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Secondary Transition
The junior year of high school is pivotal in preparing for transition.
The student should be referred to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). Vocational
Rehabilitation is a state agency that provides services
for people with disabilities to enable them to obtain and maintain
employment.
The laws that have governed your child’s education for over a
decade will NO LONGER APPLY WHEN YOUR CHILD LEAVES HIGH SCHOOL. The
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as Section 504 of the
1973 Rehabilitation Act, will now ensure your child’s equal access.
SELF-ADVOCACY
Self-advocacy is an acquired skill for young adults. When the child
becomes a young adult, he/she must learn to seek out support for personal
needs and rights, to independently make choices on the accommodations
needed, and take responsibility for ensuring that accommodations are
provided. These skills are necessary throughout academic training and
in the workplace.
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
In the junior year of high school, college bound students and their
parents should be gathering college information, touring colleges, and
research information on financial aid and scholarships (there are several
scholarships specifically for the student who is deaf or hard of hearing).
Once accepted at a college, the student should contact the Disability
Support Services Office on campus, which will assist the student in
obtaining accommodations, such as interpreters, note takers, computer
assisted real time caption (CART), computer assisted note takers (CAN),
and assistive technology.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS
Most vocational programs are located within community college curriculums.
The VR counselor can assist the student in researching and applying
to vocational programs. The student should contact the Disability Services
Office on campus, which will assist the student in acquiring accommodations,
such as interpreters, note takers, computer assisted real time caption
(CART), computer assisted note takers (CAN), and assistive technology.
HIGH SCHOOL TO EMPLOYMENT
Your child may decide to pursue employment after high school. The VR
counselor can play an important role in assisting your child to obtain
employment. “Sampling” different jobs in the local community
can be very helpful in exposing the student to many vocational opportunities.
The VR counselor can assist in job development and placement, and in
helping the employer understand and accommodate the needs of the employee
who is deaf or hard of hearing on the job.
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