Innovative short-term programs to provide career exploration, job readiness, and work-based learning opportunities for students with disabilities for the summer of 2024 have been developed and approved.
Angel Guardians, Inc.
Summary: Angel Guardians, Inc. Will provide students with an opportunity to gain meaningful Paid Work-Based Learning Experiences. Morning and afternoon enrollments are available. Necessary work skills taught in a daily class session, and then students are paid minimum wage to put their skills to work at sites throughout the Omaha Metro.
Pre-ETS Services Provided: Paid Work-Based Learning Experience
Number of Students: up to 24
Dates: June 8-July 18, 2024
Contact Information: If you are interested in registering for this program, please contact Pete at AGI, pete@angelguardians.org.
Beatrice YMCA
Summary: Beatrice YMCA will provide a Transition Summer Work-Based Learning Experience Program. Students will assist with clerical work, help prepare snacks in the cafe and assist in the maintenance department with various cleaning tasks.
Pre-ETS Service Provided: Paid Work-Based Learning Experience
Number of Students: 7
Dates: June 4-July 30, 2024
Days of the Week and Times: Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00a.m.-1:00p.m.
Contact Information: If you are interested in registering for this program, please contact Angela Jurgens at ajurgens@beatriceymca.org or 402-223-5266.
Easterseals Nebraska
Summary: Easterseals Nebraska will conduct two Nebraska Empowered Youth Camps at Schramm State Park and Ft. Robinson State Park. Students will engage in hands on learning activities at Nebraska State Parks. Students will learn readiness for work, life inclusion, an increased understanding of their disability, helpful accommodations and how to effectively advocate for themselves and others.
Pre-ETS Services Provided: Workplace Readiness Skills
Number of Students: 23
Dates: Schramm State Park -June 25-29, 2024; Ft. Robinson State Park -July 15-18, 2024
Days of the Week and Times:
Schramm State Park-9:00a.m.-4:00p.m., Monday-Friday
Ft. Robinson State Park-Travel will begin at 6:00a.m. from Omaha. Pickups will continue across the state with check-in to cabins at 7:00p.m. Program continues for 2 full days from 6:00a.m.-11:00p.m. Check-out and travel back will be on Thursday.
Contact Information: If you have questions or would like to register, contact Easterseals Nebraska at campesn@ne.easterseals.com.
ESU 4
Summary: Rise 4 Success is a transition program that aims to bring post-secondary training to life through training exploration. The program can include learning about accommodations, creating advocacy plans, exploring training areas, connecting education as it relates to career choices and learning about post-secondary training.
Pre-ETS Service Provided: Post-Secondary Counseling
Number of Students: 70 from the ESU 4 service area
Dates: TBD-Between May and June 24, 2024
Days of the Week and Times: Students will attend the program for 5 days.
Students will be identified and enrolled by ESU 4 personnel, school case managers and VR Pre-ETS Coordinators serving ESU 4 school sites.
Contact Information: If you have any questions, please contact Michalla Schartz at mschartz@esu6.org.
ESU 5
Summary: ACT 6 is a transition program that aims to bring post-secondary training to life through training exploration. The program can include learning about accommodations, creating advocacy plans, exploring training areas, connecting education as it relates to career choices and learning about post-secondary training.
Pre-ETS Service Provided: Post-Secondary Counseling
Number of Students: 70 from the ESU 5 service area
Dates: TBD-Between May and June 28, 2024
Days of the week and times: Students will attend the program for 5 days.
Students will be identified and enrolled by ESU 5 personnel, school case managers and VR Pre-ETS Coordinators serving ESU 5 school sites.
Contact Information: If you have any questions, please contact Michalla Schartz at mschartz@esu6.org.
ESU 6
Summary: ACT 6 is a transition program that aims to bring post-secondary training to life through training exploration. The program can include learning about accommodations, creating advocacy plans, exploring training areas, connecting education as it relates to career choices and learning about post-secondary training.
Pre-ETS Service Provided: Post-Secondary Counseling
Number of students: 70 from the ESU 6 service area
Dates: TBD-Between May and June 28, 2024
Days of the week and times: Students will attend the program for 5 days.
