Agency involvement in Transition Planning can make a significant difference in the lives of students with disabilities. Sometimes it can be difficult for districts to make the necessary connections. We can help make that connection. We work to share as much agency information as we can with districts and strive to keep communication and collaboration always in the works! Transition Fairs at Arkansas schools are becoming more common and are a great way for districts to share information with parents and students about agency eligibility requirements and services. We do our best to make sure that schools are aware of the agencies that should be invited to those events.

ATS can also provide transition training appropriate for various agencies that currently work with students or might work with them in the future. We continually seek agency input through our progressing partnership, ATS Interagency Collaboration Program.

Check out our Interagency Collaboration Resource Guide!!
Click here for the Spanish version!

The Interagency Collaboration Resource Guide offers some guidance to parents on activities they can do from ages birth to high school, that will help in the secondary transition process. This durable folder, when placed in the parents’ hands, can offer a “roadmap” of important things to look into, activities to do at home, agencies to connect with and suggestions for becoming more involved in the transition process—AND encouraging their children to become more involved. The folder contains contact information for valuable resources that can help in the secondary transition process. We have even coordinated some of the activities with agencies and resources that can offer assistance in many of the activities. But we have to get them in the hands of our parents! 

Would your agency like to have these professionally printed? Send an artwork request to jennifer.bibel@ade.arkansas.gov. Please include your agency name, contact                 information and who you intend to distribute to.

Helpful tools for agencies:

DDS Community and Employment Supports (CES) Waiver  (Spanish)  - Need more info on waiver services? This document will explain the purpose of the CES waiver, eligibility criteria, and how to apply!

Agency Brief (PDF) – a brief description of state agencies in Arkansas (don’t see your agency on here? Let us know!)

Summary of Performance (PDF) – a tool that we hope many agencies will receive in completed form as students seek their services after high school. This tool helps students share important information about their disability, current levels of performance and helps them make requests for accommodations that have been beneficial to them and helped them succeed in high school.

Agency involvement in local transition teams (PDF) - discover ways you can represent your agency on a local transition team!

Agency involvement at the classroom level (PDF) - consider these points to address when invited to speak to a classroom of students.

Mobile Workforce Centers - if you are interested in requesting a Mobile Workforce Center to come to your school or event that has full internet connectivity and is equipped with computers that include Jobs Applications With Speech (JAWS) software and can provide assistance on drafting resumes and letters of application, effective interviewing skills, productive job search techniques and Arkansas Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) assessments, complete and submit this form (opens webpage).

Office of Disability Employment Policy - provides national leadership to increase employment opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities while striving to eliminate barriers to employment.

Workforce Recruitment Program - an outstanding source for employers to hire qualified, dedicated students and graduates for summer internships and long-term employment.

Self-Advocacy - here you will find tools and materials to help you promote self-advocacy in your life and work.

Job Corps - a free education and training program that helps young people learn a career, earn a high school diploma or GED, and find and keep a good job. For eligible young people at least 16 years of age that qualify as low income, Job Corps provides the all-around skills needed to succeed in a career and in life.

Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology in Post-Secondary Education - use these college guidelines when considering accommodations for students with disabilities to help provide the best supports and access while maintaining policies and procedures and helping your students succeed!

Family Information Guide to Assistive Technology and Transition Planning - this guide will provide you with information on transition, how to ensure your students' assistive technology needs are supported in the transition from high school to adult life, and information on laws related to transition and accommodations. There are many tools and valuable resources within this guide to help include consideration of assistive technology in the transition process.

Handout on Proficiencies Needed for Assistive Technology Accommodation - this tool was designed to assist staff in post-secondary educational settings in assessing, developing, implementing and evaluating the need for assistive technology accommodation and integrate it into professional practice. Click here for more resources on quality indicators for assistive technology.

WIOA Facts - Coordinating and Implementing Pre-Employment Transition Services in Arkansas Schools

WIOA Crosswalk - Check out how indicators within Vocational Rehabilitation, State Education Agencies, and Career and Technical Education programs align in this cross-walk of WIOA, IDEA, and Perkins V. If we know how the indicators align, we are able to better support students and work together toward successful outcomes.

NTACT:C Resource Mapping Tool - Community resource mapping and developing a flow of services is an effective strategy to promote a seamless transition for students and youth with disabilities. It is a process to organize information and to give direction to meet the common community goal. The major goal of community resource mapping is to ensure all students and youth have access to a broader, more comprehensive, and integrated system of services essential in achieving desired school and post-school outcomes. 

If you would like to know who your Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services is for your school, view this map of territories and area managers who can provide that contact information.