There are many ways your child can get support during high school to help them prepare for getting a job.
Your child's IEP and Transition Plan should include specific supports that fit with their job goals. Here are some examples:
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS):
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These services help students prepare for getting--and keeping--a job.
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Your child can explore career options and learn the basic skills they need like interviewing, being responsible and communicating well in a workplace.
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They can also take your child to real worksites so they can see what certain jobs are like.
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All high schools should offer this to students on IEPs.
Internships ("Work-Based Learning Experiences"):
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Mosts schools offer internships so your child can get work experience while in high school.
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Students who have done this in high school are more likely to find and keep a job after high school! This is through the Career & Technical Education (CTE) department.
Jump Start Career Pathway (also Called TOPS Tech):
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This pathway trains your child for a specific type of job during high school, and prepares them for a technical or community college . They'd graduate with a diploma and a "Credential" for a certain type of job.
Here's What You Can Do:
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Talk to your IEP team about what kind of skills your child needs, and what the school can offer.
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Make sure to ask about each of the options above.
Read the next pages to learn more about each of these.