Transition: School-to-Work

The Transition: School-to-Work Program helps students with disabilities who are eligible for vocational rehabilitation services to prepare for employment and life after high school. Services available through counselors in the Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation and Visual Services assigned to each high school include:

• Vocational counseling and guidance assists teachers, parents and students in developing appropriate career goals.
• Vocational assessment and evaluation helps determine students' employment-related strengths.
• Work study, arranged through contracts with the schools,  provides job readiness skills, minimum-wage work experience at the school district or in the community and high school credits.
• Work adjustment training is provided through contracts with the schools or purchased from community-based facilities, and provides students with skills to help them prepare for employment.
• On-the-job training is arranged in the community for students in the second semester of their senior year with permanent employment as a goal.
• Supported employment helps students in the second semester of their senior year transition into permanent employment.
• Job development and placement specialists help students make job searches more successful.

After graduation, DRS counselors and students continue to work toward vocational and employment goals. Some services are available to all eligible individuals without charge. At this point, individuals may be asked to share the cost of some services, depending on income and financial resources.

To find the DRS office that serves your high school, follow this link.

Oklahoma Transition Institute

In partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) Special Education Services (SES), The Department of Career and Technology Education, and other key stakeholders from across state agencies, schools, families, businesses, and other groups, DRS co-chairs the Oklahoma Transition Council which focuses on improving transition planning, services, and post-school outcomes for young adults with disabilities.

The council hosts an annual Oklahoma Transition Institute (OTI), where regional transition teams from across the state come together to learn about innovative practices and programs and to develop a plan for how to improve transition in their local areas. All of this work is done in partnership with the National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC) who has chosen Oklahoma as one of its targeted states. The Council has patterned its work after a model implemented in New Mexico using the Taxonomy for Transition Programming.

To learn more about the council, OTI, or how to join a local transition team in your area, contact the transition coordinator, by phone at 405.635.2768, or e-mail.

Project Search

DRS' Transition: School-to-Work program works in collaboration with partners to offer a program dedicated to providing education and employment preparation opportunities for individuals with significant disabilities. Project SEARCH originated with the Cincinnati Children's Hospital and is a one-year, worksite-based school-to-work program. Participants complete between three and four rotations of 10 weeks each on various jobs within a host employment setting.

DRS has five programs at this time—two young adult programs in Oklahoma City, and three high school transition programs for seniors. The programs include the following partners.

Young Adult Programs

• Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Mercy Health Systems, OU-NCDET, and DRS
• Metro Technology Centers, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Dale Rogers Training Center, OU-NCDET, DRS

High School Transition Programs

• Byng Public Schools, Allen Public Schools, Latta Public Schools, Roff Public Schools, Stonewall Public Schools, Vanoss Public Schools, Valley View Regional Hospital, Not Just Jobs, OU-NCDET, DRS
• Enid Public Schools, INTEGRIS Bass Baptist Health Center, 4RKids Foundation, OU-NCDET, DRS
• Jenks Public Schools, St. John Medical Center, DRS, Central Technology Center, OU-NCDET, DRS

The mission of this program is to maximize the potential of people with disabilities through competitive employment in non-traditional jobs. DRS provides individualized vocational guidance and funding for job coaches, training, technical assistance and project management through a contract with the NCDET-OU. For more information about Project SEARCH, contact the DRS transition coordinator, by phone at 405.635.2768, or e-mail.

Timeline of Transition Activities

The Oklahoma Transition Council (OTC) developed a timeline of transition activities to help families, schools, and other partners begin working with children and youth to develop skills, access resources, and make strides toward preparing for life after high school. You can access the timeline by visiting the University of Oklahoma Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment, Timeline of Transition Activities.

Articles published in papers around the state:

Standard Print - Read the Oklahoman about Interns working at Chesapeake  |  Large Print  |  Braille Ready - Read the Oklahoman about Interns working at Chesapeake

Standard Print - Read the Edmond Sun article about Chesapeake launches program to train young adults with disabilities  |  Large Print  |  Braille Ready - Read the Edmond Sun article about Chesapeake launches program to train young adults with disabilities

Standard Print - Read the Journal Record article about interns at Mercy Hospital  |  Large Print  |  Braille Ready - Read the Journal Record article about interns at Mercy Hospital

Standard Print - Read Tulsa World article about Project SEARCH  |  Large Print  |  Braille Ready - Tulsa World article about Project Search

Standard Print - Read Ada Evening News article about Project SEARCH  | Large Print  | Braille Ready - Ada Evening News article about Project SEARCH

Check out the Transition: School-to-Work folder

Folder Standard Print  |  Folder Large Print  |  Folder Braille

Spanish Folder Standard Print  |  Spanish Folder Large Print  |  Spanish Folder Braille Ready

Check out the Transition: School-to-Work brochure:

Brochure Standard Print  |   Brochure Large Print  |  Brochure Braille

Transition: School-to-Work checklist

Checklist Standard Print  |   Checklist Large Print  |  Checklist Braille

  Video!

Watch the Public Service Announcement about Transition Program.

Read the the Public Service Announcement about Transition Program transcript