Transition Services

Rockland BOCES Transition Services staff has the experience, resources and expertise to assist students with a wide range of disabilities in preparing for and making transition to post-school learning, living and working. This is achieved by carefully assessing each student’s abilities and crafting a comprehensive transition plan tailored to each individual. The approach is also collaborative — by partnering with students, families and the community, we help our students achieve their greatest potential.

Services Include:

• Linking students and families with post-secondary support in areas such as day habilitation, mental health programs and college disability services offices
• While students are still in school, assisting in obtaining in-home and out-of-home support
• Serving as a liaison to ACCES-VR (Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation)
• Assisting families with the application process for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and necessary evaluations to determine eligibility
• Providing support in accessing Supplemental Security Income/Medicaid

Rockland Transition Consortium

The consortium educates students and their families before and during transitions. The goal is to link families with resources for the transition from school to work and/or post-secondary programs, from children’s services to adult services, and from home to the community. This is accomplished through:

• Transition workshops throughout the school year for parents, guardians, professionals and students
• Monthly meetings during the school year to provide networking opportunities for school districts, community agencies and local colleges who serve people with disabilities
• “Reaching for the Future,” a printed guide listing the variety of services offered
• Transition conferences and fairs

Post-secondary Planning

Rockland BOCES assists students and their families with planning for post-secondary education in a variety of ways, including:

• Educational visits to various colleges
• Serving as a liaison to the college disabilities support services

Work-Based Learning

Community Vocational Program

Students have the opportunity to learn marketable job skills and work with local employers. Participants include those who attend the Kaplan Community Development Center on the West Nyack campus, the Consortium of occupational and Vocation Education (COVE) at Tappan Zee High School, as well as district-based programs at Pearl River and North Rockland high schools.

Work-Based Learning Center

Internships, vocational training and career exploration programs give students introduction to the world of work, as well as real hands-on experience. The center supports student success through job coaching, ongoing job development and communication with employers. Participants are students from River View High School and CBI Tech.

Project SEARCH

This business-led program, a Rockland BOCES collaboration with Good Samaritan Hospital and the Rockland County Association for Learning Disabilities, is for students with disabilities in their last year of schooling. It is designed for students whose main goal is employment and who would benefit from career exploration.

At Good Samaritan Hospital, students rotate among a variety of work sites. Job development and placement are based on each student’s experiences, strengths and skills. Support is given in the form of accommodations, adaptations and on-the-job coaching.