ACCES-VR TRANSITION
SERVICES
Transition to Career
80 Wolf Road – Suite 200
Albany, New York 12205-2644
www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/
Telephone: (518) 473-8097
Toll Free #: 1-800-272-5448
Fax: (518) 457-4562
9 counties
Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer,
Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie,
Warren, Washington
75 school districts
8 alternative
schools/placements
What is ACCES-VR?
 Adult
 Career and
 Continuing
 Education
 Services  Vocational
 Rehabilitation
EMPLOYMENT
ACCES-VR Is All
About Work!
From Special Education to
Adult Vocational Rehabilitation

When students leave high school,
there are no more education
entitlement programs.

Adult services are based on eligibility
requirements and availability of funds
and services
Transition Services
ACCES-VR helps individuals
with disabilities to obtain
and maintain employment.
Transition services
specifically refers to
services provided to
students with disabilities in
order to assist them to
transition from school into
the world of work.
Mission Statement
The Mission of Transition to Career Services of the
Capital District Office of ACCES-VR is to provide
consumer focused, high-quality vocational
counseling, consultation, and collaboration with
secondary school students, parents, and staff to
facilitate an understanding of and effect a
seamless and timely transition through ACCES-VR
services, with a goal of successful employment
outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
When to refer students
Interested students with disabilities
should be referred within the last 2
years of high school for eligibility
determination and planning purposes.
 ACCES-VR funding for services is
usually not initiated until the last
semester of high school, but there can
be individual exceptions.

Who can be referred to
ACCES-VR?
Any student with a permanent
disability can be referred for eligibility
determination.
Who should be referred to
ACCES-VR?
Students who are motivated to work
and who will be capable of working
independently in the community
Types of Disabilities

Often obvious:
– Visual impairment
– Deaf or hard of
hearing
– Mobility impairment
– Developmental
disability
– Amputation

Often hidden
– Learning disability
– Medical – heart,
diabetes, kidney
disease
– Alcohol or drug
abuse
– Psychological &
emotional conditions
Referral Process
Application packet with documentation of
disability is submitted to the ACCES-VR
office (forms can be obtained electronically
by contacting aleifer@mail.nysed.gov)
 Case is registered and then assigned to the
vocational rehabilitation counselor (VRC)
working with the student’s home school
 The VRC will work with the school transition
liaison to arrange to meet with the
student/parents/other interested parties
for an intake interview

Referral Process
Complete application
packet arrives at
ACCES-VR
Work goal is identified
and IPE developed
together
Eligibility
determination is
made within 60 days
Meeting with VRC
coordinated with school at
any point once complete
packet is received
Services begin as agreed,
dependent on type of service
Referral Package
Referral Cover Sheet
 Assets & Challenges
Checklist
 Current IEP/504
 Psychological (if
applicable)
 Transcript (if post
secondary education is
planned)






ACCES-VR application
VR-04
ACCES-VR
Information Release
Authorizations
VR-21 & VR-22
Student Questionnaire
ACCES-VR Financial
Survey
Other medical reports
when applicable
Applications
Documentation of the disability from the
physician, therapist, counselor, etc. should
be submitted with the application along
with any school testing/records/ plans.
 All Applications/releases for students need
to be signed by the student.
 Applications/releases for students under
the age of 18 need to be signed by the
student and co-signed by a parent or
guardian.

Eligibility




Must have a permanent and/or
progressive, documented disability
Disability must be an impediment to
reaching a vocational goal
Must be able to benefit from services in
terms of employment outcome
ACCES-VR services must be required to
reach employment goal
The Individual Plan for
Employment (IPE)
All ACCES-VR consumers develop an
IPE with a specific employment goal
stated
 The goal must be feasible and
approved by ACCES-VR
 There must be a reasonable
expectation that a successful
employment outcome will be reached

Overview of
Possible ACCES-VR
SERVICES





Vocational Counseling
Vocational
Assessments
Diagnostic Vocational
Evaluations
Functional Evaluations
Technological
Evaluations







Vocational Training
College Services and
Supports
Supported Employment
Direct Job Placement
Work try out
On the job training
Driver training
Economic Need
Some services do depend on economic
need: tuition and fees, books,
tools/equipment, rehabilitation technology,
some training programs
 Some services do not depend on economic
need: evaluations, tutors, note takers,
some training programs, placement, job
coaches, OJT, driver training

ACCES-VR SERVICES
and economic need $






Vocational Counseling
Vocational
Assessments
Diagnostic Vocational
Evaluations
Functional Evaluations
Technological
Evaluations
Driver training
Vocational Training $
 College Tuition, fees
and books $
 Rehabilitation
Technology Services $
 Academic support
services
 Supported Employment
 Direct Job Placement
 Work try out
 On the job training

Types of Vocational Training

BOCES training
programs

Private vocational
school programs

Certificate
programs at
Community Colleges
College Training Services

May include financial
contribution toward:
– Tuition, fees, books,
–
–
–
–
room and board
One-on-one tutors
Note takers
Travel costs to and
from school if not living
on campus
Other disability
specific supports such
as interpreters and
aides for physical needs
Supported Employment
Job placement services through agencies on
ACCES-VR contract for specific area &
disability group
 Intensive services
– Situational assessment
– Job development
– Job coaching

Extended Services
– On-going follow along services are funded
through OPWDD, OMH, or ACCES-VR
Job Placement Services
Assistance with choosing a
job goal, resume
development, interviewing
skills and job search
 On the Job Training
 Work Try-Outs
 Occupational tools &
clothing (based on
economic need and job
requirement)
What services will be
provided?

