"Bridges to Transition" Provides Model to Assist Youth’s Success to Transition from School to the World of Work



The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, Jefferson County Board of DD, the Ohio Association of County Boards, 14 other Boards of DD, have established a program that expands and enhances school to work transition for youth with disabilities. Federal stimulus dollars have made the "Bridges to Transition" program a reality.



Counties are working with local school districts to increase access and decrease waiting lists for school to work transition services.  County Boards of DD play a critical component in transition programs as they often have lifetime commitments to support individuals to obtain work and to be successful employees within their communities.



The 15 Board of DD partners include Jefferson, Belmont, Crawford, Wyandot, Marion, Hocking, Perry, Fairfield, Huron, Ottawa, Warren, Wood, Logan, Miami, and Champaign counties. Each county has developed its own service delivery model based on the needs of students, school districts and the available resources of County Board of DD.