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Transition Summer Programs

2023 Transition Summer Programs

Ten innovative short-term programs to provide career exploration, job readiness, and work-based learning opportunities for students with disabilities during the summer of 2023 have been developed.

Summary of all the Nebraska VR Summer Transition Program proposal that are approved.

Angel Guardians will provide a transition summer program for up to 30 students with disabilities, age 14-21 and enrolled in high school. Angel Guardians will provide students with disabilities the opportunity to gain work skills and increase employability through a paid work-based learning experience, June 5,2023-July 21, 2023. Contact Pete Bataillon (pete@angelguardians.org, 402-614-8202, x831)

CASA of South-Central Nebraska/Maryland Living Center in Hastings—will implement a transition summer program for up to 10 students with disabilities from June through July 31,2023 and provide the students an opportunity to engage in a paid work-based learning experience. Contact RuAnn Root at ruannroot.casa@gmail.com or Michelle Kohmetscher at michellekohmetscher@live.com

Easterseals of Nebraska will host 2 Empowered Youth Camps (NEYC) to increase the preparedness of Nebraska youth with disabilities to successfully transition to competitive integrated employment. NEYC will provide 23 students with disabilities, ages 14-21, workplace readiness. The first camp will be held at Schramm State Recreation Park. The daytime sessions will be held June 19-23, 2023. The second camp will be held at Fort Robinson State Park with overnight experiences for 4 days/3 nights July 17-20. Contact Angie Howell at ahowell@ne.easterseals.com.

Grand Island Public Schools will implement a transition summer program for up to 15 students with disabilities in Grand Island. The program will an opportunity for students to engage in a paid work-based learning experience from May 31,2023 -July 3,2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 2p.m. Contact Kris McMullen at kmcmullen@gips.org or Lori Watts at lwatts@gips.org.

Goodwill will have program sites at Benson Park, Bellevue, and Blair). Programming guidelines allow for any students receiving VR Pre-Employment Transition services can be referred to Goodwill. Contact Denicia Welch- 402.522.7225 | dwelch@goodwillomaha.org

ESU 13 will provide a camp on the Western Nebraska Community College campus for 20 students with disabilities. The camp will be from June 13-15 and will focus on workplace readiness skills. Contact Diane Reinhardt at dreinhardt@esu13.org.

LUX Center for the Arts in Lincoln will host LUX Art Academy for up to 30 students with disabilities ages 14-21. The Academy will be from April 15, 2023, to July 28, 2023. Contact Lindsey Claussen at Lindsey@luxcenter.org.

Ralston Public Schools will provide a transition summer program for up to 15 students with developmental disabilities in the Ralston area in June. The students will have an opportunity to engage in a paid work-based learning experience in the Ralston community where they will learn skills regarding attendance, employability and social skills. Contact Russell Neumann at russell.neuman@ralstonschools.org.

Whispering Acres Tail and Treasures in Jensen Ne will provide 10 students with disabilities a paid work-based learning experience May 2023-July 31,2023. Contact Jill Kuzelka at jkuzelka@phsneb.org.

York Public Schools will provide a paid work-based experience, York Public Schools STEPS Academy, for up to 10 students with disabilities, age 16-21. The students must be enrolled in York Public High School. The academy will be from June 1,2023-July 31,2023. Contact Karen Samson at karen.samson@yorkdukes.org.

2022 Transition Summer Programs

Twenty innovative short-term programs to provide career exploration, job readiness, and work-based learning opportunities for students with disabilities during the summer of 2022 have been developed.

Summary of all the Nebraska VR Summer Transition Program proposal that are approved.

Agencies/Businesses

Angel Guardians in Omaha will host a program for up to 24 students ages 14-21, in June and July, incorporating the 5 pre-employment transition services and focusing particularly on workplace readiness and work-based learning experiences. Contact Hannah Tamayo at hannah@angelguardians.org.

Camp Scott in Scottsbluff will provide job exploration, workplace readiness, instruction on self- advocacy and work-based learning experiences for 25 students ages 14-21 during a 5-week summer camp from June 2nd-July 1st. Contact Lorene Berry at berryreenie@yahoo.com and pennykbusing@gmail.org.

CASA of South Central Nebraska/Maryland Living Center in Hastings will provide the 5 pre-employment transition services for up to 10 students in Hastings. The summer program will be in June and July. Contact RuAnn Root at ruannroot.casa@gmail.com or Michelle Kohmetscher at michellekohmetscher@live.com.

