OVR's Early Reach Services

The Early Reach Coordinator, Bridget Rizzardi, offers individual and group services.

To refer a student for Early Reach services have the parent complete and return This Release Form.

Group Early Reach Services:

The Early Reach Coordinator can schedule presentations in any classroom that serves students receiving special education services or has students that identify as having a disability. Students participating in these groups will need the following release completed. These releases should be sent to Hillary Hubbell, at Hhubbell@pa.gov.

Groups are focused on any of the following topic areas: career exploration, workplace readiness trainings, self-advocacy, counseling on post-secondary education, job shadowing, independent living skills, and self-advocacy.

Your local Early Reach Coordinator, Bridget Rizzardi, has created presentations the following presentations.

  • Resume Writing

  • Communication: The Key to Success

  • Interviewing Skills & Mock Interviews

  • OVR: Who We Are & What We Do

  • Differently Abled

  • Disability Disclosure

  • Career Exploration

  • Hard and Soft Skills: What’s the Difference?

  • Let’s Complete an Interest Inventory

  • Becoming Work Ready

  • Time Management and Organization

  • Problem Solving in the Workplace

  • Networking Virtually and in Person

  • What is Sexual Harassment?

  • How to Complete A Job Application

  • Transition Jeopardy

If you are interested in a different presentation, please reach out to Bridget to discuss the possibility of her creating one specifically for your class.

Presentations work best with groups of students between 8-12 students.

Presentations are created to fit within the students' bell schedule . A typical presentation will take 30-45 minutes.

Early Reach Coordinators will need the ability to utilize a PowerPoint presentation and will need access to a computer, projector, and speakers. if this technology is not available, please let the Early Reach Coordinator know when you are scheduling the presentation.

The Early Reach Coordinator does ask that a staff member be present during these presentations.

Individual Early Reach Services:

For students who are 14 years old, and not yet in their junior year of high school, the Early Reach Coordinator can meet with a student and their family one-on-one. Meetings with the Early Reach Coordinator will be focused on discussing OVR services, career exploration, workplace readiness trainings, self-advocacy, counseling on post-secondary education, job shadowing, independent living skills, and self-advocacy.

If you have a student and family who would like to meet with the Early Reach Coordinator, please reach out to Bridget Rizzardi at brizzardi@pa.gov. They will need to complete this release, prior to meeting with Bridget.