Did you know...The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation in 2024 requiring all Virginia guardians to complete training developed by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) on the following topics: the responsibilities and duties of guardians, how to complete annual guardianship reports, how to involve and encourage participation of incapacitated adults in decisions made by such guardians, medical advocacy, and decision-making on behalf of other persons. In addition, any skilled professional hired to assist the guardian with their responsibilities must complete the training. Visit the all-new Resource page with tools, guides, and more information for guardianship in Virginia.
Transition Services Guide: click to access the DARS Transition Guide for Families
Pre-ETS offerings for students
After-School and In-School Pathway Course:
Three to ten students can comprise a cohort for an in-school/after-school program. This program may be virtually for after-school delivery and can include multiple school sites.
The curriculum can address one to four core areas:
· Job Exploration Counseling (JEC)
· Work Readiness Training (WRT)
· Instruction in Self-Advocacy (ISA)
· Counseling on Post-Secondary Options (CPST)
The Pathways curriculum, including interest testing and career pathway review, will inform and facilitate targeted lessons that support each student in making more informed choices and ultimately, the development of a personalized digital portfolio. This portfolio will provide resources and is intended to act as a roadmap for the transition students as they enter the workforce or postsecondary education.
Upon completion, each student will have a resume and sample cover letter, sample job application, soft skills recommendations, a report documenting interest testing results and further vocational recommendations and barriers to employment that will need to be addressed for the student to be successful. Students must be committed to participate.
Digital portfolios include the following deliverables:
· Individualized resume, cover letter template, sample application
· Pretest/posttest results
· Career Interest Assessments – O*Net Interest Assessment
· Job Exploration Counseling to include Career Profile
· Counseling on available Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Educational/Training Programs
· Workplace Readiness Skills Training
· Resources to address and identify Barriers to Employment
· Instruction in Self-Advocacy
· Written Report documenting service results and vocational recommendations
Workplace Readiness Training:
Similar to the Pathways model, this curriculum focuses solely on Workplace Readiness Training (WRT) to prepare students for Work-based learning and community-based work experiences. Workplace readiness skills are necessary for any job, such as how to interact with supervisors and co-workers and the importance of timeliness. These skills are often referred to as “soft skills”. Development of these skills through engaging in classroom activities can effectively prepare students for work-based learning opportunities and ultimately success in the world of work.
Individual Work-based Learning Experience (WBLE) Exploratory Extension :
One-on-one services based on results from After-School Pathways or interest assessment at intake. Students receive individualized services to explore opportunities with real employers in the community. Services can include tours, job shadow opportunities, Informational Interviews, Workplace Tours/ Field Trips, and potentially Career Mentorship Development.
Students needing referral for mentorship program aligned with vocational goals.
Parents must consent to the program, click here for parent letters and forms.
A teacher must also refer the students by completing this parent form.
Completed forms must be submitted to shildebrandt@hampton.k12.va.us
The subject line should read: RAMP Referral (Student’s Full Name)
Social Skills (Virtual Self-advocacy course- meets one time a week for 16 weeks)
Completed forms must be submitted to shildebrandt@hampton.k12.va.us
The subject line should read: Peers Referral (Student’s Full Name)
For more information on PEERS, Click Here.
Referral: Click Here
Peers can be in the evening for an individual or an entire class
VR offerings for Students (Adult Connection)
Individual Work Experience (WE) Intensive Extension:
More intensive one-on-one services based on results from Pathways or interest assessment at intake. Students are supported in securing appropriate volunteer or paid work experience placements in the community in competitive and integrated work settings, that are a good match based on the students’ interests, aptitudes, support needs, and vocational preferences. This can be a paid or unpaid internship.
Paid Internship Letter for SSI recipients
Individual Work Readiness Travel Training:
Highly individualized Work Readiness Travel Training services are designed to provide one-to-one skill building to develop increased independence in navigating the community for work and school. Services can support students with disabilities in learning to ride public transportation, navigate community resources, providing travel skills assessments, as well as many other related skills including travel plan development and time management, mapping and orientation skills, landmark identification and mapping skills, safety awareness, urban travel training, problem-solving/handling emergencies, ride share negotiation and rudimentary financial management for travel.