EasterSeals Nebraska will provide 2 Empowered Youth Camps. One at Schramm State Park and the other at Halsey 4H Center for up to 20 students. The camps will emphasize self-advocacy, youth leadership and independent living skills and will also provide instruction on workplace readiness and job exploration. Email Goodwill Omaha will provide a program for 18 students including job readiness and work-based learning, job exploration and instruction on self-advocacy at 3 sites in Omaha and Blair in June and July. Contact ESN staff at campesn@ne.easterseals.com or call 800-471-6425.

Goodwill Industries, Inc Will provide a workbased learning experience, workplace readiness and job exploration for up to 18 students. Contact Amy Larson at alarson@goodwill.org.

LUX Center for the Arts in Lincoln will provide job exploration, workplace readiness for up to 30 students in April -June. They will also provide work-based learning experience for up to 6 students in June and July. Contact Lindsey Claussen at lindsey@luxcenter.org

Munroe-Meyer Institute in Omaha will provide activities in job exploration and post-secondary enrollment opportunities for up to 90 students with disabilities from Millard Public School and Westside Community Schools from April-July. Contact Rachel Ray at rachel.ray@unmc.edu.

Educational Service Units

ESU 1 will host a hybrid program for up to 24 students for a hands-on pre-employment teaching program that will include job exploration and workplace readiness. Contact Angie Guenther at aguenther@esu1.org.

ESU 4 will host A Transition Academy for up to 30 students from 5 schools in the ESU 4 area. They will provide activities in job exploration, workplace readiness, post-secondary exploration, and instruction in self advocacy from May-July. Contact Ellen Stokebrand at estokebrand@esu4.net.

ESU 5 will host a Transition Academy for up to 30 students from 10 different schools in the ESU 5 area. They will provide activities in all 5 Pre-Ets areas from May-July. Contact Jamie Thavenet at jthaven@esu5.org, Matt McNiff at mmcniff@esu5.org, Brenda Mcniff at bmcniff@esu5.orga and Jan Reimer at jreimer@esu5.org.

ESU 6 will host a Transition Academy for up to 60 students. Students will participate in activities in all 5 pre-employment transition services at each school district in May-June. Contact Michele Rayburn at michele.rayburn@esu6.org.

ESU 7 will host an Employment Readiness Bootcamp to provide a hands-on pre-employment skill teaching program for up to 16 students. Contact Amy Slama at asalama@esu7.org.

ESU 10 will host a Transition Academy in Kearney. Up to 24 students will participate in activities in all 5 pre-employment transition services in May-June. Contact Blair Hartman at bhartman@esu10.org.

ESU 13 will provide a camp on the Western Nebraska Community College campus. The camp will be from June 20-23rd, and will encompass workplace readiness, job exploration and instruction on self-advocacy for up to 20 students. Contact Diane Reinhardt at dreinhardt@esu13.org.

ESU 16 will host The College and Occupational Readiness Exploration Program (CORE) in North Platte. The program will provide activities in all 5 pre-employment transition services. Up to 15 will be participating in the program in June. Contact Lou-Cox Fornander at lcox-for@esusixteen.org or Megan Lantis at mlantis@esusixteen.org.

Public Schools

DC West from DC West Public Schools will provide job exploration and counseling on post-secondary enrollment opportunities for 10 students in grades 10-12th from June 6th-June 24th. Contact Director of Special Education Nicki Pechous at npechous@dcwest.org.

Grand Island Public Schools will implement a transition summer work program for up to 18 students in Grand Island. The program will provide activities in all 5 Pre-ETS services which includes career exploration, employment preparation and work experience. Contact Kris McMullen at kmcmullen@gips.org or Lori Watts at lwatts@gips.org

Papillion LaVista Public Schools will provide a program for approximately 50 Papillion LaVIsta students that will increase their skills in all 5 Pre-ETS categories. Students will engage in community-based activities and hands-on activities at the school. Contact Heather Post at heather.postplcschools.org

UmonHon Nation Public School in Macy will provide a program for 10 students focused on all 5 pre-employment transition services. Contact Kari Bappe at kbappe@unpsk-12.org or Erica Carter at ecarter@unpsk-12.org.

