ACCES-VR TRANSITION ACCES-VR TRANSITION SERVICESSERVICES

Transition to Career80 Wolf Road – Suite 200

Albany, New York 12205-2644www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/

Telephone: (518) 473-8097 Toll Free #: 1-800-272-5448

Fax: (518) 457-4562

9 counties9 countiesAlbany, Columbia, Greene, Albany, Columbia, Greene,

Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, WashingtonSchoharie, Warren, Washington

75 school districts 75 school districts

8 alternative 8 alternative schools/placementsschools/placements

What is ACCES-VR? What is ACCES-VR?

AdultCareer andContinuingEducationServices -VocationalRehabilitation

EMPLOYMENTEMPLOYMENT

ACCES-VR Is All About Work!

From Special Education to From Special Education to Adult Vocational Adult Vocational RehabilitationRehabilitation

When students leave high school, there are no more education entitlement programs.

Adult services are based on eligibility requirements and availability of funds and services

Transition ServicesTransition Services

ACCES-VR helps individuals with disabilities to obtain and maintain employment.Transition services specifically refers to services provided to students with disabilities in order to assist them to transition from school into the world of work.

Mission StatementMission Statement

The Mission of Transition to Career Services of the Capital District Office of ACCES-VR is to provide consumer focused, high-quality vocational counseling, consultation, and collaboration with secondary school students, parents, and staff to facilitate an understanding of and effect a seamless and timely transition through ACCES-VR services, with a goal of successful employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

When to refer studentsWhen to refer students

Interested students with disabilities should be referred within the last 2 years of high school for eligibility determination and planning purposes.

ACCES-VR funding for services is usually not initiated until the last semester of high school, but there can be individual exceptions.

Who can be referred to Who can be referred to ACCES-VR?ACCES-VR?

Any student with a permanentdisability can be referred for

eligibilitydetermination.

Who should be referred to Who should be referred to ACCES-VR?ACCES-VR?

Students who are motivated to work and who will be capable of working independently in the community

Types of Disabilities Types of Disabilities

Often obvious:– Visual impairment– Deaf or hard of

hearing– Mobility

impairment– Developmental

disability– Amputation

Often hidden– Learning disability– Medical – heart,

diabetes, kidney disease

– Alcohol or drug abuse

– Psychological & emotional conditions

Referral ProcessReferral Process Application packet with documentation of

disability is submitted to the ACCES-VR office (forms can be obtained electronically by contacting aleifer@mail.nysed.gov)

Case is registered and then assigned to the vocational rehabilitation counselor (VRC) working with the student’s home school

The VRC will work with the school transition liaison to arrange to meet with the student/parents/other interested parties for an intake interview

Referral ProcessReferral Process

 

Complete application packet arrives at ACCES-VR

Eligibility determination is made within 60 days

Meeting with VRC coordinated with school at any point once complete packet is receivedWork goal is identified

and IPE developed together

Services begin as agreed, dependent on type of service

Referral PackageReferral Package

Referral Cover Sheet Assets & Challenges

Checklist Current IEP/504 Psychological (if

applicable) Transcript (if post

secondary education is planned)

ACCES-VR application VR-04

ACCES-VR Information Release Authorizations

VR-21 & VR-22 Student

Questionnaire ACCES-VR Financial

Survey Other medical reports

when applicable

ApplicationsApplications

Documentation of the disability from the physician, therapist, counselor, etc. should be submitted with the application along with any school testing/records/ plans.

All Applications/releases for students need to be signed by the student.

Applications/releases for students under the age of 18 need to be signed by the student and co-signed by a parent or guardian.

EligibilityEligibility

Must have a permanent and/or progressive, documented disability

Disability must be an impediment to reaching a vocational goal

Must be able to benefit from services in terms of employment outcome

ACCES-VR services must be required to reach employment goal

The Individual Plan for The Individual Plan for Employment (IPE)Employment (IPE)

All ACCES-VR consumers develop an IPE with a specific employment goal stated

The goal must be feasible and approved by ACCES-VR

There must be a reasonable expectation that a successful employment outcome will be reached

Overview of Overview of Possible ACCES-Possible ACCES-VR SERVICESVR SERVICES Vocational Counseling Vocational

Assessments Diagnostic Vocational

Evaluations Functional Evaluations Technological

Evaluations

Vocational Training College Services and

Supports Supported

Employment Direct Job Placement Work try out On the job training Driver training

Economic NeedEconomic Need

Some services do depend on economic need: tuition and fees, books, tools/equipment, rehabilitation technology, some training programs

Some services do not depend on economic need: evaluations, tutors, note takers, some training programs, placement, job coaches, OJT, driver training

ACCES-VR SERVICES ACCES-VR SERVICES and and economic need $economic need $ Vocational Counseling Vocational

Assessments Diagnostic Vocational

Evaluations Functional Evaluations Technological

Evaluations Driver training

Vocational Training $ College Tuition, fees

and books $ Rehabilitation

Technology Services $

Academic support services

Supported Employment

Direct Job Placement Work try out On the job training

Types of Vocational Types of Vocational TrainingTraining

BOCES training programs

Private vocational school programs

Certificate programs at Community Colleges

College Training College Training ServicesServices

May include financial contribution toward:– Tuition, fees, books,

room and board– One-on-one tutors– Note takers– Travel costs to and

from school if not living on campus

– Other disability specific supports such as interpreters and aides for physical needs

Supported EmploymentSupported Employment

Job placement services through agencies on ACCES-VR contract for specific area & disability group

Intensive services– Situational assessment– Job development– Job coaching

Extended Services– On-going follow along services are funded

through OPWDD, OMH, or ACCES-VR

Job Placement ServicesJob Placement ServicesAssistance with choosing a

job goal, resume development, interviewing skills and job search

On the Job Training Work Try-Outs Occupational tools &

clothing (based on economic need and job requirement)

What services will be What services will be provided?provided?

