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VA DRS PERT Services

The Postsecondary Education Rehabilitation Transition (PERT) Program is a collaborative program jointly funded and administered through the Virginia Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS)., and operated from the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC). The PERT Program, distinguished as the only program of its kind nationally, is highly successful as evidenced by both individual client outcomes as well as its overall systemic impact on transition planning at the local level and resulting employment and independent living outcomes for persons served.

The PERT Program serves secondary-aged youth with disabilities enrolled in Virginia's public education system who are receiving special education services under an Individual Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan. Participating youth must be selected by the local PERT team and meet the following minimum criteria:

·          Eligible for services through the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, per established criteria:

o    Presence of a physical or mental impairment;

o    Substantial impediment to employment;

o    Presumption of benefit in terms of an employment outcome; and,

o    Requires vocational rehabilitation services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful employment.

·          Age sixteen (16) at time of the assessment or 2.5 years from graduation or secondary school completion; AND,

·          have a strong, community-based support system.

PERT provides a continuum of services through application of an education/rehabilitation team model, beginning and ending with local programming. These teams identify potential students for assessment and plan for education/rehabilitation services based on assessment findings and recommendations. Teams consist of representatives from Special Education, Career and Technical Education, Department of Rehabilitative Services, and PERT.

Most participating youth attend Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center's (WWRC) residential program for an average eight to nine day program including assessments in vocational areas, independent living, life skills, recreation/social skills, and dorm/residential skills. These students are served through the Initial Evaluation Program.

In addition, PERT offers a Situational Assessment Program, designed for students to confirm vocational interests, refine skills, develop positive work habits, and clarify objectives to achieve individual goals.

PERT provides limited assessment services for youth in non-PERT participating sites through its Youth-in-Transition Program, based on WWRC/PERT capacity and resources to meet individual transition needs. PERT provides monitoring, follow-along, and technical assistance to participating sites.

In two localities, Harrisonburg and Russell County, remote medical/vocational screenings are currently being piloted through use of video-conferencing equipment.

Additional Information

A brief brochure highlighting many features of the PERT program is available in PDF format (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) online at:
http://www.vadrs.org/formscabinet/formscabinet.asp?GetFnum=WWRC-B026.pdf

See Also:

DRS Transition Services

Eligibility for Services

Employment Services

WWRC Services

Community Based Services

Nursing Home Outreach

DRS Financial Participation in Cost of Services

Department of Rehabilitative Services Overview

Virginia Department of Education

Back to:

Virginia Benefit Information System Welcome and Introduction

Source:

For more information about PERT, go to: http://wwrc.virginia.gov/pertprogram.htm.

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