Project Skills

PROJECT SKILLS -
A South Dakota Collaborative Partnership

By Ellen Condon

In 1996, Vocational Rehabilitation (the Division of Rehabilitation Services/Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired) and the South Dakota Transition Services Liaison Project entered into a partnership with the local school districts to address the need to prepare students with disabilities for work. During Year One of this project, over 175 students participated in paid employment experiences.

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) funds wages, workers compensation, FICA, and other costs directly related to a student’s paid work experience, such as uniforms or interpreters. The type and amount of services are based upon each individual student’s needs and must be pre-approved by the VR counselor.

The school is responsible for providing job development, job coaching, and ongoing student monitoring at the employment site for the length of the experience. If schools don’t want to provide these services directly, they can purchase them from another agency that provides employment services.

Each work experience must be at least 50 hours in length and can last as long as 250 hours per academic year. Students may participate in PROJECT SKILLS for more than one year.

Who is eligible for PROJECT SKILLS?
Students who:

Are eligible for VR services;
Are at least 16 years old when starting the work experience;
Attend a school that has agreed to provide job development, coaching, and monitoring services;
Have employment experiences as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP);
Have a vocational goal for supported or competitive employment; and
Are determined by VR to require an employment experience in order to prepare for adult employment.

Prior to enrolling in PROJECT SKILLS, it is helpful for students to do the following:

Explore their interests and aptitudes through a person-centered planning or Vocational Profile process, or by completing interest and aptitude assessments.
Participate in school-to-work activities offered by the school.
Collect information that documents their work history and vocational information.
Apply for VR services.
Sign a release of information, which allows the VR counselor to obtain psychological, educational, and vocational records to assist with eligibility determination.
The student, family, teacher, and VR counselor develop an IPE (Individualized Plan for Employment) which identifies a vocational goal and outlines responsibilities and services necessary to meet this goal.

Before beginning the work experience, school and VR staff, the employer, the student, and his or her family complete a Work Experience Agreement. This agreement outlines the specific job duties, number of hours that the individual will be at the employment site, and most importantly, what the student is expected to learn from the experience. The job coach keeps the VR counselor informed of the student’s progress on a monthly basis.

For more information on PROJECT SKILLS, contact:
Black Hills Special Services Cooperative
Transition Services Liaison Project
221 S. Central
Pierre, SD 57501
1-800-224-5336
www.tslp.org

	PROJECT SKILLS - A South Dakota Collaborative Partnership By Ellen Condon In 1996, Vocational Rehabilitation (the Division of Rehabilitation Services/Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired) and the South Dakota Transition Services Liaison Project entered into a partnership with the local school districts to address the need to prepare students with disabilities for work. During Year One of this project, over 175 students participated in paid employment experiences. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) funds wages, workers compensation, FICA, and other costs directly related to a student’s paid work experience, such as uniforms or interpreters. The type and amount of services are based upon each individual student’s needs and must be pre-approved by the VR counselor. The school is responsible for providing job development, job coaching, and ongoing student monitoring at the employment site for the length of the experience. If schools don’t want to provide these services directly, they can purchase them from another agency that provides employment services. Each work experience must be at least 50 hours in length and can last as long as 250 hours per academic year. Students may participate in PROJECT SKILLS for more than one year. Who is eligible for PROJECT SKILLS? Students who: Are eligible for VR services; Are at least 16 years old when starting the work experience; Attend a school that has agreed to provide job development, coaching, and monitoring services; Have employment experiences as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP); Have a vocational goal for supported or competitive employment; and Are determined by VR to require an employment experience in order to prepare for adult employment. Prior to enrolling in PROJECT SKILLS, it is helpful for students to do the following: Explore their interests and aptitudes through a person-centered planning or Vocational Profile process, or by completing interest and aptitude assessments. Participate in school-to-work activities offered by the school. Collect information that documents their work history and vocational information. Apply for VR services. Sign a release of information, which allows the VR counselor to obtain psychological, educational, and vocational records to assist with eligibility determination. The student, family, teacher, and VR counselor develop an IPE (Individualized Plan for Employment) which identifies a vocational goal and outlines responsibilities and services necessary to meet this goal. Before beginning the work experience, school and VR staff, the employer, the student, and his or her family complete a Work Experience Agreement. This agreement outlines the specific job duties, number of hours that the individual will be at the employment site, and most importantly, what the student is expected to learn from the experience. The job coach keeps the VR counselor informed of the student’s progress on a monthly basis. For more information on PROJECT SKILLS, contact: Black Hills Special Services Cooperative Transition Services Liaison Project 221 S. Central Pierre, SD 57501 1-800-224-5336 www.tslp.org

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