CLARKSVILLE, TN – Tennessee has a program designed to assist children who have a disability get a leg up toward adulthood.
This program is called the Pre-Employment Transition Service, or Pre-ETS for short, and it is available to any student in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System free of charge to the family. The qualification for this program is a follows: the child must be between the age of 14 and 22, have a current Individual Education Plan (IEP), 504 Plan, or medical documentation of a verified disability from a medical provider and are currently in school, (public/ private/homeschool) middle or high school.
Pre-Employment Transition Services provide five career-focused training services:
- Job Exploration Counseling – Discuss career options and learn about in-demand jobs.
- Work-Based Learning – Engage in work experiences and learning about the workplace.
- Workplace Readiness – Improve social and independent living skills.
- Self-Advocacy – Learn skills for greater independence.
- Post-Secondary Counseling & Enrollment Assistance – Explore options for education and training after high school graduation.
Why Pre-ETS?
Studies have shown that individuals with disabilities are unemployed at a higher rate than any other demographic.
Pre-ETS can prepare a person with a disability for a lifetime of successful employment, and will provide a hands-on learning experience in real situations that make the classroom work come alive. Pre-ETS in the high school setting is a great time to learn how to get and keep a job, become a confident worker and make an educated decision about pursuing higher education or advanced training.
Currently there are two service providers assigned to work with students in the school system and have been fully vetted to ensure they are qualified to provide these invaluable services to the child. For more information on the Pre-ETS program, contact your child’s school and inquire on how to begin services.