Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) offers five Pre-employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) designed to assist students in developing basic skills.
Pre-ETS are typically brief, up to 8 hours, and include introductory topics for students with disabilities aged 14 through 21. They can precede or supplement traditional VR transition services. Pre-ETS can be provided individually or in a group to potentially eligible students and students already receiving services.​
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Learn more about Pre-ETS below and apply today!
Job Exploration Counseling
What It Is?
Job Exploration Counseling introduces students to the world of work. The main activities include discussing career options, learning about in-demand jobs, and taking interest assessments to find potential career paths. Students create a Backpack on OhioMeansJobs.com, research local job market information, explore the Job Seekers Guide on OhioEmploymentFirst.org, and watch videos about different occupations and resumes.
Who It's For?
Students with disabilities who may benefit from Job Exploration Counseling include:A 14-year-old who wants to work after school but isn’t sure what career they like.An 18-year-old who wants to find out about in-demand jobs that fit their interests.A 20-year-old who is unsure if they want to work.
How It's Different?
This service is different from the Summer Youth Career Exploration offered through our Transition services. The Summer Youth Career Exploration lasts three weeks and involves 15 hours of more detailed activities each week compared to the Pre-ETS Job Exploration Counseling.
Work-Based Learning Experiences
What It Is?
Pre-ETS Work-Based Learning helps students understand different work settings. This includes learning about job duties, who works there, shifts, job expectations, productivity, accommodations, pay, and the unwritten rules of work. Students can engage in activities like worksite tours, job shadowing, informational interviews, and field trips. They also start to build their professional networks.
Who It's For?
Here are examples of students with disabilities who can benefit from Pre-ETS Work-Based Learning:
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A 15-year-old who needs help understanding what a work site looks like in the community.
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An 18-year-old who needs help identifying entry-level job tasks.
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A 21-year-old who wants to work but does not understand what a job involves.
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How It's Different?
In Work-Based Learning, students do not perform actual work; they focus on job shadowing and touring businesses. This is in contrast to the Summer Youth Work Experience, which is a paid five-week program that includes an educational component and requires the student to have an approved Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).
Postsecondary Opportunities Counseling
What It Is?
Pre-ETS Postsecondary Opportunities Counseling helps students learn about degrees and recognized credentials, like certifications and licenses, from training programs, community colleges, and universities. Students will understand the application and admissions process, how to access disability services and career services, work incentives, and resources like the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Who It's For?
If your student is thinking about college or other training options, consider these examples of students who may need Pre-ETS Counseling:
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A 14-year-old who wants to pursue further training but needs help finding options.
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A 17-year-old who wants to know what accommodations are available in a culinary program.
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A 21-year-old who is unsure about the financial responsibilities of post-secondary training.
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How It's Different?
The Pre-ETS Postsecondary Counseling service looks at how to apply and what resources are available for different training programs. This is different from the Career Exploration transition service, which focuses on job options rather than academic programs.
Work Readiness Training
What It Is?
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Workplace Readiness Training focuses on developing professional skills such as teamwork, networking, safety, and basic customer service. It also emphasizes personal skills, including enthusiasm, work ethic, responsibility, and time management. Additionally, it covers self-representation online and independent living skills such as budgeting, hygiene, and household management.
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Who It's For?
Here are examples of students with disabilities who can benefit from Pre-ETS Work Readiness Training:
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A 14-year-old who needs tools to communicate effectively with peers and supervisors on a job site.
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A 15-year-old who requires assistance with time management related to employment.
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A 21-year-old who needs help with professionally representing themselves online.
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How It's Different?
Workplace Readiness Training is different from the Summer Youth Work Experience and Job Readiness Training. The Summer Youth Work Experience is a paid, five-week job program that includes education. Job Readiness Training can last for an entire school year.
In contrast, Workplace Readiness Training focuses on teaching soft skills but does not take place on the worksite.
Please note that students must have an approved IPE to participate.
Self-Advocacy Instruction
What It Is?
Pre-ETS Self-Advocacy Instruction teaches important information about your rights and responsibilities. It covers how to ask for accommodations at work, learn about available services, and practice self-advocacy skills. The activities help build leadership skills that can lead to success in the workplace and encourage joining leadership or peer mentoring groups in the community.
Who It's For?
Students with disabilities who can benefit from Pre-ETS Self-Advocacy instruction include:A 14-year-old who wants to learn about their rights during the IEP meeting.A 16-year-old who wants to understand self-advocacy and their rights as a person with a disability.A 21-year-old who is unsure about disclosing their disability at work.​
Projects to Support
Helping Individuals with Disabilities Find Purpose
The Higher Standard Consulting and Education Services is a comprehensive education service supporting individuals with disabilities, intellectual, developmental, or behavioral, in every capacity. We support individuals in academic, employment, independent living, and social skills areas of life.
“Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Equal Grounds Coffee: Brewing Inclusion, One Cup at a Time
Creating a level playing field and promoting inclusivity for people with disabilities
Accepting Donations
At Equal Grounds, we believe in the power of meaningful work to transform lives. Our mission will be to create job opportunities that showcase the unique abilities of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and embraced as an integral part of our community.
We understand that traditional employment can often present barriers for this talented community. That’s why we will build a supportive environment where each team member will thrive and contribute in meaningful ways.
By providing training, mentorship, and accommodations tailored to individual needs, we will empower our employees to unlock their full potential. Their hard work and dedication will not only enrich our organization but also inspire the broader community to embrace inclusion and accessibility. Our comprehensive training program will equip each team member with a robust set of practical abilities.
From mastering the art of customer service to perfecting coffee preparation techniques, our employees gain invaluable expertise that serves them both within our organization and in the broader job market. By fostering a culture of teamwork and collaboration, we also help our staff cultivate essential interpersonal skills.
This multifaceted approach to professional growth not only benefits our employees, but also strengthens the overall quality of our operations. As our team members continue to expand their capabilities, they become increasingly adept at delivering an exceptional experience to our customers and community partners.
We believe that a vibrant workplace culture is the foundation for empowering and supporting our team.
Through intentional team-building activities, open communication, and a shared commitment to our mission, a sense of belonging and camaraderie among our staff is strengthened. We celebrate the unique strengths and perspectives that each employee brings to the table, recognizing that diversity is a key driver of innovation and growth.
By cultivating a culture of mutual respect and understanding, our goal is to support the development of our team members so they thrive, both professionally and personally. This, in turn, allows them to provide the highest level of service and support to our customers, further strengthening our impact within the community.
Higher Standard Home Health
Providing essential services tailored to individuals with developmental disabilities
Our agency offers in-home support designed to enhance independence and quality of life, including assistance with daily living activities, health management, and community integration.
By prioritizing personalized care, the agency ensures that individuals receive the specific support they need in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes.
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Our services align with our broader mission to support individuals with disabilities across all life domains.
It complements our existing services by addressing a critical need for accessible and individualized care, empowering individuals to live with dignity and autonomy. We are committed to delivering holistic, person-centered services that promote inclusion, independence, and equitable access to resources for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.