In 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) mandated significant changes to the workforce development and vocational rehabilitation (VR) systems. One of these changes was a requirement that state vocational rehabilitation agencies set aside at least 15% of their federal funds to provide pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) to students with disabilities who are eligible or potentially eligible for VR services. Early evidence indicates that state VR agencies are providing these services through a mix of direct service provision by VR staff, contracts with community rehabilitation providers, and contracts with other entities such as high schools, community colleges, teachers, and social workers (Miller, Sevak, & Honeycutt, 2017).
Thelin, R., Grigal, M., & Sulewski, J. (2019). Summarizing Pre-Employment Transition Services and the Potential Role of Higher Education. VR and Youth Rehabilitation Research and Training Center Practice Brief, Issue No. 03. Rockville, MD: TransCen, Inc.