Are You a Parent of a D/HH High School Student?

By Deanna Anderson, North Dakota H&V

Transition. This word is so unassuming. It doesn’t begin to describe the feelings I experience at every meeting we have to discuss my daughter’s future.

One day Jaylee brought home a form from Vocational Rehabilitation and told me that she wanted to sign up. I was against it. I have always believed that “Voc Rehab” was a service that helped disabled people find jobs and once they placed you, that was it. Boy, was I wrong!  Jaylee’s Voc Rehab counselor, Meg, is constantly opening my eyes to all that they have to offer!  Jaylee is a junior in high school. For the next two years until she graduates, they will be exploring colleges, different career options, trade schools, anything Jaylee expresses an interest in. Together, Meg and Jaylee work out the details, researching all the possibilities, visit different campuses, job sites, and people who actually work in the different fields. While doing this, Meg is teaching Jaylee how to research her interests, compile lists, make plans, implement the plan, which includes contacting the different places to visit, talking to professors, students and people in her chosen fields. Then they will work on pro and con lists to help Jaylee choose where and what she would like to do.  The last steps before graduation will be assisting Jaylee in applying for college.

When talking with Jaylee about this, she likes the idea of exploring all the possibilities and if she happens to change her mind, they start all over again.

Another biggie is that Meg is working with Jaylee to discover what accommodations she will need depending on where she goes for both academics and her dorm room. They are researching new technology that is available to her both now and in the future.

While I still get emotional when I think about Jaylee transitioning out of high school, knowing that her vocational rehabilitation counselor is working with her and will follow her throughout her college career to finding the perfect fit at the job site really helps my stress level.  

Please check out Vocational Rehabilitation in your state because I know in North Dakota it is very underutilized. In the U.S., look for your state vocational rehabilitation agencies and the requirements for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that opened up more services for youth with barriers to employment at https://rsa.ed.gov/about/states.   ~

H&V Communicator – Winter 2022