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Resources for VR Youth Services Partners

Help youth with disabilities prepare for life after school

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Youth Services help young people with disabilities between the ages 14 and 24 prepare for the transition out of school and into adult life. Our individualized services help each person develop job skills, explore career interests and learn to advocate for themselves. 

If you are interested in partnering with us to support youth or provide services, check out the information below. We contract with providers to deliver many of our services.

Partnership opportunities Resources Contacts Sign up for updates
Information for current YTP contractors Information for students and families

 Services we provide

We provide two kinds of transition services to youth

  • We provide pre-employment transition services to students age 14 to 21 before they leave school. These are called "Pre-ETS." 
  • We provide transition services through Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) to youth age 14 to 24. You don't have to be a student to get these services.

​These services are for students before they transition out of school and into adult life.

Current students age 14 to 21 can get Pre-ETS if they have a documented disability, or if they either have an IEP or receive services under a 504 Accommodation Plan.

Our Pre-ETS coordinators partner with school districts, community partners and other state agencies to provide these services. Services vary depending on the needs of the student, classroom or school districts. Some examples of services ​​coordinators provide include:

  • Classes on self-advocacy, workplace readiness, and job exploration
  • Individual and group career counseling
  • Acting as a VR liaison when discussing services with students and family
  • Consulting with schools about incorporating Pre-ETS into their classroom activities
  • Supporting youth as they transition to secondary learning opportunities

To get services, a student, family or school can fill out a Req​uest for Consultation and email it to pre.ets@odhsoha.oregon.gov​.

Request for Consulta​​tionEspañol (Spanish)
​ Process steps for getting Pre-ETS services
Pre-ETS information for s​​tudents and families​

Any young person age 14 to 24 with a documented disability can apply for transition services through the Vocational Rehabilitation program. You don't have to be a current student.

These services may include:

  • Job development 
  • Job coaching
  • Work accommodations
  • Counseling and assessments
  • Benefits counseling

To get transition services, people need to ​apply through Voc​ational Rehabilitation. They can contact their local VR office​ or call 503-945-5880.

VR information for clients​

See also...

  • I/DD services through the​ Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS)
    Young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) can connect with ODDS for long-term, on-the-job supports and residential services.
  • Oregon Commission for the Blind (OCB)
    OCB has a vocational rehabilitation program that is tailored for people who experience blindness. People can choose if they want to get services their VR services through OCB or through the Oregon Department of Human Services' VR program.
  • Free benefits counseling ​through the Work Incentives Network (WIN)
    WIN is one of Oregon's free benefits counseling services. Benefits counselors help people who receive disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) make informed choices ​about working, how that may affect their benefits, and how work incentives can help them reach their employment goals. 
    • ​One special incentive for students is the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE). This is when the Social Security Administration doesn't count a certain amount of earned income when determining​ disability payment amounts.
  • FACT Oregon
    FACT Oregon helps families navigate raising a child with a disability. Families can get one-on-one support, attend trainings and events, and get tools and resources.

 Partnership opportunities

Bring the Youth Transition Program to your public high school

VR can help schools and school districts fund VR services in public high schools throughout the state through the Youth Transition Program (YTP). These contracts for VR services are to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services and Transition Services. Visit our Youth Services site to learn more about what we do. If you are interested in partnering with us, contact michelle.markle@odhs.oregon.gov. New contracts will be considered in fall of 2024.

Host a work-based learning experience

VR partners with businesses, providers and schools to create work experiences that help young people gain positive work habits, improve social skills, identify career interests and transition to independent living. Work-based learning experiences have been shown to be one of the strongest predictors of adult employment success for students and youth with disabilities.

Businesses, providers and schools can apply to provide a summer work experience program for students with disabilities age 14 to 21. 

Request for Applications ​5307

Through RFA 5307, we are looking for community-bas​ed organizations that provide employment services or Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that want to develop paid summer work experiences for students with disabilities.

Who can apply?

Any LEA (and other entities) may apply. If the LEA participates in the Youth Transition Program (YTP), the RFA funding cannot be used for services already funded under the existing YTP program.

How do I apply?

  • We are not currently accepting new Summer Work RFAs. 
  • When an RFA is open, information will be posted here about how to apply. 
  • You will need to create an account and complete the Request For Application (RFA) in OregonBuys. 

How do students qualify for a work experience?

Work experiences are open to students with disabilities who are 14 to 21 years old and who have an IEP, 504 plan, or a documented disability.

What supports does VR provide to hosting organizations?

VR verifies that students are able to participate in each program. VR supports programs to work with students in a work experience by providing information about Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS). For example, VR can help brainstorm which work experience is the best fit for a student or review the best methods to deliver various Pre-ETS within the summer program.

Who do I contact with questions?

 Resources for partners and educators

Planning My Way to Work guide

This self-paced guide includes information on job training and college options, how to live a healthy life, community living options, and available services and supports

Download the guide

Guided Group Discovery certification through LEAD

Guided Group Discovery is a process that helps job seekers, including youth, identify employment that would be a good fit for the employee and the employer. 

Visit the LEAD Center website

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Motivational interviewing is a form of collaborative conversation for strengthening a person's own motivation and commitment to change. VR offers regular trainings in MI for partners. Email dan.franks@odhs.oregon.gov for information on upcoming sessions.

National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTAC:C)

The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C) is a Technical Assistance Center co-funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). NTAC:C provides information, tools and supports to assist partners deliver effective services and instruction for secondary students and out-of-school youth with disabilities.

Visit the NTAC:C website

Oregon Department of Education Secondary Transition Services

Oregon Department of Education requires transition services and provides direct services to Oregon's programs, districts and schools. Beginning no later than the first Individualized Education Program (IEP) when the student is 16, the IEP must include transition services.

Visit ODE's Secondary Transition web page

Oregon Employability Skills

Oregon Employability Skills (OES) helps people learn and develop skills through hands-on learning and in-class experiences. These skills prepare them for future jobs in their chose field, enhancing opportunities for a successful future. Start your journey today!

Visit the OES website

See also

 Contact us

General email: pre.ets@odhsoha.oregon.gov
Fax: 503-947-5025

Contacts for schools and families

Staff