Employment Supports

Sometimes youth and adults with disabilities need supports to find & keep work. Initially this can be provided by school districts through career & technology courses, work based learning programs or internships and apprenticeships. In addition, Texas Workforce – Vocational Rehabilitation (TWC-VR) can provide support.

Often families wonder why TWC does not attend ARD/IEP meetings. The school district is required to invite anyone to IEP transition planning meetings that you request, but there is no requirement for TWC to attend unless your child is enrolled for services with TWC. It is important to have a coordination of services between what the school provides and what TWC will provide. You can easily refer yourself or your child for TWC services using the online self referral portal OR visit a local office.

**NEW** Online Self Referral For Texas Workforce Voc. Rehab. services

***NEW*** To find your local Voc. Rehab. office – VR Office Lookup

There are three types of services:

1. Traditional job placement support through Workforce Solutions offices (open to everyone).
2. Pre Employment transition services (Pre-ETS) provided through voc. rehab. for youth age 14-21
   Adult services. This includes Summer Earn & Learn.
3. Adult services for individuals age 18+.

Pre Employment transition services do not require an intensive assessment, but families must get their children enrolled with TWC-VR. Pre-ETS provide:

• Job exploration counseling
• Work-based learning experiences, which may include in-school or after school opportunities, experiences outside of the traditional school setting, and/or internships
• Counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs
• Workplace readiness training to develop social skills and independent living
• Instruction in self-advocacy

Adult Services may require an intensive vocational assessment after a young adult with a disability enrolls with TWC-VR. It is important to understand that your child must be interested in working. All supports that will be offered will need to be “asked for” by your young adult (not by Mom or Dad). After the assessment, TWC-VR will develop an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) which will list the supports & services that TWC-VR will provide your son or daughter. These services are then assigned to an independent contractor who will work with your son or daughter. You can suggest an independent contractor if you know a good organization that works with individuals with disabilities.

Please know that the process from intake, to assessment, to IPE, to contractor assignment may take up to 90+ days.

RESOURCES:

Vocational Rehabilitative Services:

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) provides Vocational Rehabilitative Services for people with physical or cognitive disabilities, including blindness or visual impairment. 

• Vocational Rehabilitation – Youth & Students
• Vocational Rehabilitation – Adults
• Vocational Rehabilitation program for individuals with visual impairments – Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center

Social Security – Social Security Work Incentives for SSI & SSDI

Disability Rights Texas – Employment Resources

• Workplace Accommodations Request (downloadable template letter)
• Client Assistance Program (CAP) –  helping individuals with disabilities gain access to and benefit from rehabilitation services leading to employment, independent living and greater community participation.
• Protection And Advocacy For Beneficiairies of Social Security Program (PABSS) – Must be current SSDI/SSI recepient
• 10 Self Advocacy Tips
• Employment Discrimination

ADA & Accommodations for Employment:

• Hearing Disabilities in the Workplace & the ADA – US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
• Prohibited Employment Practices – US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• EEOC Disability Related Resources
• ADA – US Dept of Labor
• Accommodations – US Dept of Labor
• Job Accommodation Network
• 411 on Disability Disclosure – Video and pdf download

Other:

• Transition in Tennessee – I want to go to Work (Student video series) – These four courses will guide you to prepare for the world of work.
• Autism Doesn’t Hold People Back from Work; Discrimination Does (but there’s a way to defy it) by Ludmila N. Praslova – Define Career Success, Craft Your Job, Make Space for Purpose