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Barrow County details expanded transition services; GVRA partnership and industry certifications highlighted
Summary
District special-education leaders described transition planning, partnerships with the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA), pre-ETS, the YES paid-internship program, High School High-Tech, a BCSS Manufacturing Institute offering OSHA-10 and other certifications, and an inclusive transition fair attended by 110+ participants.
Barrow County's special-education team on Tuesday showcased a suite of transition services designed to prepare students with disabilities for employment, postsecondary education and independent living.
Ms. Amy Wadley (presented as Amy Waldley/Wadley in the transcript) described transition plans embedded in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), required by IDEA by age 16 or ninth grade, that identify employment, education/training and independent-living goals. She emphasized the district's partnership with the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) to connect students to pre'employment services, internships and longer-term supports.
Wadley outlined several district programs: pre-ETS (an eight'week exposure to career and workplace-readiness content delivered during the school year), the YES (Youth Employment Services) program that places seniors in paid internships coordinated with GVRA, High School High-Tech for students pursuing technical pathways, and STEP (Student Transition Enrichment Program) for students with significant cognitive disabilities who may need supported employment after graduation. The district also hosted a three'day BCSS Manufacturing Institute at Sims that offered industry certifications (OSHA-10, Lean Six Sigma White Belt, CPR/AED).
Wadley noted the district's transition fair recently attracted 23 agencies and more than 110 participants, providing a centralized opportunity for students, families and agencies to network about post'school options. School staff emphasized that transition planning is ongoing and begins in elementary grades in some schools, not solely in high school.
Next steps: district staff will continue to grow transition opportunities, expand partnerships with GVRA and Goodwill for paid internships, and explore additional sites for high-school transition programs.
