Transition Services
STEP
The Secondary Transitional Experience Program (STEP) is designed to provide supervised work experience for high school students with disabilities. The program is sponsored by the Department of Human Services and Department of Rehabilitation Services. Emphasis is placed on developing appropriate work-related habits and attitudes and on acquiring marketable work skills. STEP provides an opportunity for students to experience guided on-the-job training.
To participate in this school-to-work program, a student must be sixteen years of age (a junior or senior in high school) and identified as having a disabling condition that would create a barrier toward employment. One and a half to three hours of each student’s school day may be spent at an established work-site training station. The training station may be located at businesses in the community or on training sites within the school district.
Students receive work related instruction in order to enhance their job training experience. Students participating in the STEP program earn school credit toward graduation. Wages earned by STEP participants can be totally funded by STEP, partially subsidized by STEP and the employer, or paid in total by the employer.
The STEP program offered through Livingston County Special Services Unit serves the districts of Flanagan, Dwight, Pontiac, Prairie Central, Crossroads, Tri-Point and Woodland. Livingston County Special Services Unit personnel serve as vocational and transition coordinators. Each works with students, teachers, parents and community businesses to promote a team effort in effectively giving students support and training. The vocational coordinator is responsible for obtaining worksites, developing an individual training plan for each participant, evaluating student progress and providing school-to-work transition services.
STEP Forms:
IEP Related Resources:
The following are websites that may be accessed for Vocational Resources:
- Livingston County Transition Services Agencies
- Benefits Planning
- Job Accommodation Network
- Department of Labor
- Social Security Administration (The Red Book)
- JobStar Central
- Illinois Department of Employment Security
- Institute for Community Inclusion
- SERI Transition Resources