You are on this page: Vocational Rehabilitation Services for Transition Age Youth (14-21)
NYSCB provides pre-employment transition services to students ages 14 to 21, transition services to youth and vocational rehabilitation services for all students who are legally blind, including those with additional disabilities.
NYSCB's Primary Role
NYSCB's primary role with school-age youth is to provide consultation that may include:
- recommending assessments and assisting in the interpretation of results, if requested;
- providing information on resources in the area and assisting in identifying the need for involvement by other state agencies and service providers;
- providing assessments for in-school youth to meet the planning needs of NYSCB;
- providing information on vocational rehabilitation services and outcomes;
- providing information to assist in the selection of suitable vocational goals;
- attending or providing input to Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings, 504 meetings; and
- providing services written into the student's individualized education plan by the CSE with the direct involvement and agreement of NYSCB.
Services
Services provided by NYSCB may include the following:
- Rehabilitation teaching - outside of school hours, for application in the home
- Orientation and mobility - outside of school hours, for application in the home
- Low vision exams and devices
- Adaptive equipment for home use (total not to exceed $500/student/year)
- Social casework services
- Summer youth employment and/or work experiences, which may include:
- Job coaching
- Reimbursement to the employer for training expenses (wages)
- A training stipend to the student to cover work related expenses (e.g., maintenance and transportation) when the student is not paid wages by the employer
Note:
NYSCB policy places limitations on the provision of the above services.
NYSCB will not take responsibility for services and assistive technology that the school district is mandated to provide.
Training
Youth can receive a high-tech assessment, training and equipment if it is needed for a post-secondary setting, vocational training specific to the student's vocational goal, or placement for a job. Youth must have an approved Individualized Plan for Employment and plan to exit school within two years in order to receive technology services.
Contact
For further information regarding NYSCB transition services, please contact:
Lauren Corp, Coordinator of Children and Transition Services
New York State Commission for the Blind
Capital View Office Park, Room 201
52 Washington Street
Rensselaer, NY 12144-2796
(518) 474-6956
lauren.corp@ocfs.ny.gov
Additional information describing the transition process for secondary students with disabilities can be found at the ACCES-VR web site.