ACCES-VR in New York: Transition Services, Pre-ETS, and How to Apply

What ACCES-VR Actually Provides

Adult Career and Continuing Education Services–Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) is the division within the New York State Education Department that funds job training, career counseling, supported employment, assistive technology, and workplace accommodations for individuals with disabilities. It's the bridge between school-based transition services and adult employment — and for families of young adults with I/DD, it's one of the three critical systems (alongside OPWDD and SSI) that need to be activated around the 18th birthday transition.

ACCES-VR services are free to eligible individuals. The federal Rehabilitation Act funds the program, and New York provides state matching dollars.

Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

ACCES-VR's most underused offering is Pre-Employment Transition Services, available to students with disabilities aged 14 through 21 who are eligible for or receiving special education services. You don't need a full ACCES-VR case opening to access Pre-ETS — referral through the school district's transition coordinator is enough.

Pre-ETS covers five core activities:

• Job exploration counseling — career interest assessments, labor market information, workplace visits
• Work-based learning experiences — internships, job shadowing, on-the-job training in real community settings
• Counseling on postsecondary options — community college, trade programs, certificate courses
• Workplace readiness training — social skills for the job, time management, workplace expectations
• Instruction in self-advocacy — how to request accommodations, communicate needs to supervisors, understand employment rights

If your child has an IEP with transition goals, ask the CSE to invite ACCES-VR to the next annual review meeting. Get signed parental consent for the invitation at age 16 — this gives ACCES-VR two or more years to build a relationship with your child before the full application.

When to Apply for Full ACCES-VR Services

The timing rule: apply at least two years before your child exits high school. For a student taking the FAPE-22 extension (New York provides special education services until the 22nd birthday for students who haven't earned a diploma), that means applying around age 19 or 20. For a student graduating at 18 or 21, back up two years from the expected exit date.

Why so early? ACCES-VR case processing takes time — eligibility determination, assignment to a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC), development of an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), and authorization of funded services. Applying late means your child exits school into a gap with no vocational programming.

The Application Process

Step 1: Submit the application. Use the ACCES-VR online portal or contact your regional ACCES-VR district office. The application asks for basic demographic information, disability documentation, and employment history (if any).

Step 2: Eligibility determination. ACCES-VR generally determines within 60 days of a completed application whether the applicant has a physical or mental impairment that results in a substantial impediment to employment and can benefit from VR services. Exceptional circumstances or a trial work experience can require an agreed extension. For young adults with documented I/DD who have been receiving special education services, this determination is typically straightforward.

Step 3: VRC assignment. An ACCES-VR Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor is assigned to the case. The VRC becomes your primary point of contact — they assess vocational strengths, identify barriers, and recommend services.

Step 4: IPE development. You, your child, and the VRC collaborate on an Individualized Plan for Employment. The IPE specifies:

• A concrete employment goal (type of work, hours, setting)
• Services ACCES-VR will fund (job coaching, assistive technology, transportation training, workplace modifications)
• A timeline for achieving the goal
• Responsibilities of each party

Step 5: Service delivery. ACCES-VR authorizes and funds the services outlined in the IPE. This can include direct job placement assistance, supported employment aimed at competitive employment, tuition for vocational training programs, and purchase of adaptive equipment.

ACCES-VR and Your Other Systems

One challenge families face: ACCES-VR, OPWDD, and the school district's transition services can all fund employment-related programming, but they don't always coordinate well. The CSE transition IEP, the OPWDD care plan, and the ACCES-VR IPE might overlap on vocational goals while leaving gaps in other areas.

Push for a joint meeting. Under IDEA, you can invite outside agency representatives to CSE meetings with your written consent. Having the ACCES-VR counselor, the CCO care manager, and the school transition coordinator in the same room prevents duplicated services and ensures the handoff from school to adult programming is seamless.

Legal Authority After 18

If your child turns 18 during the ACCES-VR process, they become their own legal decision-maker for VR services. The VRC will look to the young adult — not the parent — for consent and direction.

If you need to remain involved, a Supported Decision-Making Agreement under MHL Article 82 allows your child to formally designate you as a supporter in vocational decisions without surrendering any legal rights. A Power of Attorney can also cover interactions with state agencies if your child has the capacity to execute one.

Our New York Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide integrates the ACCES-VR application timeline with the OPWDD enrollment, SSI filing, and legal decision-making framework in a single transition planner — mapping exactly when each system needs your attention from ages 12 through 22.

See more New York guides →