Attention High School Students and Parents!
The New York State Education Department ACCES-VR has two (2) pathways for students with
disabilities (ages 14-23) to obtain services.
ACCES-VR offers Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) that will help students develop a
better understanding of their career goals, strengths, interests, and abilities. They are designed for
younger students, are very easy to access and do not require an application to ACCES-VR.
Alternatively, ACCES-VR can provide additional services to assist in the transition period of getting
ready to leave high school. These transition services (which include Pre-ETS) are geared for older
students closer to exiting high school (within two years) and will require students to submit an
application to ACCES-VR.
Path 1
Path 2
**Recommended
for who?
Recommended for younger students
who have more than two years of high
school left (age 14 and older.)
Recommended for older students within
two years of high school completion
(age 14 and older.)
What services
are available
under this
pathway?
Pre-Employment Transition Services
geared towards younger students:
• Self-advocacy skills training
• Job exploration counseling
• Post-secondary options counseling
• Workplace Readiness Training (to
develop social skills and
independent living)
• Work-based Learning Experiences
which include paid internships with
job mentoring.
The full scope of vocational
rehabilitation services that are geared
towards older students (and adults) who
need less exploration services and
more transition assistance:
• Includes all Pre-ETS from Path 1
• Career Counseling
• Job Placement assistance
• Supported Employment
• College assistance
• Job Training
• Customized Employment
• And more
What can I
expect from
these services?
Service options are customized to meet
each student’s needs and career goals.
Local providers are available to meet in
person, at your school or virtually.
Services are typically provided in a
group or classroom setting but can be
individualized upon request.
Service options are customized to meet
each student’s needs and career goals.
Local providers are available to meet
you at your school, in the community or
virtually.
How can I get
these services?
It’s very easy and there is no need to
submit an application to ACCES-VR.
The Pre-ETS provider for your school
is:
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Give them a call or email and let them
know you’d like to receive Pre-ETS.
They’ll get some basic information from
you and let you know when you can
start. It’s that easy !!!
You can also contact your school’s
ACCES-VR Transition and Youth
Services Counselor for more
information:
_____________________________
_____________________________
You will need to submit an application
and be determined eligible for ACCES-
VR services.
You can ask your school’s transition
coordinator for one, you can call your
local ACCES-VR office to attend an
orientation, or, you can access the
application on line here.
In order to expedite this process, please
be sure to include your school records
(psychological, IEP, 504, medical forms,
etc.)
What happens
after the student
successfully
completes the
services?
Upon completing the Pre-ETS through
Path 1, the student can apply to
ACCES-VR to get further assistance or,
they can choose not to.
Successful completion of the
individualized VR program (which
generally spans months/years) leads to
employment and the start of a career!
Can I have it all???
You sure can!!! The ideal pathway would be for a younger student to start off by receiving Pre-ETS
through Path 1 early in their high school enrollment. Upon completion of Pre-ETS through Path 1 and
when they are within two years of exiting high school, their Pre-ETS provider will help them submit an
application for VR services.
For more information, please contact your local ACCES-VR office’s Senior VR Counselor Transition
and Youth Services
*** This is just a recommendation. Students as young as 14 years old can apply for VR services, and, high school
students who have not yet reached their 23
rd
birthday can receive services through the Potentially Eligible pathway.
