Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Services – Vocational Rehabilitation Services TWS-VRS Introduction to Transition Services

What is Transition? Transition is a process that helps prepare students for life after leaving school. Transition planning helps to minimize barriers that the student could encounter in the transition phase from school to the working world.

TWS-VRS Transition Program The goal of the Transition program is to identify and begin working with students before they graduate so there isn’t a delay in getting the students on an employment path once they leave school. We usually work with students in their last two years of high school or beginning at age 14, depending on the student’s need for services, to help move from school to integrative competitive employment. There are 21 Transition Counselors (TVRCs) in the TWS- VRS Houston Region V. Most schools have either a Transition Counselor or a Liaison Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor assigned. Region IV Educational Service Center serves 7 counties and has 170 high schools. DRS Transition Counselors cover approximately 70 of these schools and the remaining 100 are covered by Liaison Counselors.

Coverage by: TVRC or Liaison Counselor TVRC – Transitional Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor assigned to High Schools only. Liaison Counselor – Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor assigned to schools located in the geographical area of the office. TVRCs are only assigned high schools; Liaison Counselors also have an adult caseload. Region IV – VRCs/112 TVRCs/21 Total/133

What services does TWS-VRS provide? TWS-VRS can provide almost any service necessary to assist an individual with a disability to go to work. Services are considered on an individual basis and must be reasonable and necessary for that person. For transition students, services may include: Counseling and Guidance, vocational or academic training (where appropriate), career exploration, job coaching or supported employment, psychological counseling, or medical services. Other services may include: Paid or volunteer work experience and temporary job placements. Some services that counselors might use to help students develop needed skills before writing an IPE are on-the-job training, working with a job coach, work adjustment training, volunteer work, and internships

Services for Transition Age Youth: Annual Transition Hiring Event Autism psychological-educational groups Vocational Adjustment Training Work Experience coaching Young Entrepreneur Training & Work Experience Summer Camps/Activities – CAMP FOR ALL Project Leap Summer Earn and Learn Internship

What to prepare for if interested in applying? Requests for financial documents. A student will not be turned away for services based on their/their family’s income but any service that is not directly related to employment will require a review of a family’s financial information (i.e. paystub) and a determination of a family’s contribution to the cost of services. Evaluations may also be provided with no cost to the student/family.

What to prepare for if interested in applying? Student independence. To best service the students, it will be necessary to have them participate in activities without parents/guardians, traveling alone (sometimes as far as Northern Houston), sleeping over night (camps) or speaking/advocating for themselves during meetings.

What to prepare for if interested in applying? It’s about WORK. All of the services provided to students are for the sole purpose of helping the students gain or maintain employment. Texas Workforce Solutions – Vocational Rehabilitation Services is not an educational funding program. We may fund post-secondary education but only to assist those able to meet the academic standards set by colleges and training programs and will lead to viable employment opportunities upon graduating.

What to prepare for if interested in applying? Note: This is NOT an entitlement program, everyone that applies is not entitled to be accepted into the program and, if accepted, students are NOT entitled to access all available services. The counselor decides what services are necessary. Region IV Educational Service Center serves 7 counties and has 170 high schools. DRS Transition Counselors cover approximately 70 of these schools and the remaining 100 are covered by Liaison Counselors.

After applying, how will it be determined whether my child is eligible? The student has to: Have a physical and/or mental condition that affects their ability to work. Need vocational rehabilitation services in order to help the student get and/or keep a job. Be able to get and keep a job after receiving services.

What happens once your child is successfully employed? Once a student is successfully employed for 90 days, the student’s case will be successfully closed. If additional services are needed, most services can be provided in “Post-Closure Services” which, is available within the first year after successful closure.

Contact Information If interested in applying for services or wish to inquire further about the Texas Workforce Solutions – Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the transition liaison's contact information is below. Elizabeth Israel, M.S.Ed, CRC Transition Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II Texas City Field Office 2000 Texas Avenue, Suite 950 Texas City, Texas 77590 (409)949-3907