Project Skills

Project Skills is a paid work experience program that ties together the support and efforts of many different people. The program provides high school students with the opportunity to get real career experiences within the world of work. Through the program, students are able to explore vocational interests, practice the skills required to become a good employee, and develop a structure to lean on as they transition out of high school. Project Skills is funded through the Department of Human Services: Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) and Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI), and local school districts. DRS and SBVI are referred to as Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and is a program that provides individualized vocational rehabilitation and supportive services to assist eligible individuals with disabilities to reach their employment goals. For the purposes of this manual, these programs will be referred to as VR.

Students apply for VR services, and when determined eligible, will work with school staff and a VR counselor to develop an Individualized Plan for Employment. Once the plan is in place, the school staff (or a provider) will assist the student in identifying and obtaining a job in the community. This includes identifying and providing necessary supports for the student to be successful during the work experience. The student is paid through the VR program using federal training dollars at the current minimum wage. The student may work up to 250 hours per school year.

The Project Skills manual has been developed with the awareness that each of us plays a unique role in supporting our students participating in Project Skills. The different sections are written through the lens of each of these roles. Feel free to check out all the sections, but make sure to read through the section that relates to YOUR role. The manual can serve as a go-to resource to answer your questions and help you coordinate activities from start to finish. As wonderful a document as this manual might be, each situation may have unique aspects that cannot possibly all be explained and covered here. In those situations, let your VR counselor or regional transition liaison become your resource.