Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)
Federally mandated career readiness services for students with disabilities ages 14–21, provided free through state vocational rehabilitation agencies (ACCES-VR in New York, DVRS in New Jersey).
GLOSSARY
Transition & Vocational Rehabilitation Glossary
Plain-language definitions of the key Pre-ETS, vocational rehabilitation, and special education transition terms you’ll see across our site.
ACCES-VR
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services–Vocational Rehabilitation — New York State's vocational rehabilitation agency, which funds Pre-ETS and adult employment services for people with disabilities.
DVRS
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services — New Jersey's vocational rehabilitation agency within the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development, funding Pre-ETS, OSYES, and supported employment.
OPWDD
Office for People With Developmental Disabilities — New York State agency that coordinates services, supports, and funding for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
WIOA
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act — the 2014 federal law that created Pre-ETS and requires state vocational rehabilitation agencies to reserve at least 15% of their federal funding for students with disabilities.
IEP
Individualized Education Program — a legally required written plan for every public-school student receiving special education, documenting goals, services, and transition planning starting at age 14 (or 16, depending on state).
Self-advocacy
The ability to understand one's disability, communicate one's needs, and request accommodations in school, work, and community settings — a core Pre-ETS skill.
Vocational evaluation
A structured assessment of a person's work aptitudes, interests, and support needs — used to identify career pathways and inform vocational rehabilitation planning.
Supported employment
A model of competitive, integrated employment for people with significant disabilities, in which a job coach provides on-site and fading support to help the person succeed at work.
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