Students will be identified and enrolled by ESU 6 personnel, school case managers and VR Pre-ETS Coordinators servicing the ESU 6 school sites.
Contact Information: If you have any questions, please contact Nichole Wetjen at nichole.wetjen@esu6.org.
ESU 13
Summary: ESU 13 will provide “This Is Your Life” Summer Transition Program. The camp will be for 3 days, and the students will stay overnight in the dorms on the Western Nebraska Community College Campus. Target for the camp is for upcoming juniors and seniors. The intention of this summer camp is to provide interested students with an understanding of the preparation needed for successfully ‘leaving the nest’ and moving out on their own. The program will cover 5 key areas: budgeting, housing, transportation, banking, and emergency preparedness.
Pre-ETS Service: Workplace Readiness Skills
Number of Students: 20
Dates: June 10-12, 2024
Times: Camp will begin at 10:00a.m. on Day 1 and conclude at 10:00am on Day 3
Contact Information: If you have any questions, please contact Diane Reinhardt at dreinhardt@esu13.org.
ESU 18/Lincoln Public Schools
Summary: Lincoln Public Schools Summer Transition Academy aims to bring post-secondary training to life through training exploration. This hands-on exploration event can include learning about accommodations, creating advocacy plans, exploring training areas, connecting education as it relates to career choices, and learning about post-secondary training.
Pre-ETS Service: Post-Secondary Counseling
Number of Students: 150 Students enrolled at Lincoln Public Schools
Dates: June 2024
Times: TBD
Contact Information: If you have questions, please contact Alisha Bollinger at abollin@lps.org.
Grand Island Public Schools
Summary: Grand Island Public Schools will provide a summer paid work-based learning experience in businesses in Grand Island for Grand Island Public students.
Pre-ETS Service: Paid Work-Based Learning Experience
Number of Students: 15 from Grand Island Public Schools
Orientation Date and Time: May 30-31, 2024 from 8:00a.m.-2:00p.m. at the Workforce Prep Academy
Paid Work-based Learning Experience Dates: June 3-28, 2024, for up to 5 hours a day at various businesses in Grand Island.
Contact Information: Please contact Lori Watts 308-385-5636 and Jessica Tenkorang at 308-385-5950 for questions or to register for this program.
Goodwill Omaha
Summary: Goodwill of Omaha will provide a Paid Work-Based Learning Experience. Students are assigned to perform various jobs within Goodwill Omaha’s organization. Work areas may include clerical, custodial, production and retail. Our trainers adjust jobs to the specific needs of each individual student and make accommodations for any special needs. Summer Work Experience trainers also help students learn workplace soft skills as instructed by their trainers. Please note- transportation is not provided by the program. Students must arrange their own transportation.
Pre-ETS Service Provided: Paid Work-Based Learning Experience
Number of Students: 24
Dates: June 3, 2024-July 11, 2024
Time: 9:00a.m.-2:00p.m.
Contact Information: If you are interested in registering for this program, please contact Denicia Welch at dwelch@goodwillomaha.org.
The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel
Summary: The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel will provide paid Work-Based Learning Experiences. The students will have an opportunity to work in various departments throughout the hotel and will gain knowledge of maintaining employment in an integrated setting.
Pre-ETS Service Provided: Paid Work-Based Learning Experience
Number of Students: 6 students from the ESU 4 and 6 Service Areas
Dates: June 17-June 21, 2024
Time: 8:30a.m.-3:00p.m.
Contact Information: Contact Lisa Woeppel at lisawoeppel@gmail.com/402-419-4598 or Codie Meehan at cmeehan@thecornhusker.com/402-479-8291.
Whispering Acres Tails and Treasures
Summary: Whispering Acres Tails and Treasures will provide a Paid Work-Based Learning Experience. The students will have an opportunity to learn the tasks necessary to care for the animals at the farm near Jansen, Nebraska.
Pre-ETs Service: Paid Work-Based Learning Experience
Number of Students: 10
Dates: May 29-July 10, 2024, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Time: 1:00p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Contact Information: Contact Jill Kuzelka at 402-520-0922 or jkuzelka@phsneb.org.
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.
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/BusinessesAngel 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.
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/