Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services
40 Fountain Street
Providence, RI 02903

Telephone: 401-421-7005

www.ors.ri.gov

Statewide Partnerships Leveraging Resources and Maximizing Access to Services for Transitioning Youths

The Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS) in Rhode Island (RI) initiated its first project to serve youths in RI in 1962 and ORS believes it has successfully created a culture that provides improved services to youths with disabilities. ORS has maximized the required MOU between the RI Department of Education (RIDE) and the DHS/ORS to clarify the role of each partner in fostering a seamless service delivery system intended to achieve successful employment outcomes. The MOU expands on the requirements in the Act and delineates the collaborative services intended to assist students, parents, school personnel, public agencies, and private service agencies responsible for the effective delivery of transition services. A Collaborative Services Chart, included in the MOU, defines the roles and responsibilities of the local education agencies, ORS, and community services agencies in the delivery of assessments, career development, community living, assistive technology, auxiliary aid, medical, transportation, and case management services.

Under the MOU, five RI Regional Transitional Centers provide direct technical support, training and information on transition services to school personnel in each region statewide. The centers assist students with their personal career goals through career counseling, vocational testing and community work experiences.

RI Transition Academies, in contrast to the Transition Centers, offers ORS eligible youths the opportunity to complete their high school education on a college campus and/or in various employment and community settings. The academies provide youths with classroom and community instruction in academics, independent living, community mobility, self-advocacy, and behavior skills required for seeking, obtaining and maintaining employment. The ORS VR counselors in each school district serve as the single point of contact with the primary responsibility of coordinating the community services between school staff, students, families, and the academies.

Students with disabilities also benefit from social security benefits counseling that occurs early in the rehabilitation process so the youths with disabilities and their families are educated in the impacts of work on benefits. The VR counselor also coordinates this partnership.

Return to list of Promising Practices for Transition Age Youth