A group of participants seated in a classroom setting, engaging in an HVO vocational training program focused on skill development and career advancement.

Transitional Student Services in Waynesville, NC

Transitional School Services program offers students ages 16 to 21 the opportunity to begin participating in vocational services that are intended to expose them to vocational options in the community. The program focuses on developing soft skills and allows the opportunity to explore interests, strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for growth. Services can include vocational testing and assessments, situational assessments, counseling on soft skills, workplace behaviors, community business tours, job shadowing and sampling. Anticipated outcomes are designed to assist students in transitioning from public school into post school activities.  Referrals for the TSS program are made by educators from Haywood County Schools. All services are designed to adhere to the principles of community integration and inclusion. This program is unfunded and has limited capacity.

Pre-ETS Program

Pre-Employment Transition Services are a specific set of activities that are defined by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014. The activities are intended to expose students with disabilities at an early age to self-advocacy, postsecondary training, and employment skills and options. In practice, HVO staff collaborates with educators at the local high schools (public or private) to present the Pre-ETS curriculum in the Exceptional Children (EC) or Occupational Course of Study (OCS) classrooms.  The goal is to help students succeed in the transition from school to getting ready for, obtaining, and retaining employment.  To be eligible for Pre-ETS, students must:

  • Be at least 14 years old

  • Have a documented disability

  • Be enrolled in a secondary educational program

  • Have a referral from their school and a signed consent form.

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