Only the services necessary to reach the job goal identified in the IPE are provided. These services are listed as part of the IPE.

Under the ACCES-VR Under the ACCES-VR program an individual has program an individual has

the right to:the right to: Participate in the decision making

process about his or her vocational program

Receive services in a timely manner Receive services designed to assist in

preparing for & finding employment Confidential services Appeal a decision made by ACCES-VR

Under the ACCES-VR program Under the ACCES-VR program an individual has the an individual has the

responsibility to:responsibility to: Participate in the decision making process

about his or her vocational program Maintain contact with ACCES-VR counselor Provide required information in a timely

manner Contact the ACCES-VR counselor about

changes in job goal or financial status Contact the ACCES-VR counselor upon

getting a job

Follow through with the steps in your plan, assess your progress, and keep your counselor informed of how you are doing.

When you get a job….When you get a job…. Contact ACCES-VR! You will continue to work

with your ACCES-VR counselorTo identify supports that

you need to keep a job.To plan how you will get

these supportsTo maintain contact with

ACCES-VR for at least three months after you start your job.

Transition TipsTransition Tips

ACCES-VR is a voluntary, adult service; you decide if you want it.

You have rights and responsibilities

Remember to apply to ACCES-VR before your last year of school – the process takes time!

EMPLOYMENTEMPLOYMENT

Remember…

ACCES-VR Is All About Work!

ACCES-VR Transition Staff ACCES-VR Transition Staff 2010-20112010-2011

Amy J Leifer Senior VRC(518) 485-5549 aleifer@mail.nysed.gov

Veronica Nostramo VRC Assistant(518) 485-5540 vnostramo@mail.nysed.gov

Lynn Ricciardi VRC Assistant(518) 485-5348 lricciar@mail.nysed.gov

Lisa Williams Keyboard Specialist(518) 457-2097 lwillia5@mail.nysed.gov

Abby Hout VRC – Cobleskill, Gilboa-Conesville, Jefferson, Middleburgh, Schoharie, Scotia-Glenville, Sharon Springs

(518) 485-5542 ahout@mail.nysed.gov

Alexis Merrill VRC – Guilderland, Mohonasen, Niskayuna, Shaker, Shenendehowa

(518) 457-9638 amerrill@mail.nysed.gov

Bernard Mack VRC – Berkshire, Chatham, Columbia , New Lebanon, Taconic Hills, Troy (shared)

(518) 485-5510 bmack@mail.nysed.gov

Deborah Gabrione VRC – Albany (shared), Averill Park, Berne-Knox, Cohoes, Lansingburgh, Ravena, Voorheesville

(518) 485-5553 dgabrion@mail.nysed.gov

Ed Lessard VRC – Albany (shared), Charlton, LaSalle, Parsons (Neil Hellman School), Schalmont, Schenectady, School at Northeast, St Anne’s, Vanderheyden

(518) 485-5505 elessard@mail.nysed.gov

Joseph Tedesco VRC – Berlin, Rensselaer HS(518) 457-6913 jtedesco@mail.nysed.gov

Kathleen McCartan VRC - Galway, Hoosic Valley, Saratoga Springs, Stillwater, Tamarac, Troy (shared),Waterford-Halfmoon

(518) 485-5503 kmccarta@mail.nysed.gov

Kyle Ferris VRC - Germantown, Hudson, Ichabod Crane

(518) 457-7944 kferris@mail.nysed.gov

Lindsay Pirozzi VRC – Cairo Durham, Catskill, Coxsackie-Athens, Greenville, Hunter-Tannersville, Windham-Ashland-Jewett

(518) 457-9448 lpirozzi@mail.nysed.gov

Mark Rubenstein VRC - Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake(518) 485-5501 mrubenst@mail.nysed.gov

Melissa Strauss VRC - Fort Edward, Hudson Falls

(518) 485-5527 mstrauss@mail.nysed.gov

Pam Brehm-Bisaillon VRC – Argyle, Cambridge, Corinth, Fort Ann, Granville, Greenwich, Hartford, Hoosick Falls, Mechanicville, Salem, Schuylerville, South Glens Falls

(518) 457-8523 pbrehmbi@mail.nysed.gov

Rich Myette VRC – Bolton, Glens Falls, Hadley-Luzerne, Johnsburg, Lake George, North Warren, Queensbury, Warrensburg, Whitehall

(518) 457-2439 rmyette@mail.nysed.gov

Salvatore Cerniglia VRC – Maple Hill (Schodack)(518) 485-1759 scernigl@mail.nysed.gov

Sonam Ben Willow VRC – Bethlehem, Colonie Central, Duanesburg, Green Island, Scotia-Glenville, Watervliet(518) 485-5506 swillow@mail.nysed.gov

Vicki Starr VRC – Ballston Spa HS(518) 485-5551 vstarr@mail.nysed.gov

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