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Planning for Employment
(#4 of 10 in a series)
Reviewed December 2025
Integrated transition planning is a path to living a full, meaningful, and connected life as a community member. It means team-based planning for your child to become an adult. Everyone is different, so every idea might not be right for your family.
Get Started
- Starting when your child is young, observe their interests. Pay attention to what brings them joy. Encourage them to share with you what makes their day a good day.
- Support them in building daily living skills at home. Being able to care for themselves at home as independently as possible starts at a young age and builds over time. Focus on tasks like washing dishes, doing laundry, keeping track of their schedule, or taking medications when scheduled.
- Early in a young adult’s high school years, start exploring work and career options. Advocate with their school team to make sure everyone supports this discovery. This is also a good time for them to try volunteering. Build skills and let them explore different tasks and work environments.
- Think about the skills they have and the areas that can be expanded before finishing high school. The school IEP team can brainstorm ideas with you and assess current and emerging skills. This can be done at an annual meeting, or you can request an IEP meeting to focus on employment.
- Don’t set limits and continue to have high expectations. Think broadly about their future including their employment. Let them surprise you! Studies show that high parent expectations are the number one predictor of success for youth with disabilities after high school.
Did You Know?
Research tells us that students who have at least two paid work experiences during high school are five-times more likely to have jobs after finishing high school.
Plan for Your Child’s Workday
To develop job goals, talk with your young adult and their school team about:
- Their skills, experiences, interests, special talents, and personality traits.
- The types of people they like to be around.
- The environments they prefer, like a quiet spaces or a busy, fast-paced location.
- The best times of day and the right number of hours for them to be successful.
Gain Work Experience
Ask the school team to focus on employment early. Wisconsin transition law directs schools to start employment planning with youth with disabilities at age 14. The IEP should include job exploration, internships, and work at school or in the community. Use your connections with local businesses, community groups, your house of faith, friends, and extended family to find work experiences.
Vocational Support Services
Ask the school team to contact the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). DVR connects your child to employment service providers, job sites, internships, and courses to support future employment. Their services can start at least two years before your child exits school. Remind school staff to invite the DVR counselor to IEP meetings to help explore interests and goals for employment.
Supports for Success
To make their work experience successful, it’s important to plan what they’ll need, including support for their physical and mental health needs.
- Transportation to work: DVR or long-term support programs can pay for transportation if needed.
- Explore multiple types of equipment, technology, or other accommodations that may be needed to fully participate in the workplace.
- Support for any personal care needs, including using the bathroom or eating during the workday. These support costs may be covered by Medicaid or the adult’s long-term care program.
- A job coach or other support from a vocational rehabilitation agency.
Tip for Families
Young adults with significant needs may qualify for intensive job support from a Supported Employment Agency. These costs be covered by long-term care or initially by DVR. Talk with school transition staff about being connected with a local Supported Employment Agency.
IMPORTANT: Contact your county’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) if you have questions about programs and services for adults with disabilities. The ADRC begins work with your child at age 17 ½.
Workshops, Sub-minimum Wage Jobs and Day Services
Wisconsin schools and vocational programs follow state and federal laws to support youth with disabilities to find work in the community. Schools and vocational agencies support students to find jobs in their community, with customized employment options that meet the needs of their disabilities. In most cases, schools do not place students in sub-minimum wage jobs or workshop placements.
Day Services
Community-based and facility-based day services can be wrap-around options for youth who work part-time but need a full day of support. Day services can offer a combination of a worksite and leisure activities to support meaningful participation in their community.
Balancing Employment and Maintaining Benefits
When a young adult transitions from school to paid employment, it may raise concerns about the effect of their income on their public benefits. However, most public assistance programs, including SSI, have job incentive programs. One example is the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE).
To learn about Work Incentives Benefits Counseling go to eri-wi.org/programs/wipa. Your child may be eligible for free benefits counseling. This can be added to their service plan with Family Care or IRIS, or it can be part of their DVR services.
Learn More
- Before Age 18 offers practical ideas and resources for teens, including a Transition Resource Guide and Family Advocacy Training on Employment.
- CLTS – You Can Work explains employment support for youth on Children’s Long-Term Supports.
- Employment Resources Inc has resources to learn about jobs, skills and benefits counseling.
- Explore Work is a training that explores a youth’s talents and interests.
- Pacer Center’s What Resources are Available to Help my Child Find and Keep a Job?
- Post-Secondary Transition Guide is the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance and requirements on post-transition life.
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children’s Resource Network, 877-WiscWay (877-947-2929): Wisconsin Wayfinder offers families one name and phone number to find services for children with special health care needs. Wayfinder connects you to a resource guide at one of the five Children’s Resource Centers in your area.
Do you need a resource in another format or a printed copy? Contact Lynn@fvofwi.org.
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