Rhode Island Pre-Employment Transition Services

Pre-ETS Are Free and Don't Require a VR Application

One of the most underused transition resources in Rhode Island is Pre-Employment Transition Services through the Office of Rehabilitation Services. Pre-ETS are available to students with documented disabilities from age 14 through age 21, or until their exit from high school, whichever comes first — and they're provided at no cost through ORS-approved vendors.

The common misconception is that a student needs to formally apply for Vocational Rehabilitation before accessing Pre-ETS. That's not the case. Pre-ETS are a distinct category of services delivered on a fee-for-service basis through state-approved providers. All that's needed is a documented disability and current school enrollment.

The Five Core Pre-ETS Categories

ORS provides Pre-ETS across five specific categories established under WIOA Title IV:

Job exploration counseling helps students identify career interests, research labor market data, and explore occupational pathways that match their strengths. This isn't abstract career talk — it involves structured assessments tied to the student's transition IEP goals.

Work-based learning gives students real experience in competitive integrated work settings. Under Rhode Island's graduation regulations, schools must allow students to earn academic credit for approved work-based learning experiences, so Pre-ETS work placements can serve double duty.

Counseling on postsecondary educational programs walks students through college disability services, vocational training programs, and certificate programs. For students considering Rhode Island community colleges, this includes understanding how to request accommodations under the ADA and Section 504 after IDEA protections end.

Workplace readiness training covers the practical skills employers expect: punctuality, communication with supervisors, following workplace safety rules, and managing a schedule independently.

Self-advocacy instruction teaches students to articulate their needs, request accommodations, and participate meaningfully in their own IEP meetings and transition planning.

Connecting Pre-ETS to the IEP

The school or family initiates the Pre-ETS referral, typically during the transition IEP meeting. Under the cooperative agreement between RIDE and ORS, Pre-ETS should align with the student's IEP postsecondary goals. If the IEP includes an employment goal, the Pre-ETS referral can target job exploration and work-based learning to build skills toward that goal.

Once the student exits school, Pre-ETS eligibility ends. Students who want to continue receiving employment support through ORS must apply for formal Vocational Rehabilitation services and develop an Individualized Plan for Employment. That's a separate application process with its own eligibility criteria.

Families should maximize Pre-ETS during the school years because there's no equivalent free-access program on the adult side.

Getting Started

Ask for a Pre-ETS referral at the next transition IEP meeting, or contact ORS directly. The earlier the referral — ideally at age 14 when transition planning begins in Rhode Island — the more time the student has to build vocational skills and work experience before the school service window closes.

The Rhode Island IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide includes a Pre-ETS referral checklist and a tracker for documenting work-based learning hours alongside IEP goals.

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