Services

School Programs

  • Travel Training is designed to teach students with disabilities how to travel safely and independently on public transportation systems. CEO’s comprehensive Travel Training program pairs eligible students or student groups with a trained and qualified CEO Consultant. Consultants utilize our comprehensive curriculum to assist students in learning how to navigate various forms of public transportation, as well as read and understand bus/train schedules and time management. A major emphasis of all Travel Training programs is safety, including street safety, community safety, and individual safety.

    • SCAT

    • ABLE

    • Public Bus and Train

    • Uber and Lyft rides

    • Suffolk on Demand

    • HART Services

  • School Business Partnerships (SBP) are a support program that enables a district’s Special Education and General Education students to have direct links to local and regional businesses and organizations. SBPs assist students in obtaining internships, employment, job shadow opportunities and worksite tours through having career days, roundtable meetings, speakers, career labs and specialized events. Businesses will act as a support organization for students by offering career guidance and potential employment.

  • CEO’s College/Vocational Technical Preparatory Program

    There is a great need to address the services for students in special education who will make the transition to post-secondary education. This can include both two and four year college certifications as well as vocational technical education. Career and Employment Options, Inc. (CEO) has designed a program that focuses on the student needs in addressing post-secondary education and college entrance issues. The function of Upward Options is to support and supplement the role of the Guidance Department and the Special Education Department of districts to effectively address the post-secondary needs of special education students.

    Upward Options addresses the transition needs of students with disabilities who are expecting to go to college or other post-secondary options, but have a need for more specific and ongoing training support. While no program can promise that litigation can be averted, Upward Options targets the need for a more specific and ongoing instructional support.

    With the expectation of family, school and NYSED that cognitively capable students in special education might be post-secondary education-bound, there is a need for a comprehensive program that meets IDEA and IEP goals. Upward Options provides the appropriate transition supports required under IDEA while students receives instruction in the ancillary skills necessary in post-secondary education.

    • Upward Options provides the following outcomes for students:

      • Knowledge and skills to better understand their IEP and support services.

      • Capacity to better understand and improve their Executive Functioning and Self Determination skills.

      • Career exploration skills that includes resume/portfolio development and school application assistance.

      • A Student Exit Summary plan that includes the skills necessary for post- secondary education.

      • Self Advocacy skills needed for the post-secondary world and development of 504 Awareness and Instruction.

    The purpose of Upward Options is to provide the services, through guided practice, to effectively address the post-secondary needs of special education students while not duplicating district services. The Upward Options program develops the metacognitive strategies necessary to utilize the academic skills which are taught and learned in the secondary education level.

  • CEO utilizes primarily masters-level Career Consultants to provide a wide range of career counseling services to the students and adults that we serve. Career counseling services with students are delivered either in a group or 1:1 setting. Consultants use a variety of strategies to assist students and adults with their job development and job placement needs. Strategies and services may include, but are not limited to: career assessments and interest inventories, resume development, cover letter writing skills, interviewing skills, job searching skills, online job searching skills and online images, networking, employer follow up, job offer negotiations, leaving a job appropriately, and self-advocacy for disability accommodations. In addition, school-age students receive additional counseling in soft skills training including interacting with supervisors, co-workers and customers, workplace communication, time management, taking initiative, safety, and maintaining appropriate boundaries.

  • A smooth transition from High School to a state agency is a part of CEO’s programs. Our goal is to enable parents of children in special education to have a greater understanding of the future adult services systems and their requirements for eligibility of services. Students and families are given information, guidance and assistance. CEO will help complete, submit, and attend meetings with state services to ensure a seamless transition.

  • CEO provides districts with support under both Option 1 and Option 2.

