Resources

Montana Youth Leadership Forum: MYLF (pronounced “my life”) is a unique career and leadership training program for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with disabilities. By serving as delegates from their communities at a 5-day intensive training, youth with disabilities will cultivate leadership, citizenship, and social skills.

Montana Youth Transitions Program: MYTransitions is a website where you can explore, ask questions, and discover. The intent of their website is to connect students and families to others across Montana who are also in transition or who have already navigated the transition process. MYTransitions is a reference tool for youth with disabilities and their families.

Movin’ On 2019 Participants

Movin’ On in Montana: is an initial exposure to post-secondary education with the highest quality transition experience for high school students with disabilities. It provides a mentoring relationship between high school students with disabilities and current MSUB students who also have a disability, using technology. Mentoring is delivered through monthly meetings, both through video conferencing and face-to-face seminars, as well as through a closed Twitter account.

The mentors address student concerns and offer guidance on how to successfully navigate the college experience. The highlight of Movin’ On is an on campus experience at Montana State University Billings The participating high school students are encouraged to attend the four day event that will be partially staffed by the MSUB mentors. Students stay in the dorms, eat in the cafeteria, attend classes on the MSUB and City College campuses, and tour three college campuses. Books, fees, tuition, room, and board are provided at no charge to students accepted into the program.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA): The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA) is the primary funding source and administrator of the public Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services programs in the United States. In 2014 Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services was mandated by the Rehabilitation Services Administration to reserve 15% of its service budget to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services to students with disabilities in high school. As a result, Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services began an initiative to contract with Montana school districts to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS). The funding is based on the number of services students receive. Please refer to the Fee Schedule for an idea of the funds available for your school. (Fee Schedule link). The intent of WIOA is to enhance the services available in school for students with disabilities. The contracts with VRBS are a means to provide funding for the creation and enhancement of transition-focused services for those students. These funds do not replace or reduce the school’s obligation to provide transition services as part of the IDEA. Your school may be eligible for funding under this initiative. The links below include the specific provisions in the law, final regulations, guidance and policy that pertain to Pre-Employment Transition Services found in Title IV, Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Public Law 113-128 (29 USC 3101).

• NTACT - Pre-Employment Transition Services