2021 Transition Summer Programs

Nineteen innovative short-term programs to provide career exploration, job readiness, and work-based learning opportunities for students with disabilities during the summer of 2021 have been developed.

Summary of all the Nebraska VR Summer Transition Program proposal that are approved.

Agencies/Businesses

Angel Guardians in Omaha will host a program for 14 students, 18-21, in June and July, incorporating the 5 pre-employment transition services and focusing particularly on workplace readiness and work based learning experiences Contact Sam Comfort at sam@angelguardians.org

Camp Scott in Scottsbluff will provide job interest exploration, real job shadowing experiences, and workplace site visits for 25 students during a 5-week summer camp. Contact Reenie Berry at berryreenie@yahoo.com

CASA of South Central Nebraska/Maryland Living Center in Hastings will provide a workplace readiness and work based learning program for up to 10 students in Hastings. Contact RuAnn Root at ruannroot.casa@gmail.com or Michelle Kohmetscher at michellekohmetscher@live.com

Contemporary Woods in Lincoln will provide a program encompassing job exploration, work based learning and post-secondary exploration related to furniture making. Contact Adam McKee at adam@contemporarywoods.com or Brian Fitzgearld at brian@contemporarywoods.com

EasterSeals Nebraska will provide an Empowered Youth Camp in the Lincoln/Omaha area, emphasizing self-advocacy, youth leadership, independent living, and future workplace skills for up to 30 students. Email empowered@ne.easterseals.com

Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska will provide a program in Grand Island incorporating job exploration counseling, workplace readiness training and instruction in self-advocacy for 10 students. Contact Tamara Snider at tsnider@goodwillne.org

Goodwill Omaha will provide a program for 18 students including job readiness and work based learning along with the other pre-employment transition services for 18 students at 3 sites in Omaha and Blair. Contact Steve Andrews at sandrews@goodwillomaha.org or Courtney Cale at ccale@goodwillomaha.org

The Arc of Lincoln will conduct a program focused on self-advocacy and improving social and communication skills for up to 30 students with disabilities in the Lincoln area. This program will also involve a parent education component. Contact Michelle Johnson at director@arclincoln.org

The League of Human Dignity will implement a curriculum that includes workplace readiness, independent living skills, self-advocacy for up to 12-16 students in Norfolk. Contact Jane Fink at jfink@leagueofhumandignity.com.

LUX Center for the Arts in Lincoln will provide job exploration, workplace readiness and work based learning opportunities for 10 students. Contact Lindsey Claussen at lindsey@luxcenter.org

Educational Service Units

ESU 6 will host a program in Milford for up to 30 students for job exploration, post-secondary exploration, workplace readiness and self-advocacy. Contact Michele Rayburn at michele.rayburn@esu6.org

ESU 7 in Columbus will provide a hands-on pre-employment skill teaching program for up to 24 students. Contact Amy Slama at asalama@esu7.org

ESU 13 will provide a program that will encompass counseling on post-secondary training options for up to 20 students. Contact Diane Reinhardt at dreinhardt@esu13.org

Public Schools

Bellevue Public Schools will host a summer Career Academy for 25 students focusing on job exploration, workplace readiness training and self-advocacy. Contact Fran Pokorski at frances.pokorski@bpsne.net

DC West will provide a program that will encompass counseling on post-secondary training options, exploration and self-advocacy for up to 29 students. Contact Allison Ramirez at aramirez@dcwest.org

Grand Island Public Schools will implement a transition summer work program for up to 18 students in Grand island, which includes career exploration, employment preparation and work experiences. Contact Kris McMullen at kmcmullen@gips.org

Papillion LaVista Public Schools will provide a program for approximately 50 Papillion LaVIsta students that will increase their skills in independent living and self-advocacy as well as career interest exploration. Students will engage in community-based activities and hands-on activities at the school. Contact Nicole Pechous at npechous@paplv.org

UmonHon Nation Public School in Macy will provide a program for 10 students focused on all 5 pre-employment transition services. Contact Kari Bappe at kbappe@unpsk-12.

York Public Schools will conduct the School Transitional Experience Program for Students (STEPS) for up to 10 students. STEPS will provide work-based learning, job exploration and workplace readiness. Contact Beth Ericson at beth.ericson@yorkdukes.org

2019 Transition Summer Programs

Eighteen innovative short-term programs to provide career exploration, job readiness, and work-based learning opportunities for students with disabilities during the summer of 2019 have been developed.

