For students with disabilities, the path towards employment and independent living often requires coordinated transition services and supports. At Linn Benton Lincoln ESD, our Youth Transition Program (YTP) facilitates this process through a collaborative partnership with local Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) offices and districts.
How the YTP Works
The YTP is a grant-funded program that embeds a Youth Transition Specialist at participating school sites. This specialist serves as a crucial liaison between students, families, school teams, and VR – streamlining the following key transition services:
VR Service Enrollment
The specialist guides eligible students through the application and intake process to initiate vocational rehabilitation services tailored to their needs.
Career Exploration and Planning
Through career interest assessments, counseling, and personalized planning, students map out their post-secondary vision and chart a path to achieve their employment goals.
Pre-Employment Training
Students access tailored instruction covering critical workplace skills like job searching, resume building, interviewing, workplace behavior, self-advocacy and more.
Work-Based Learning
The YTP facilitates community work experiences, job site tours, job shadows and internships aligned with each student’s interests to develop transferable vocational skills.
Interagency Collaboration
The Youth Transition Specialist coordinates between the student’s IEP team, VR counselor, employers, community colleges and adult service providers for a seamless transition.
Individualized Services
Core services are customized based on each student’s unique strengths, interests, disability-related needs and targeted post-school outcome through collaborative person-centered planning.
By embedding this strategic partnership within districts, the Youth Transition Program provides a comprehensive, individualized continuum of services to equip students for sustained employment success after exiting school.
Contact us today to learn how your district can implement this proven transition model through the YTP grant.
