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.
*ARS is seeking Pre-ETS vendors and WOLF/WIN! programming for school year 2024-2025 for the following counties: Calhoun, Columbia, Dallas, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Sevier, and Union.
Is your school interested in receiving Pre-ETS? Click Here for more information.
Interested in becoming a new vendor for ARS? Click here for the ARS Pre-ETS New Vendor application. We are currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year.
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
ARS.Pre-Ets.Services@arkansas.gov
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.
The Youth Leadership Forum is held annually at Hendrix College in Conway.
The Youth Leadership Forum 2025 information is coming soon!
For more information contact the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services Field Services Office at 501-296-1600.
Opportunities for Work-Based Learning
The Work-Based Learning Opportunities Leading to Future Employment (WOLF), formerly OWL, 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.
View videos of the program produced by Joey Travolta’s Inclusion Films.
Arkansas Film School
Each year, an opportunity is offered to high school juniors & seniors with disabilities to participate in a one-week in-person work-based learning environment for those interested in film and video production.
Film School is an overnight Work Based Learning opportunity for youths with disabilities who have an interest in Film and Video Production. Film School participants will learn about career opportunities in the film industry and will participate in Work Based Learning activities that will teach and develop skills associated with Film and Video production. Each student will work with a team to make their own short film. Over the course of 1 week, students will learn to use industry equipment as well as learn everyday technology to develop produce and edit short films.
Over the course of the 6-day conference, Film School participants will stay in the college dorm and experience life in a college setting. They will also participate in both small and large group discussions and workshops on topics such as: how to make a podcast, how to become a YouTuber, proper lighting for films, and how to edit your short films. Students who participate in this 6-day Work Based Learning opportunity will work directly with the professor of Southern Arkansas University Tech’s Film & Video Production program.
In past years, participants had the opportunity to work in Northwest Arkansas with the Inclusion Film Company. We are pleased to share with you some of the student’s public service announcements.
Please check back for dates and application.
Virtual Career Competition Entries
In 2020, students submitted videos, podcasts, original art, and essays showing their future career choice and how they each plan to reach their goals.
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.
