Resources: vocational rehabilitation

The transition from high school to further education, training, or career is a pivotal time for young people. Marginalized groups – including deaf students – are especially vulnerable during this time, and access to services is critical to ensuring success.

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies nationwide have faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they strived to connect with isolated deaf students, overcome technology issues, and continue to support access to Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), vocational training, and employment.

Editor’s note: Heather Hapke from Rocky Mountain Deaf School agreed to share details about the school’s job training program, which includes an on-campus coffee shop, job shadowing and internships, a summer program, and more.

We at Rocky Mountain Deaf School are honored to be a part of the Trending Topic Tuesday Spotlight as we discuss our history and the successes of our program.

On October 15-16, the state of Illinois will gather its Rehabilitation Counselors for the Deaf (RCDs) together for the first time for statewide training that will include a session on what the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes can do to help their day-to-day efforts to serve deaf youth and adults in the state.