Wyoming DVR Pre-Employment Transition Services: A Parent's Guide to Pre-ETS

Pre-Employment Transition Services through Wyoming's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation are available to students with disabilities starting at age 14 — years before the formal transition IEP kicks in. Most families don't hear about Pre-ETS until the school mentions it at a transition meeting, by which point their child has already missed several years of funded career exploration.

What Pre-ETS Covers

Pre-ETS focuses on five core service areas under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, postsecondary educational counseling, workplace readiness training, and self-advocacy instruction.

These services are introductory by design. They don't require your child to be formally eligible for the traditional DVR vocational rehabilitation program — any student with a disability aged 14 to 21 who is enrolled in an education program (traditional high school, homeschool, or postsecondary) can access Pre-ETS.

The practical value is in the work-based learning: job shadowing, informational interviews, and short-term work experiences that help students test career interests in real settings rather than answering questions on a survey.

The Discovery Process

Wyoming's WDE uses a three-stage Discovery Process as part of its "Transition Through Discovery" framework. Families can use it to organize career development alongside DVR Pre-ETS:

Stage I — Career Awareness typically begins at age 14-15. Students participate in career interest assessments, explore broad occupational categories, and build foundational workplace vocabulary. This stage aligns with early transition discussions in the IEP.

Stage II — Career Planning starts around age 16, when the formal transition IEP is required. Students narrow their interests, participate in structured job shadowing, and begin connecting with DVR transition navigators who can attend IEP meetings.

Stage III — Career Development runs from age 18 through exit. Students move into active work trials, customized employment contracts, and coordination with community college disability offices. This stage bridges the gap between school-based services and adult DVR employment supports.

How to Get Your Child Started

You don't need to wait for the school to make the referral. Parents can submit a Pre-ETS application directly to the local DVR office — the online portal and downloadable form are available through the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.

When submitting the application, include your child's most recent IEP (especially the transition section) and any transition assessment results. This gives the DVR counselor enough context to match services to your student's current skill level and interests.

If your child is 16 or older, request that a DVR transition navigator be formally invited to the next annual IEP meeting. This invitation requires prior written consent, but it's one of the most effective ways to ensure the school-based transition plan actually connects to real employment services. In rural Wyoming, where travel distances between towns and regional DVR workforce centers can be significant, navigators may attend by phone or video — but they should still be at the table.

Pre-ETS vs. the Traditional DVR Program

Pre-ETS is the on-ramp. The traditional DVR program provides more intensive, individualized support: job coaching, specialized adaptive equipment, postsecondary tuition funding, and sustained placement assistance.

Eligibility for the traditional program requires a formal determination by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor based on three criteria: a documented physical or mental impairment, evidence that the impairment creates a substantial barrier to employment, and a determination that the student can benefit from services toward an employment outcome.

Once determined eligible, the counselor works with the student to draft an Individualized Plan for Employment. Most families apply for the traditional DVR program around age 17, so that the IPE is in place before the student exits the school system.

Common Gaps to Watch For

The most frequent problem families report is a school that claims to provide "transition services" through the IEP but never coordinates with DVR at all. The school's transition plan and DVR's Pre-ETS should reinforce each other — if your child's IEP lists employment goals but no DVR representative has been involved, the plan has a structural gap.

Another gap shows up in rural districts with limited local employer networks. If Pre-ETS work-based learning placements are limited to one or two options, push for creative alternatives: remote job shadowing, virtual workplace readiness modules, or coordination with the Pathways to Progress program for integrated vocational and mental health supports.

The Wyoming IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide includes a DVR coordination timeline and a step-by-step checklist for moving from Pre-ETS into the traditional VR program before your child exits the school system.

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