Glossary of Terms

Alternative high school diploma - Provided to students with disabilities who are unable to meet requirements for a regular high school diploma. Recipients of an alternative high school diploma will participate in alternate assessments and complete the alternative course of study. The alternative high school diploma is not equivalent to a regular high school diploma.

Competitive integrated employment - Competitive integrated employment is work performed by a person with a disability within an integrated setting. Wages are at least minimum wage or higher and at a rate comparable to non-disabled workers performing the same tasks.

Day program - Day programs for adults with disabilities provide a place to be active in the community, outside their homes. Adult day programs foster dignity, self-direction, increased independence, and improving quality through social interaction, purposeful activity, and leisure experiences.

Independent living - A living arrangement that maximizes independence and self-determination, especially for a person with a disability living in a community instead of in a medical facility.

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) - The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation works closely with the Kentucky Department of Education to assist eligible students with disabilities to identify, plan for, and achieve their vocational goals.

Postsecondary goal - Appropriate measurable postsecondary goals in the IEP based upon age appropriate transition assessments related to training, education, employment, and, where appropriate, independent living skills. Postsecondary transition goals must be in place by the student's 16th birthday.

Pre-ETS - Pre‐Employment Transition Services (Pre‐ETS) are provided through Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and serve students ages 14-21 who are in high school or are enrolled in training or education after high school. Students must have an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan demonstrating a condition that interferes with preparing for, getting, or keeping a job. Pre-ETS include: career exploration counseling, work readiness training, self-advocacy training, postsecondary educational counseling and community-based work experiences.

Supported employment - Supported employment is designed to promote personalized employment opportunities for people with disabilities when they need support to: Discover personal interests and contributions; find or negotiate a job that fits things people like to do and do well; become established as valued employees; and pursue job advancements.

Transition - Transition services are intended to prepare students to move from the world of school to the world of adulthood. Transition planning begins during high school at the latest. IDEA requires that transition planning start by the time the student reaches age 16. Transition planning may start earlier (when the student is younger than 16) if the IEP team decides it would be appropriate to do so. Transition planning takes place as part of developing the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Transition services - Transition services means a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability that (1) Is designed to be within a results-oriented process, that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child’s movement from school to post-school activities, including postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation; (2) Is based on the individual child’s needs, taking into account the child’s strengths, preferences, and interests; and includes— (i) Instruction; (ii) Related services; (iii) Community experiences; (iv) The development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives; and (v) If appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and provision of a functional vocational evaluation. (b) Transition services for children with disabilities may be special education, if provided as specially designed instruction, or a related service, if required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education.