Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation outlines transition services for students with disabilities

Jessica Miller, a vocational rehabilitation counselor with the Missouri Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, spoke at a virtual Lunch and Learn hosted by the Family and Community Engagement Division of the Special School District St. Louis County about transition services available to students with disabilities.

Miller said the agency’s mission is “to support individuals with disabilities in achieving successful employment outcomes.” She described programs and eligibility rules, and gave contact information for families seeking services.

The presentation explained that pre‑employment transition services funded under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) can begin as early as age 14 when the appropriate language is included in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Those pre‑employment services are available to students even if they do not yet have an open VR case, Miller said.

Miller summarized core offerings: workplace readiness training, work‑based learning experiences, job‑exploration counseling, instruction in self‑advocacy, and counseling on postsecondary enrollment. She described a common summer work program: a six‑week placement at 20 hours per week, paid at minimum wage (stated in the presentation as $13.70 per hour), with a job coach and an expected coach‑to‑student ratio typically between 1:5 and 1:6. Students eligible for the summer program must be at least 16 by the program start date and typically are in the final two summers before graduation.

Miller described two categories of paid supports provided by VR and by community rehabilitation providers (CRPs) such as Goodwill, UCP, Easterseals and St. Louis Arc. “Supported employment” serves students who are most significantly disabled and need longer‑term on‑the‑job coaching, discovery and community‑based assessment, job development and long‑term follow‑along services. “Employment services” provide more limited short‑term coaching (about 20 hours) with retention support for 90 days after placement.

She also discussed co‑op placements for high school students enrolled in an IEP who have obtained employment on their own, and described college and training assistance that is offered based on family financial need (families, not the student, are considered financially responsible for determining eligibility while the student remains a dependent, generally through age 23). Miller said VR can assist with connections to college disability support offices and provide counseling and follow‑along services through the transition from training to employment.

On eligibility, Miller said applicants must have a physical or mental impairment, documented by qualified personnel, that constitutes a substantial impediment to employment. Documentation used to establish eligibility includes IEPs or 504 plans, high school transcripts, diagnostic evaluations, IQ or achievement test results, medical records and, where relevant, proof of Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Miller explained that a case is typically closed successfully when a client has completed a minimum of 90 days of competitive, integrated employment and no longer requires VR services; clients may reapply later if needed. She gave a phone number for VR general inquiries as (573) 751‑3251, a toll‑free number (877) 222‑8963, a TDD number (573) 751‑0881 and an agency email listed in the presentation (info@vr.dese.mo.gov). The presentation closed with a reminder of upcoming Family and Community Engagement events.

The session included questions and clarifications about program eligibility, documentation and how VR coordinates with schools and community providers. No formal board action or vote occurred during the presentation.