Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) works to provide opportunities for Rehabilitation counselors and schools to develop partnerships in an effort to prepare high school students with disabilities the knowledge, skills, and abilities to achieve a successful transition from high school to post-secondary life.
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Transition Counselor works with students, teachers, principals, and other appointed school staff, as well as families and community resources. Together they coordinate services and develop programs with the intent to improve and provide quality post-school outcomes through student engagement in Vocational Rehabilitation programs.
If you are a vendor interested in providing Pre-ETS programming, please contact [email protected] for more information.
Is your school interested in receiving Pre-ETS? Click Here for more information.
Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Counselors
- Works with the student to discover their interest and life goals while discovering the student’s strengths.
- Works with the student and local schools to coordinate, develop, and implement pre-employment transition services which include:
- Job Exploration
- Workplace Readiness training
- Work-based learning experiences
- Counseling on opportunities for enrollment in a comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational program at institutions of higher education
- Instruction in self-advocacy
- Works with the community to discover resources to support the student in their training and development needs.
- Works with identifiable resources necessary to help the student make a successful transition from high school to adult life.
Maryanne Caldwell, M.S., CRC
Statewide Pre-ETS Manager
4058 N. College Ave.
Fayetteville, AR 72703
Cell: 501-515-9893
Office: 479-582-1286
[email protected]
Youth Leadership Forum
Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is an innovative and intensive leadership program for high school students with disabilities throughout Arkansas. With the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), youth with disabilities have more opportunities to become contributing members and leaders in society. However, many challenges remain. YLF is designed to assist students with disabilities in developing leadership skills and using resources that can help them face such challenges and become full members of society.
Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is a six-day overnight leadership camp for youth with disabilities currently in 10th, 11th and 12th grade. YLF participants learn about leadership values and build leadership skills to become better prepared for future employment, higher education, and independent living.
YLF will be June 21st -26th in Conway, AR at Hendrix College.
Application Link: https://ArkansasDWS.formstack.com/forms/ylf_application
Applications are due March 15th, 2026.
If you have any questions or would like more information regarding YLF, please reach out to Anne Thomas Madsen at [email protected].
Opportunities for Work-Based Learning
The Work-Based Learning Opportunities Leading to Future Employment (WOLF) and Working for Independence Now (WIN) programs offer students work-based learning opportunities in a collaborative effort between local school districts and Arkansas Rehabilitation Services to ensure students with disabilities are afforded the opportunity to gain work readiness training skills and work experiences prior to exiting the secondary setting.
Arkansas Career Development Center (ACDC)
The Arkansas Career Development Center (ACDC) Student Access and Support Services (SASS) connects students with services that provide educational access, support services, workplace readiness, college orientation, advising, and academic support.
ACDC also provides a peer mentoring program and certificate opportunities such as OSHA, ServSafe, PGS, and CPR.
Please view more of the training ACDC has to offer.
