Pre-ETS
Pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS) are services available to students with disabilities who are eligible or potentially eligible for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services. These services should be provided in collaboration with school divisions and VR. Pre-ETS assist students in identifying career interests, practicing workplace readiness skills, enhancing job skills through real work experiences, and exploring postsecondary options.
Pre-ETS Categories
Job Exploration Counseling
Job Exploration Counseling introduces students to the world of work by expanding their awareness of available, in-demand, and exciting potential future career areas. These services allow students to learn about careers and career pathways. Students explore how their strengths, interests, and preferences relate to potential careers. Exploration can increase students' motivation and expand potential career options.
Work-Based Learning Experiences
Work-Based Learning Experiences are opportunities for students to experience authentic work environments to help them put their potential career interests in the context of the real world. Work-based learning experiences connect classroom learning to real-life work. They provide students with a view of post-high school possibilities. Students can explore potential careers of interest. This exploration is valuable as students learn more about what they like and dislike in potential careers. Students also develop important soft skills valued by employers. Work-based learning can provide a variety of experiences, including paid or non-paid work in the school or community.
Counseling on Educational and Training Options
Counseling on Educational and Training Options helps students research, consider, and explore training and educational options to expand their job interests to a career pathway. These can include college, vocational programs, and apprenticeships. Guidance on these options helps students envision a pathway for future success. When students understand the variety of options, they are better able to advocate for the pathway that best meets their needs.
Workplace Readiness Training
Workplace Readiness Training helps students build the general skills needed for employment. Workplace Readiness Skills include many commonly expected traits employers seek from most employees. These are skills and behaviors that are necessary for any job. They are sometimes called soft skills, employability skills, or job readiness skills. Examples of these skills include communication, teamwork, integrity, problem-solving, work ethic, and initiative.
Instruction in Self-Advocacy
Self-advocacy is a student's ability to communicate their wants and needs effectively. Instruction in self-advocacy helps students build the skills needed to speak up, ask questions, and advocate for themselves in school, at home, in the community, and at work. Students become partners in the transition planning process when they can share their interests, desires, and opinions.