Only the services necessary to reach the
job goal identified in the IPE are provided.
These services are listed as part of the
IPE.
Under the ACCES-VR program
an individual has the right to:





Participate in the decision making process
about his or her vocational program
Receive services in a timely manner
Receive services designed to assist in
preparing for & finding employment
Confidential services
Appeal a decision made by ACCES-VR
Under the ACCES-VR program
an individual has the
responsibility to:





Participate in the decision making process
about his or her vocational program
Maintain contact with ACCES-VR counselor
Provide required information in a timely
manner
Contact the ACCES-VR counselor about
changes in job goal or financial status
Contact the ACCES-VR counselor upon
getting a job
Follow through
with the steps in
your plan, assess
your progress,
and keep your
counselor
informed of how
you are doing.
When you get a job….
Contact ACCES-VR!
 You will continue to work
with your ACCES-VR
counselor




To identify supports that
you need to keep a job.
To plan how you will get
these supports
To maintain contact with
ACCES-VR for at least three
months after you start your
job.
Transition Tips
 ACCES-VR
is a voluntary, adult
service; you decide if you want it.
 You have rights and
responsibilities
 Remember to apply to ACCES-VR
before your last year of school –
the process takes time!
EMPLOYMENT
Remember…
ACCES-VR Is All
About Work!
ACCES-VR Transition Staff
2010-2011
Amy J Leifer Senior VRC
(518) 485-5549 aleifer@mail.nysed.gov
Veronica Nostramo VRC Assistant
(518) 485-5540 vnostramo@mail.nysed.gov
Lynn Ricciardi VRC Assistant
(518) 485-5348 lricciar@mail.nysed.gov
Lisa Williams Keyboard Specialist
(518) 457-2097 lwillia5@mail.nysed.gov
Abby Hout VRC – Cobleskill, Gilboa-Conesville,
Jefferson, Middleburgh, Schoharie, ScotiaGlenville, Sharon Springs
(518) 485-5542 ahout@mail.nysed.gov
Alexis Merrill VRC – Guilderland, Mohonasen,
Niskayuna, Shaker, Shenendehowa
(518) 457-9638 amerrill@mail.nysed.gov
Bernard Mack VRC – Berkshire, Chatham, Columbia ,
New Lebanon, Taconic Hills, Troy (shared)
(518) 485-5510 bmack@mail.nysed.gov
Deborah Gabrione VRC – Albany (shared), Averill
Park, Berne-Knox, Cohoes, Lansingburgh, Ravena,
Voorheesville
(518) 485-5553 dgabrion@mail.nysed.gov
Ed Lessard VRC – Albany (shared), Charlton, LaSalle,
Parsons (Neil Hellman School), Schalmont,
Schenectady, School at Northeast, St Anne’s,
Vanderheyden
(518) 485-5505 elessard@mail.nysed.gov
Joseph Tedesco VRC – Berlin, Rensselaer HS
(518) 457-6913 jtedesco@mail.nysed.gov
Kathleen McCartan VRC - Galway, Hoosic Valley,
Saratoga Springs, Stillwater, Tamarac, Troy
(shared),Waterford-Halfmoon
(518) 485-5503 kmccarta@mail.nysed.gov
Kyle Ferris VRC - Germantown, Hudson, Ichabod Crane
(518) 457-7944 kferris@mail.nysed.gov
Lindsay Pirozzi VRC – Cairo Durham, Catskill, CoxsackieAthens, Greenville, Hunter-Tannersville, WindhamAshland-Jewett
(518) 457-9448 lpirozzi@mail.nysed.gov
Mark Rubenstein VRC - Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake
(518) 485-5501 mrubenst@mail.nysed.gov
Melissa Strauss VRC - Fort Edward, Hudson Falls
(518) 485-5527 mstrauss@mail.nysed.gov
Pam Brehm-Bisaillon VRC – Argyle, Cambridge,
Corinth, Fort Ann, Granville, Greenwich, Hartford,
Hoosick Falls, Mechanicville, Salem, Schuylerville,
South Glens Falls
(518) 457-8523 pbrehmbi@mail.nysed.gov
Rich Myette VRC – Bolton, Glens Falls, HadleyLuzerne, Johnsburg, Lake George, North Warren,
Queensbury, Warrensburg, Whitehall
(518) 457-2439 rmyette@mail.nysed.gov
Salvatore Cerniglia VRC – Maple Hill (Schodack)
(518) 485-1759 scernigl@mail.nysed.gov
Sonam Ben Willow VRC – Bethlehem, Colonie Central,
Duanesburg, Green Island, Scotia-Glenville, Watervliet
(518) 485-5506 swillow@mail.nysed.gov
Vicki Starr VRC – Ballston Spa HS
(518) 485-5551 vstarr@mail.nysed.gov
End of show – press forward arrow to play again