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SD Project Skills - Transition

Many students with significant disabilities don't get an opportunity to gain paid employment experience while in high school. Unfortunately most employers, although they are often willing, cannot afford the supports these students frequently require on their first jobs.

The South Dakota Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) and the Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI) recognize, however, that first jobs can be very important learning, maturing, socializing experiences. DRS and SBVI, therefore, have formed partnerships with local school systems to address this need and have designed a program entitled "Project Skills".

How It Works

You agree to participate in a Project Skills "work experience"; DRS or SBVI pays your wages (at the federal minimum wage rate); and the schools provide you with services such as job development, job coaching and monitoring on the work site.

Together you and your school decide who will provide these services. The services can be provided by the schools directly or they may be purchased through another agency such as Job Shops, Educational Cooperatives, Career Learning Centers, Adjustment Training Centers, Mental Health Centers, or approved private providers.

The work experience must be a least 50 hours and not more than 250 hours per year, nor more than 20 hours per week. You can participate more than one year - but you must have different job duties each year even though you can be at the same work site.

Eligibility

1. You must be at least 16 years old when you begin the Project Skills work experience.

2. You must be enrolled in a certified secondary education program and be meeting minimum academic and attendance requirements.

3. Your school must have agreed to participate in Project Skills and to provide the support services you need.

4. Those support services and your work experience must be identified in your Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or 504 plan, and the plan must include a vocational goal for you of supported or competitive employment.

5. You must be determined eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services and Project Skills by a DRS or SBVI VR Counselor. You are eligible:

·      If you have a physical or mental impairment that is a substantial barrier to employment; and

·      If you require DRS VR services or SBVI VR services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful employment; and

·      If your VR Counselor determines that you need an employment experience in order to prepare for adult employment; and

·      If it is reasonably likely that you can eventually become gainfully employed in the community after your work experience.

See Also:

Transition Services Liaison Project

Source:

http://www.state.sd.us/dhs/drs/transition/transition.htm

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Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS)

Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired

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