Work can feel far away when your autistic child is 14. Florida's transition system starts early on purpose: IEP transition planning begins at age 12 or in 7th grade, and the state's vocational rehabilitation agency offers career services from age 14 that do not require an application. This guide explains Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS): what they are, who qualifies, how to get referred, how they fit with the IEP, and how ABA goals can support the same skills.
What is Florida Vocational Rehabilitation?
The Florida Department of Education's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) describes itself as "a federal-state program that helps people who have disabilities get or keep a job." For students and young people, VR offers two kinds of help: Pre-ETS, which any eligible student can join, and full VR services, which require an application and an eligibility decision. The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is the law behind Pre-ETS.
What are Pre-Employment Transition Services?
In VR's words, Pre-ETS "offer students with disabilities an early start at career exploration and preparation for adult life. Students with disabilities may participate in Pre-ETS without having to apply to VR or be determined eligible for services." The focus is "to explore careers, develop work skills, practice social skills and acquire a network of community supports while the student is still in high school."
| Service | What it involves (from VR's descriptions) |
|---|---|
| Job exploration counseling | Discussion or counseling on job options, to build motivation and informed decision-making |
| Postsecondary educational counseling | Career pathways, local job demand, and options such as Comprehensive Transition Programs and career and technical education |
| Work readiness training | "Soft skills" such as interviewing, resume writing, problem solving and communication |
| Work-based learning experiences | Community-based work experiences that connect school to real work |
| Self-advocacy training and peer mentoring | Communicating strengths, interests and needs; planning, setting goals and making decisions; peer mentoring with like-aged peers |
Who qualifies for Pre-ETS?
VR's FAQ says Pre-ETS are for "students, ages 14-21, with disabilities who are still in high school or attending post secondary school (e.g., trade, college or university)." Its referral guidance adds that a student's disability "must be documented by an Individual Educational Plan (IEP), a 504 Plan or some other means." Students in exceptional student education, students with a 504 plan, and students on a regular diploma track can all qualify. An autism diagnosis does not need to be the reason for the IEP; any documented disability counts.
How does my teen get started?
VR's steps for students are short:
- Ask the school for a referral. "Verbally request your school's transition counselor or guidance counselor to submit a referral to VR." Students and families can also self-refer.
- The school submits the referral.
- VR contacts you to arrange a meeting.
- You and your teen review Pre-ETS options with VR.
VR's Transition Youth Services can be reached at 850-245-3399 or 800-451-4327, or by email at VRTransitionYouth@vr.fldoe.org. VR also has a local office directory on rehabworks.org.
Example only: a family might ask at the 9th grade IEP meeting for a VR referral, have a VR meeting that fall, join a work readiness group in 10th grade, and take part in a summer work-based learning experience. Timing depends on your school, your area and your teen.
How do Pre-ETS connect to the IEP?
Florida law builds VR into the IEP. Section 1003.5716(1)(c), Florida Statutes, says information on programs from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities, the Centers for Independent Living, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and the Division of Blind Services must be provided, and "referral forms, links, and technical support contacts for these services must be provided to students and parents at IEP meetings."
Beginning no later than the first IEP in effect when the student enters high school or turns 14, the IEP must include "measurable long-term postsecondary education and career goals" and "the transition services, including preemployment transition services," needed to reach them (s. 1003.5716(2)(c)). Bring up VR at the IEP meeting and ask that Pre-ETS be written into the transition plan. For more, see IEP transition planning from age 12.
Pre-ETS or full VR services?
| Pre-ETS | Full VR services | |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Not required | Required, with an eligibility decision |
| Ages | 14 to 21, in school | Students and adults |
| What you get | The five Pre-ETS services | An Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) with services toward a job goal |
| Waiting | A student who started Pre-ETS before applying to VR may keep receiving them even if placed on a wait list | Eligible applicants are placed in an Order of Selection category, which may have a wait list |
VR's FAQ says: "When your student or youth needs supports or services that go beyond Pre-ETS, you should apply for VR services." If a student is placed in an Order of Selection category with a wait list, "the student may continue to receive Pre-ETS if the student started before placing the VR application." That is a good reason to start Pre-ETS early.
What other VR programs are there for students?
VR's Transition Student Programs include:
- Career Camps, bundled Pre-ETS delivered during school breaks of at least three days;
- High School High Tech (ages 14 to 22), a STEM career and college exploration program run with the Able Trust and local school districts;
- Inclusive Postsecondary Education programs for students with intellectual disabilities (see inclusive college programs in Florida);
- Project SEARCH (ages 18 to 21), an internship program aimed at competitive employment;
- Youth Leadership Forum (ages 16 to 19), a four-day leadership event in the state capital.
Availability varies by area. Ask your VR counselor which programs run near you.
What can families do to prepare?
- Talk about interests. Notice what your teen enjoys and is good at, from animals to computers to sorting and organizing. Those interests give VR and the IEP team a starting point.
- Practice everyday work skills at home. Chores with a checklist, keeping a schedule, handling money in a store and ordering food all build skills employers value.
- Gather documents. Keep the current IEP or 504 plan, recent evaluations and any work or volunteer history in one folder.
- Bring your teen to meetings. Florida law (s. 1003.5716(1)(a)) asks IEP teams to consider a student's need for instruction in self-determination and self-advocacy, and VR meetings go better when your teen can share what they want.
- Plan for 18. Decision-making rights at school transfer to your child at 18. See the year-before-18 checklist.
How can ABA support job skills?
Many of the skills Pre-ETS build are skills ABA can also target, with goals set by your teen's BCBA, your family and, where it fits, your teen. Examples include following multi-step directions, managing time and transitions, asking for help or a break, handling feedback, practicing interview answers, using a phone or schedule app, and staying safe in the community. ABA can also help with routines that make a work-based learning placement go more smoothly. Goals should reflect what your teen wants, not only what adults want. See ABA for teenagers.
Hope Center provides ABA in homes, schools, the community and our centers, with weekly parent training, and our staff can join IEP meetings where the school allows. If your teen is starting transition planning, contact us or call 561-337-8865 for a free consultation and free benefits check.
Program details, ages and contacts come from Florida VR's website as of October 2026. Confirm current availability with VR.