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Shared STW Counselor and VR Technician Responsibilities

The STW Counselor and VR Technician may carry out the following responsibilities as DVR agency representatives:

• Outreach to educate individuals about the VR process and services
• Processing referrals and applications
• Conducting preliminary assessment interviews
• Securing preliminary eligibility documentation/ student records
• Case note documentation
• Attending Transition IEP meetings as the VR agency representative when invited by the school
• Providing guidance about informed choice, disability issues, and employment
• Follow up
• Networking activities that contribute to the successful employment outcome of Floridians with disabilities

Outreach activities of the STW Counselor and VR Technician are primarily focused on providing information about VR to school staff, students, parents, community professionals, and others interested in transition services. Outreach to these students should occur as early as possible during the transition planning process and must include, at a minimum:

• A description of the purpose of the Vocational Rehabilitation program
• Eligibility requirements
• Application procedures
• Scope of services that may be provided to eligible students

The STW Counselor or VR Technician can provide information regarding VR services that can be passed on to students and their families by contacting the following people:

• ESE Director
• ESE Teacher
• Transition Specialist
• School Guidance Counselor
• School Nurse
• Principal
• Support Coordinator

Ways the STW Counselor and VR Technician may conduct outreach include:

• Providing VR brochures and business cards to the school
• Having regularly scheduled school visits
• Participating in transition and job fairs at the school
• Attending school IEP meetings when invited
• Speaking about VR services at school staff meetings, student/parent group meetings, or interagency meetings

STW Counselors and VR Technicians should work with school staff to ensure referrals of students with disabilities to the VR program at the beginning of the school year as follows:

• Referral and application for VR services is recommended at age 16 for students attending schools who are or plan to be involved in community based work experiences (CBWE)
• All other students are encouraged to apply for VR transition services two years prior to school exit
• Students at high risk of dropping out should be referred if they are old enough to begin training or searching for employment
• The STW Counselor may act in an advisory capacity for at risk youth that are too young to apply

This should allow sufficient time for determining eligibility, VR service needs, and developing the approved IPE prior to the student’s exit from school.

The VR process may be expedited by having the referring school provide the STW Counselor or VR Technician with copies of the student’s important school documents at time of referral or application. These documents include:

• Current IEP or 504 Plan
• Medical and/or psychological records, to include the most recent 3 year reevaluation
• Transcripts or academic reports
• Attendance and tardiness reports
• Behavioral reports, if applicable
• Vocational training records and/or career assessments, if available
• Involvement with any other agencies, if applicable