Community Work Transition Project - OVR

The Community Work Transition Program (CWTP) with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and the Transition Opportunities Program (TOP) with the Office for the Blind in collaboration with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), Human Development Institute (HDI) and Local Education Agencies (LEA) are statewide programs designed to provide Pre Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and/ or Individualized Transition Services to students who are potentially eligible or eligible for services with OVR or OFB. Potentially eligible students are all students with disabilities, with Individual Learning Program (IEP) or 504 Plan or documented disability, including those who have not applied or been determined eligible for OVR services. Eligible students are students with disabilities, with an IEP or 504 Plan and documented disability, determined eligible for OVR services and meets the Order of Selection, Category 1, eligible individuals who have the most significant disabilities. Student must meet at least 4 priority categories. An OVR or OFB counselor determines the priority category based on how the individual’s ability to work is limited. The OVR or OFB considers seven major areas of functional limitations in determining your priority category: (1) communication; (2) interpersonal skill; (3) mobility; (4) self-care; (5) self-direction; (6) work skill; and (7) work tolerance. The services provided through the CWTP and TOP will provide transition aged students experiences and exposure to a variety of careers and/or post-secondary options in their communities. 2018-19 KDE Justification The Community Work Transition Program (CWTP) with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and the Transition Opportunities Program (TOP) with the Office for the Blind are collaborate statewide programs with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), Human Development Institute (HDI) and Local Education Agencies (LEA). The goal of the programs is for each student to have a variety of experiences and exposure to pre-employment transition services or individualized transition services in their school and community to obtain future competitive, integrated employment and/or post-secondary education and/or training. The staff at HDI coordinates and provides training, technical assistance, and outreach to all LEA, KDE, OFB and OVR personnel as well as parents and state and community agencies. The staff will address the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA) five required activities: (1) Job Exploration Counseling; (2) Work Based Learning Experiences; (3) Post-Secondary Counseling; (4) Workplace Readiness Training; and (5) Self-Advocacy skills as well as individualized transition services. In addition the staff will attend and participate in state and/or national meetings and conferences to identify effective and evidenced-based practices to help our students graduate career and/or college ready.