Workplace Readiness

Department of Vocational Resources (DVR) and Pre-Employment Transition Services (PreETS) in the NWESD Region

DVR is a statewide resource assisting people with disabilities to prepare for, secure, maintain, advance in, or regain employment. DVR partners with organizations and businesses to develop employment opportunities, serveing people who seek meaningful, secure employment but whose disabilities may result in one or more barriers to achieving an employment goal.

The goal of Pre-ETS contract work under the umbrella of DVR is to provide workplace readiness training, work-based learning, selfadvocacy, including paid internships, to qualified students. (www.dshs.wa.gov/dvr/pre-employment-transition-services-pre-ets)

Workplace Readiness

Purpose: Preparing students for entering the world of work and living independently. Sample Services: Soft skills training, time management, punctuality, financial literacy, mock interviews, resume building, accessing services/supports.

Work-Based Learning

Purpose: Try out jobs or gain work knowledge and experience prior to graduation. Sample Services: Job shadowing, workplace tours, informational interviews, paid internships.

Self-Advocacy

Purpose: Students learn rights, goal setting, responsibilities, and how to request accommodations or services/ supports needed during transition to post secondary education and employment. Sample Services: Instruction on when/how to disclose disability. Instruction on when/how to request accommodations. Instruction on self-determination. (www.dshs.wa.gov/dvr/pre-employment-transition-services-pre-ets)

Pre-ETS in the NWESD Region

The NWESD has two talented Transition Specialists on staff, Brian McClay and Peter Schlegel, who provide support for DVR work in our region. Brian and Peter are available to help students, families, and teachers navigate the process and increase student workplace readiness knowledge. The NWESD is expanding services to serve 10001500 students per month, working with 30 high schools throughout the region, and have a touch point in every county.

Brian said, “There are over 10,000 students in the NWESD region who qualify for the DVR/Pre-ETS programs; our goal is to reach more students and help them get into paid internships. But students need support, practice, and guidance with making connections, and we are here to help. Currently, we are leading workshops for students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and a resource teacher. We have students talking to us about post secondary goals and learning how to reach out to employers on their own. We strive to complement the HS Beyond Plan & IEP work and to instill confidence in students.”

A report from the Center for Change in Transition Services* from Seattle University shows that nearly 30% of students with all types of IEPs (22.6% with a specific learning disability) are not engaged in work, school, or training one year after high school. *Leaver data Pre-ETS 2020-2021. In the NWESD region, Brian and Peter work with over 1,000 students each month, most of whom have a specific learning disability. Brian said, “While there is a focus to improve the overall engagement rate, and we are seeing positive results, there is still much work to be done to help our students maximize their potential.”

Informational Interview Training

We use a modeling method using a preplanned script where Brian and Peter call business and industry contacts that students are interested in, put the call on speaker, so other students can see, listen, and learn, and talk through the the process of setting up an informational interview. They model the process and then turn to the students and say, “Now it’s your turn.”

Bringing Businesses into Classrooms

After discussions with students about interests and aptitudes, we invite local and regional business representatives into the classroom to discuss what type of characteristics employers want to see in an employee, what training they provide or education they require as well as current specific opportunities available at their place of business and the industry in general.

Job Site Tours

In our region, we work with many businesses and organizations who support job site tours engaging with us on internships (ex: ship/boat building, manufacturing, staffing, automotive, equipment company, resorts, municipalities). We will help the school to arrange logistics and itinerary (schools can request transportation reimbursement) and the NWESD works out a plan with the teachers and the transportation department.

Upcoming Opportunities

• Washington Apprenticeship Vocational Education (WAVE) Tour (stay tuned more information coming soon) • Paid internships in Snohomish, Skagit, Island, San Juan and Whatcom Counties that are available during the school year and throughout the summer. Contact us for a list of current student internship opportunities.

How to Get Involved

For Teachers, Special Education Directors, and Principals, reach out to the NWESD Pre-ETS team: 1. Find out if your school is participating in the Pre-ETS program and connect your students with this opportunity. 2. If you have a student with an interest in finding work, learning soft skills, and is willing to learn and is committed to showing up on time, we can connect them with teacher internships, job site tours. 3. Please have them fill out a Pre-ETS authorization form.

For Students: 1. Ask your teacher to assist you in contacting the NWESD

Transition Specialists. 2. Brian and/or Peter can help you in filling out a google survey interest form.

Contact us

Brian McClay, Program Specialist III | bmclay@nwesd.org | (360) 299-4716 Peter Schlegel, Program Specialist II | pschlegel@nwesd.org | (360) 298-4192

The NWESD is contracted with DVR to provide Pre-ETS services to 30 high schools in our region, serving students ages 14-21and is reimbursed based on the number of students who have filled out and returned their Pre-ETS permission forms for DVR services.

Students who are on a 504 or IEP eligible and registered with DVR with a Pre-ETS signed form.