Summary of all the Nebraska VR Summer Transition Program proposal that are approved

Agencies/Businesses

The League of Human Dignity will implement a curriculum that includes workplace readiness, independent living skills, self-advocacy for up to 25 students in Norfolk. Contact Jane Fink at jfink@leagueofhumandignity.com.

Ollie Webb will provide a program that addresses career exploration counseling and work readiness training for up to 18 students in Omaha other community job sites in the Omaha area. Contact Aimee Addison at aaddison@olliewebbinc.org or by phone at 402-342-4418 ext. 19.

Wonderfully Made in Lincoln will provide a job readiness and self-advocacy program through recreational therapy resources for up to 20 students. Contact Nicole Meyer at nicole@wonderfullymadene.com

Contemporary Woods Will provide a program encompassing job exploration, work based learning and post secondary exploration related to furniture making. Contact Adam McKee at adam@contemporarywoods.com

CASA of South Central Nebraska/Maryland Living Center will a workplace readiness and workbased learning program for up to 15 students in Hastings. Contact RuAnn Root at ruannroot.casa@gmail.com

CEDARS Youth Services will implement a program based on job exploration, post secondary exploration and self-advocacy for up to 25 students in Lincoln. Contact Cindy Roman Yost @ cryost@cedars-kids.org

Easter Seals for Nebraska will provide a the Empowered Youth Camp, emphasizing self-advocacy, youth leadership, independent living, and future workplace skills for up to 43 students. Email empowered@ne.easterseals.com

Easter Seals will conduct the Inspiring ChangeMakers: A Leadership Training program focusing on marketable work skills, gaining leadership skills, and essential social skills for up to 12 students. Email empowered@ne.easterseals.com

Education Service Units

ESU 7 in Columbus will provide a career academy/summer enrichment program for up to 12 students. Contact Amy Slama at asalama@esu7.org

ESU 9 will host a Transition Summit for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing addressing job exploration, workplace readiness training, self-advocacy and post secondary exploration for up to 20 students. Contact Joe Haney at joe.haney@esu9.us

ESU 13 will provide a program that will encompass counseling on post secondary training options for up to 20 students. Contact Jessica Broderick at jbroderick@esu13.org

ESU 16 will conduct two Student Work Education and Employment Programs (SWEEP) for up to 22 students in a 21,000 square mile rural area between North Platte and Ogallala. Contact Lou Cox Fornander at lcox-for@esusixteen.org

Public Schools

Centennial Public School will will conduct a Student Work Education and Employment Programs (SWEEP) for up to 5 students in a rural area between. Contact Nicole Klanecky at nicole.klanecky@centennialbroncos.org

Grand Island Public Schools will implement a transition summer work program for up to 15 students in Grand island, which includes career exploration, employment preparation and work experiences. Contact Kris McMullen at kmcmullen@gips.org

Hastings Public School will offer a summer transition program for 15 students addressing job exploration, work readiness and work experiences in the community. Contact Hope McMurtry at hope.mcmurtry@hpstigers.org

Papillion LaVista Public Schools will provide a program for approximately 90 Papillion LaVIsta students that will increase their skills in independent living and self-advocacy as well as career interest exploration. Students will engage in community-based activities and hands-on activities at the school. Contact Nicole Pechous at npechous@paplv.org

York Public Schools will conduct the School Transitional Experience Program for Students (STEPS) for up to 10 students. STEPS will provide work-based learning, career exploration, employability skills, independent living skills, and interviewing skills. Contact Beth Ericson at beth.ericson@yorkdukes.org

Watch Pathway to Employment Video Series

The Pathway to Employment Video Series is designed to de-mystify the many services provided to clients and businesses while highlighting the innovation that is the culture of Nebraska VR. While certainly each story is either one of progress towards an employment goal or a client's employment goal success, they are also stories about the important role played by staff members, businesses, ATP, Easter Seals, Project SEARCH, and others. Go to: vr.nebraska.gov/videos/

Our Mission

We help people with disabilities, prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment while helping businesses recruit, train, and retain employees with disabilities.

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Nebraska VR
Nebraska Department of Education
Address: P.O. Box 94987, Lincoln, NE 68510
Telephone: 402-471-3644
Toll Free: 877-637-3422 or 877-NE-REHAB
FAX: 402-471-0788
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