Walter is a student who was identified by his post-high transition teachers as one who would greatly benefit from coordinated employment services and a customized approach to employment. He was connected to a local Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, who upon completion of intake and plan placement, authorized funding of Discovery to be completed by an adult service provider specializing in employment services. During the discovery process, it was recognized that Walter would benefit from a paid internship experience prior to job placement.
While Discovery was underway, Walter enrolled in WIOA Youth Program through the Department of Workforce Services. Once Discovery was completed, the employment specialist was able to work with a business and arranged for Walter to participate in a paid internship opportunity based on the employment themes that were identified from the Discovery process. The Department of Workforce Services was able to reimburse the business for the wages that Walter earned at the internship.
While WIOA was able to fund the wages of the internship, VR was able to fund the support Walter needed, including job coaching services while he completed his internship. After the six-week internship was completed, the business was so pleased with Walter’s work that a permanent position was offered. Starting out working 2 hours once a week, as Walter’s skills and range of responsibilities has grown, his work hours have increased to 6 hours a week and he is doing very well on the job.
Because team members were able to coordinate the employment services available within each of their agencies, Walter was able to have a wide range of supports and opportunities available to him as he pursued his goal of employment. The result of these employment experiences led Walter not only to a job that he is well suited for but opened up a path to a career that is meaningful to him, where he can continue to develop skills and grow in multiple areas of his adult life.