Community Knights Paid Internship (WBL Experience-8 wk Paid Internships)
Community Knights Paid Internship (WBL Experience-8 wk Paid Internships)
WBL Student list
Start on Success (CTE Course with DARS Partner)
Start on Success (CTE Course with DARS Partner)
Active Student List
Education for Employment (CTE Course with DARS Partner)
Education for Employment (CTE Course with DARS Partner)
See your counselors for more information on access to EFE at your high school.
VR: Eligibility Information
Refer Students through this form!
Determination
Functional Limitations Checkbox list:*
Limits communication for employment outcome ☐
Limits interpersonal skills ☐
Limits mobility for an employment outcome ☐
Limits self care for an employment outcome ☐
Limits self direction for employment outcome ☐
Limits work skills ☐
Limits work tolerance ☐
Requires extended period of time for VR Services (For MSD, requires 6 months or longer) Yes ☐ No ☐
Requires multiple VR services (For MSD, requires at least 2 - which may be c&g and job search) Yes ☐ No ☐
Evaluating and determining the degree or seriousness of limitations in any of the functional capacities relies on observations and input from family members, employers, and referral sources; the consumer’s self report; the counselor’s observations; and a thorough review of medical/psychological, educational, and work history. Some individuals will have limitations but they do not meet the definition of serious. Something that occurs only occasionally or infrequently may not constitute a serious limitation. VR Counselors will check as many boxes under each category that apply to the VR client. However, no matter how many boxes are checked within a category, the category counts as 1 SFL.
● Example of 1 SFL: A client with Unable to get around in workplace, Dependent on adaptive equipment in vehicle, Needs special training to obtain driver’s license is SD – 1 (all 3 are under Mobility category).
● Example of 2 SFLs: A client with Unable to get around in workplace, Requires constant supervision is SD – 2 (1 is under Mobility and the other is under Self-Direction).
● Example of 3 SFLs: A client with Unable to get around in workplace, Requires constant supervision, Disfigurement causes others to avoid relationships is MSD (Mobility, Self-direction, Interpersonal Skills).
Copy and Paste Directions: While keeping your CTRL key depressed click on all the appropriate definition blocks. Once all appropriate blocks are highlighted, copy and paste in AWARE Priority Disability screen, Section 2 Additional Information, Comments text box.
Mobility category
means the physical, cognitive, and psychological ability to move from place to place inside and outside the home. Having lost one’s privilege to drive for legal reasons, such as D.U.I., does not constitute a serious functional limitation in this category. A serious limitation exists when any one of the following applies:
Mobility: Unable to get around in the community, home, or workplace without assistance from others due to a disability.
Mobility: Failed attempts to prepare for or obtain a driver’s license without special adaptations, accommodations, or special training due to a disability.
Mobility: Requires specialized transportation due to a disability.
Mobility: Unable to learn to use or access public transportation needed for employment due to a disability.
Mobility: Dependent on adaptive equipment due to a disability.
Self Direction category
means the ability to plan, initiate, problem solve, organize, or independently carry out goal directed activities as relates to independent living and work. A serious limitation exists when any one of the following applies:
Self Direction: Requires supervision on a constant basis due to a disability.
Self Direction: Requires supervision to begin and finish tasks, monitor own behavior, or make decisions due to a disability.
Self Direction: Serious difficulty working independently resulting in job loss due to a disability.
Self Direction: Serious difficulty shifting focus from one activity or task to the next without prompting, due to a disability.
Self Direction: Serious difficulty adjusting to new situations or changes to the daily routine due to a disability.
Self Direction: Easily distracted/short attention span leading to repeatedly poor task completion, due to a disability.
Self Direction: Impatient/impulsive behaviors leading to repeatedly poor task completion, due to a disability.
