
• Work-Based Learning
• Counseling on Post-Secondary Education Opportunities

Self-Advocacy

• Discuss with student how their disability impacts them and identify strategies that may assist them at school, work and socially
• Assist student to identify, document and explain needed accommodations
• Provide opportunities for students to participate in mentoring with individuals employed by or volunteering for employers, boards, associations, or organizations in integrated community settings

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• Assist students with developing self- determination skills
• Teach students about and discuss rights and responsibilities
• Teach students how to request accommodations or services and supports
• Assist students in communicating their thoughts, concerns, and needs, to prepare them for peer mentoring opportunities with individuals working in their area(s) of interest

Job Exploration Counseling

• Work with students on vocational interest inventories
• Assist students to learn about and explore career pathways using state career information systems
• Develop job-seeking skills

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• Provide information about in-demand industry sectors and occupations
• Arrange for local employers meet with students virtually
• Provide information regarding nontraditional employment
• Discuss information about career pathways and help students identify career pathways of interest to them

Workplace Readiness

• Identify and learn how to use assistive technology in the workplace
• Discuss transportation options
• Provide self-evaluation instruction/ programs that include the same topics as found under a group setting
• Maintaining healthy relationships; work and study habits; planning and goals setting; using community resources; budgeting and paying bills; computer literacy
• Complete mock interviews to learn about jobs and skills needed to succeed

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• Provide lessons on strategies to support independence at work such as time management, self- monitoring performance, and accepting constructive feedback
• Conduct simulations to develop social and communication skills
• Provide role-play experiences for working as a team; develop communication and interpersonal skills
• Instruct students on understanding employer expectations for punctuality and performance, as well as other “soft” skills necessary for employment

Work Based Learning

• Discuss work sites aligned with student interests
• Discuss local volunteer opportunities for students (subject to availability).
• Conduct work-based learning evaluations of student performance

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• Coordinate informational interviews to research employers
• Conduct virtual work-site tours to learn about necessary job skills in various business settings
• Coordinate guest speaking events with local businesses

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Counseling on Post Secondary Educational Programs

• Learn about accommodations and modifications for college/trade schools
• Advise students and parents or representatives on academic curricula
• Provide information about college application and admissions processes
• Develop financial literacy; including banking and budgeting skills
• Advise student on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Provide resources that may be used to support individual student success in education and training (i.e., disability support services)

• Provide virtual tours of university and community college campuses
• Discuss the difference between special education services in K-12 education and post-secondary education disability services
• Discuss adult services and benefits that can be used during college attendance and provide information on: course offerings; career options; types of academic and occupational training needed to succeed in the workplace; post-secondary opportunities associated with career fields

How the Program will be offered

• Students must be offered all five components – however, they are not required to take them all.
• Students & parents can pick and choose which components they would like to participate in.
• Students must complete all 5 of the components that each have (4) 45-minute activities to receive a certificate of completion. (That’s a total of twenty 45-minute sessions)
• Program will be offered in-person to schools during class times that have been given approval by their own districts
• Program is offered at our office in Ronkonkoma, NY every other Saturday from 9am-12pm
• Program can also be offered after-school using Zoom
• There is also a Summer Camp option available! (See next slide)

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In-Person Summer Pre ETS Classes were a huge success with several students completing all 5 components within 1 week!!�

Pre-ETS Summer Camp

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• - Students have the option to take the program while school is in session OR during the summer
• - Offered Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm
• - Upon attending all 5 consecutive days, student will have completed the program within 1 week and will have received their certificates
• - Students are not required to complete the classes consecutively. We are flexible!
• - Half of the class goes over the presentations; the other half is spent in the community doing worksite visits and job tours

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Program Benefits

Next steps

• Identify students who may be potentially eligible for Pre-ETS services **Requires assistance from School District**
• Have student and parent/guardian complete consent/release of information forms to determine program eligibility. (Can be emailed or mailed to students/families)
• Once a student is determined eligible for services Viability staff will be in contact with the student and parent/guardian to complete the intake process.
• Students may begin services once the intake process is complete.

VIABILITY CONTACTS

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Kasey Tebo

Statewide Director of New York

ktebo@viability.org

631-952-9529

Ext. 50309