Transition Resources in Kansas
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)
Pre-ETS helps students learn about different jobs, and get experience while still in school. They are a great way to start building employment skills.
Contact a Pre-ETS Transition
Specialist in your community:
Call 1-866-213-9079 or visit www.dcf.ks.gov
Download a Pre-ETS Flyer here
Centers for Independent Living (CILs)
Centers for Independent Living are run by people with disabilities to help others with disabilities live independently. They provide support, training, and resources to help you achieve your goals.
CILs offer:
- Support for moving from school to adult life.
- Training on how to live on your own.
- Help with learning everyday skills like cooking, budgeting, and managing a home.
- Help finding resources you need.
- Assistance in finding and hiring personal care assistants.
- Connecting you to housing, transportation, and other local programs.
- Peer support and mentoring.
- Personal advocacy assistance and systems advocacy for better services in your community.
Check out KACIL's CIL service map below to find the CIL in your area. You can also visit the Disability Information & Access Line (DIAL) website and enter your zip code to find the CIL that serves your community.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR)
VR has professional counselors that help people with disabilities achieve their career and educational goals. VR services are customized according to each person's unique needs, skills, interests, and abilities.
Examples of What VR Can Do for You:
1. Help Pay for College or Training: VR can help cover tuition or training costs for your dream career.
2. Modify Your Car or Home: VR may help pay for adaptations needed to be able to achieve your employment goals, like hand controls for your car or home accessibility upgrades.
3. Provide Job Support: From vocational assessment to help you identify your skills and interests, to job placement services and supported employment, VR is here to help you meet get and keep a job that is right for you.
Download a flyer about VR here
The Support and Training for Employing People Successfully (STEPS) Program
The STEPS Program helps people with disabilities start and keep jobs without losing their health insurance. STEPS gives you the tools, training, and confidence to succeed at work while staying covered.
Learn more about how the STEPS Program can help you succeed by visiting the STEPS Program web page
Working Healthy
Many people with disabilities want to work but worry that doing so could jeopardize their vital health and long-term care coverage. Working Healthy employment supports offer people with disabilities who are working or interested in working the opportunity to keep Medicaid coverage while on the job. Through Working Healthy people can earn more, save more, achieve their career goals, and still maintain their health coverage.
Working Healthy employment supports and programs are KanCare programs and eligibility includes Medicaid coverage and assistance with the costs of some Medicare programs.
Learn more about Working Healthy on KanCare's website
Workforce Center Services (KansasWorks)
Explore jobs, resumes, or training programs in your area. The Workforce center can help you find a job in your area, prepare your resume and help you apply for a job.
Find your local workforce center
Project SEARCH
Project SEARCH is a school-to-work program for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The primary objective is to help students develop life and work skills appropriate to earn competitive employment in an inclusive setting.
Project SEARCH interns complete three 10 week internships.
Find a Project SEARCH program near you
Kansas Transition Planning Tool (iTransitionKS)
The iTransition app is a free, web and device-based app designed to empower students with disabilities to have a successful school to adult life transition. To use, simply answer a handful of questions about your goals. Then, the app gives you a customized, comprehensive, and downloadable transition plan.
Visit itransition.org
Download a flyer about the Kansas Transition Planning Tool
Client Assistance Program (CAP)
Through the federal Rehabilitation Act, people with disabilities have a right to services provided by Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Centers for Independent Living, and other services. The Client Assistant Program (CAP) is a program of the Disability Rights Center of Kansas that assists people seeking those services. We help people with disabilities make informed choices throughout the Vocational Rehabilitation and Independent Living process. We help Kansans with disabilities understand and exercise their right to these services.
Disability Rights Center of Kansas
www.drckansas.org or 877-776-1541
Download a flyer about the CAP here
Supported Decision Making Resources
What is Supported Decision Making? Supported Decision Making is an alternative to guardianship or conservatorship. It is a tool that allows people with disabilities to make their own decisions with the support of people they trust.
Watch this 2-minute explainer video.
Visit the Kansas Supported Decision Making website for more information
Financial Supports & Tools
Kansas ABLE Savings Program
Kansas ABLE Savings Plan helps individuals with disabilities save, while preserving their SSI and Medicaid.
Learn more on the Kansas ABLE Savings Plan website
Special Needs Trusts
A special needs trust — also referred to as a supplemental needs trust or SNT — is a type of trust that’s set up for people with disabilities or access and functional needs. It helps provide financial support without disqualifying individuals for government benefits, such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).