Self Direction: Unaware of negative consequences of decisions resulting in repeated poor task completion or job loss, due to a disability.
Self Care category
means the physical, cognitive, and emotional ability to manage self or living environment as they affect the individual’s ability to participate in training or work-related activities. A serious limitation exists when any one of the following applies:
Self Care: Cannot perform personal hygiene functions without assistance from others, due to a disability.
Self Care: Needs reinforcement or reminders to maintain appropriate personal hygiene due to a disability.
Self Care: Cannot dress without assistance due to a disability.
Self Care: Cannot feed self without assistance due to a disability.
Self Care: Cannot comply with meds/treatment without assistance or prompting due to a disability.
Self Care: Cannot handle money or budgeting without assistance due to a disability.
Self Care: Requires attendant care, assistive technology, or other devices for self care, due to a disability.
Self Care: Cannot live independently without supports due to a disability.
Interpersonal Skills category
means the ability to establish and maintain personal, family, and community relationships. A serious limitation exists when any one of the following applies:
Interpersonal Skills: Significant social withdrawal, due to a disability, has resulted in inability to prepare for or succeed in work.
Interpersonal Skills: Significantly poor relationships, inappropriate behaviors, or frequent conflicts with peers, co-workers, supervisors, and others leading to inability to prepare for or succeed in work, due to a disability.
Interpersonal Skills: Serious problems interpreting and responding appropriately to behavior/communication of others or fails to understand obvious social cues, due to a disability.
Interpersonal Skills: Does not understand acceptable levels and types of interaction appropriate to work site, due to a disability.
Interpersonal Skills: Requires frequent intervention from a teacher or supervisor in order to manage behavior, due to a disability.
Interpersonal Skills: Disability related personal behaviors have led to frequent legal problems.
Interpersonal Skills: Deformity, disfigurement, or disability related behavior causes others to avoid relationships or interactions.
Communication category
means the ability to effectively exchange information through words or concepts (writing, speaking, listening, sign language or other adaptive methods). Limitations result from a disability and not from a language or cultural difference. A serious limitation exists when any one of the following applies:
Communication: Severely impaired expressive or receptive communication, either oral or written, due to a disability. Example needs additional time or other accommodations to organize thoughts or communicate effectively.
Communication: Serious difficulty conversing without speech-reading, sign language, or other visual cues due to a disability.
Communication: Dependent upon adaptive technology to communicate effectively due to a disability.
Communication: Difficulty engaging in telephone conversations even with amplification due to a disability.
Communication: Not readily understood by others on first contact due to a disability.
Work Tolerance category
means the capacity to perform effectively and efficiently jobs that require various levels of physical, emotional, and psychological demands of work. A serious limitation exists when any one of the following applies:
Work Tolerance: Due to a disability, does not have the capacity or endurance to perform duties without modifications, adaptive technology and/or accommodations not typically made for others. Examples: cannot sustain 8 hour workday, needs extra rest periods, needs adjustments in starting and ending times, needs shorter work day or week, etc.
Work Tolerance: Cannot perform at a consistent pace as required to meet production/quality standards due to a disability.
Work Tolerance: Needs frequent breaks to compose and organize self in order to maintain work, due to a disability.
Work Tolerance: Due to a disability, cannot tolerate sitting/standing/bending/reaching to do a job which others without a disability could tolerate.
Work Skills category
means the ability to perform specific tasks required to carry out job functions, the capacity to benefit from training in the necessary skills, and the capacity to practice the work habits needed to stay employed. A serious limitation exists when any one of the following applies:
Work Skills: Due to a disability, needs significantly more support or supervision to learn and perform a job than normally required of persons of equivalent age, education, training, or experience.
Work Skills: Due to a disability, cannot learn work skills without rehabilitation technology, accommodations or modifications.
Work Skills: Exhibits poor work habits resulting in a history of job loss (problems with attendance, timeliness, following instructions, etc.) due to a disability.
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