Indiana special education directors and superintendents recently received a Request for Information from the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) regarding Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)) for students with disabilities who are between 14 and 22 years old and who are eligible or potentially eligible for vocational rehabilitation services.

Through this request, the state is hoping to learn more about the provision of existing transition activities and services that “could be enhanced or aligned with Pre-ETS,” as well as new transition strategies that could be put in place for students with disabilities. Core Pre-ETS services are:

• job exploration counseling;
• work-based learning experiences;
• counseling on postsecondary education or comprehensive transition opportunities;
• workplace readiness training to develop social skills and independent living; and
• instruction in self-advocacy.

The deadline for submitting an application is November 21, 2017. For more information, see RFI-18-28 http://www.in.gov/idoa/proc/bids/rfi-18-028/   
DDRS is specifically looking for collaborative services that may already in place or that could be implemented within the 33 counties where Pre-ETS are not currently available. For a list of those counties, use the link above and scroll to Attachment B Priority Counties. 
Need more information about Pre-ETS? Watch the new podcast from Michelle Fisher at the Arc of Indiana: https://www.arcind.org/podcasts/a-view-into-pre-employment-transition-services/