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Students with disabilities (SWD) are referred for pre-employment transition services from a variety of sources and are entered into the QE2 database at the time of referral.

Who may refer students? Special educators, guidance counselors, school nurses, school psychologists, speech language pathologists, administrators, regular educators, juvenile justice staff, community counselors, agency personnel, and parents/ authorized representatives may refer students to Nebraska VR. Students may also self-refer.

Who may be referred? 

• A SWD, ages 14-21 (through the student's 21st year)

• A SWD eligible for and receiving special education services or related services under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or an individual with a disability for the purposes of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

• A SWD in an educational program, which includes secondary education programs, non-traditional or alternative secondary education programs, home schooling, post-secondary education programs, other recognized educational programs, such as those offered through the juvenile justice system

Examples of Impairments (this is not an exhaustive list):

•  Physical/Medical: cerebral palsy, deaf, hearing impaired, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, orthopedic impairment, heart condition, dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Traumatic brain injury (TBI), autism

•  Mental Health: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), drug/alcohol abuse, adjustment disorder

• Learning: specific learning disability, intellectual disability, autism, speech/language impairment

 

When may a referral be made? Students may be referred at age 14 to begin the process of engaging pre-employment transition services provided by Nebraska VR. This may include students enrolled in middle school. 

Most students will begin their services with Nebraska VR with a signed Pre-Employment Transition Consent and Information Release and be considered potentially eligible for Nebraska VR services. 

Students also have the option to apply for Nebraska VR services and be eligible for pre-employment transition services by virtue of being a SWD, age 14 to 21. SWD must receive at least one pre-employment transition service prior to eligibility determination.

Impairment Involving Vision Loss: Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCBVI) is funded and governed by the same rules and regulations as Nebraska VR. NCBVI specialized in working with individuals who are blind or experience a vision loss. Nebraska VR cannot serve a student whose only disability is vision. A student reporting multiple impairments, one of which is vision, should be referred to NCBVI to determine eligibility for the NCBVI program. If the student is eligible for NCBVI, the must be served by NCBVI. if the student is not eligible for NCBVI, the student may be potentially eligible for pre-employment transition services based on other impairments. 

How is a referral processed?

• Accept a completed Nebraska VR Referral form, or

• Accept a completed Pre-Employment Transition Services Consent and Release

• Review Nebraska VR Referral form or Pre-Employment Transition Services Consent and Release for completeness and accuracy (Social Security number is not required)

• Name and address

  Use the person's legal name. Do not use diminutives or nicknames. If in doubt, use the name that appears on the person's Social Security card. For non-citizens, enter the name as it appears on his/her immigration document. An address must be gathered for the person, if they are homeless record the address of where they receive mail.

  Hispanic or Latino

  This is the self-reported ethnicity of the person. Persons who regard themselves as Hispanic or Latino should check "Yes." Hispanics or Latinos can be of any race. For example, many Hispanics coming to Nebraska from Mexico are Native American. Some coming from Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean nations are Black.

  If refuse to answer, record as "No."

  Race

  This is the self-reported race of the person. They can check all boxes that apply. Multiple responses are permitted.

• White refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. It includes people who describe their race or races as "White" or use other terms such as Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese, Near Easterner, Arab, or Polish.

• Black or African American refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. It includes people who describe their race or races as "Black, African American, or Negro," or use other terms such as African American, Afro American, Nigerian, or Haitian.

• Asian refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. It includes people who describe their race or races as "Asian Indian," "Chinese," "Filipino," "Korean," "Japanese," "Vietnamese," or "Other Asian," or use other terms such as Burmese, Hmong, Pakistani, or Thai.

• Native American or Alaska Native refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of North, Central, and South America, and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment. It includes people who describe their race or races using the terms "American Indian" or "Alaska Native" or by stating their principal or enrolled tribe, such as Santee Sioux, Chippewa, Omaha, or Inuit.

• Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. It includes people who describe their race or races as "Native Hawaiian," "Guamanian or Chamorro," "Samoan," or "Other Pacific Islander," or use other terms such as Tahitian, Mariana Islander, or Chuukese.

• "Refused" is an option for those who do not fit the above categories or do not wish to identify.  

      School: Please indicate what school the student is attending. 

      High School Students

    Indicate the grade the student is in and the anticipated date of graduation. 

      504 Plan or IEP

• Check if the student has either a 504 Plan or an IEP

  Authorized Representative Name and Signatures

• An authorized representative signature is required to give consent for students under the age of 19 and all students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP); best practice is to have the student sign all forms pertaining to their services in addition to the authorized signature. See  Signatures Required on VR Documents

• Enter information in QE2

• Contact the student and authorized representative within 10 days of the referral. The Pre-ETS Letter- Welcome may be sent. 

• A copy of the Pre-Employment Transition Service Consent and Information Release should be mailed to the address on file. 

• Document or schedule an appointment to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services Orientation and to complete a Pre-Employment Transition Services Consent and Information Release (if necessary) or an application for VR services

• Effective date: The VR Representative receiving the completed Pre-Employment Transition Services Consent and Release or application for VR services shall acknowledge receipt by signing the form/application and dating the signature with the date and time the application was received. The effective date is the date a consent & release of information or an application, which has been signed by the authorized representative, as required and by the student consistent with best practice, is received by Nebraska VR. 

An authorized representative signature on the Pre-Employment Transition Consent and Information Release is sufficient to verify the student’s disability for the purposes of Pre-Employment Transition Services (See. Further information should be gathered to assist with planning including the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) report, IEP, medical information, etc. from the school. It is appropriate to request records from authorized representatives. Please note that records cannot be paid for with an authorization in QE2 for the purposes of pre-employment transition services.

Students who have signed a Pre-Employment Transition Services Consent and Release have access to the Client Assistance Program (CAP). Refer to the Client Assistance Program. 

When a pre-employment transition students is reassigned to a different VR staff member, a Change of Contact letter should be mailed. A Change of Contact letter provides contact information to the student and authorized representative. 

Pre-Employment Transition Services Consent & Information Release - English

Pre-Employment Transition Services Consent & Information Release - Spanish

Signing of VR Documents chart

VR Referral Form - English

VR Referral Form - Spanish

Pre-ETS Letter Change of Contact - English

Pre-ETS Letter Change of Contact - Spanish

Pre-ETS Letter Welcome - English

Pre-ETS Letter Welcome - Spanish