    • Option 1: CEO will assist students in developing a Career Plan that includes documentation of the student’s self-identified career interests; career-related strengths and needs; career goals; and career and technical coursework and work-based learning experiences that the student plans to engage in to achieve those goals. CEO has a Work-Based Learning Coordinator (WBL) to assist with Student Training Plans including student learning outcomes, transportation, student scheduling, data collection, and placement monitoring. The WBL will ensure that each student has successfully completed at least 216 hours of CTE coursework and work-based learning experiences (of which at least 54 hours must be in work-based learning experiences) and that each student has at least one completed employability profile.

    • Option 2: CEO staff will prepare students for the assessment necessary to earn one of the National Work Readiness Credentials. CEO uses National Work Readiness under WIN learning. Each student will be provided instructional materials and resources to assist in preparing the student for the assessment.

  • The Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) Lab is a structured and hands-on vocational assessment tool used to evaluate the work-related skills and interests of individuals, particularly those with disabilities or special needs.

    • Assessment of Work Skills: The PAES Lab assesses a wide range of work-related skills, including vocational, academic, social, and functional abilities. It provides a comprehensive evaluation of an individual's strengths, weaknesses, and readiness for employment in various settings.

    • Simulated Work Environment: The PAES Lab simulates real work environments, such as offices, factories, retail stores, and service industries, to provide individuals with practical, hands-on experiences. These simulated work tasks allow individuals to explore different job roles and industries in a controlled setting.

    • Task Rotation: In the PAES Lab, individuals rotate through different workstations or tasks, completing a variety of job-related activities. This rotation allows individuals to sample different job tasks, develop new skills, and identify areas of interest or aptitude.

    • Skill Development: The PAES Lab provides opportunities for skill development and reinforcement in areas such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, time management, and task completion. Individuals receive feedback and support from instructors or facilitators to enhance their performance and confidence.

    • Career Exploration: The PAES Lab helps individuals explore various career options and industries based on their interests, abilities, and preferences. By engaging in different work tasks and environments, individuals can gain insight into potential career paths and make informed decisions about their vocational goals.

    • Transition Planning: The PAES Lab supports transition planning for individuals with disabilities as they prepare to transition from school to work or adult life. It helps identify vocational strengths and areas for growth, inform Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals, and facilitate post-school transition planning and decision-making.

    • Individualized Assessment: The PAES Lab provides individualized assessment and support tailored to the unique needs and abilities of each participant. Assessment results are used to develop personalized vocational plans, set realistic goals, and identify appropriate vocational training, support services, or job placements.

    • Collaboration and Communication: The PAES Lab encourages collaboration and communication among participants, instructors, and support staff. Participants learn to work independently and collaboratively, follow directions, and communicate effectively with others in a work setting.

  • CEO provides data-driven instruction through job analysis, task analysis, and industry standards. It involves using empirical data and analysis techniques to inform instructional decisions and practices in vocational or job training programs. Data driven instruction offer several benefits:

    Relevance: By grounding instruction in real-world job requirements and industry expectations, educators ensure that training programs are relevant and directly applicable to learners' future careers.

    Effectiveness: Analyzing job tasks and industry standards helps educators identify the most critical skills and knowledge areas to focus on, leading to more effective instructional design and targeted skill development.

    Alignment: Data-driven instruction ensures that training programs align with current industry practices and standards, increasing the likelihood that learners will meet employer expectations and succeed in the workforce.

    Continuous Improvement: Regularly updating job analysis data and industry standards allows educators to adapt training programs to evolving workforce needs, technology advancements, and industry trends, promoting continuous improvement and relevance in vocational education.

Vocational Evaluations and Consultations

  • Assistive technology evaluations aim to empower individuals with disabilities or limitations to access and utilize assistive technology solutions that enhance their independence, participation, and overall well-being. By conducting thorough assessments, exploring various AT options, and providing tailored recommendations and support, assistive technology evaluations play a crucial role in facilitating access to appropriate and effective assistive technology solutions.

    Based on the assessment findings and goals, the evaluator identifies and explores various assistive technology solutions that may address the individual's needs and preferences. This may include considering a wide range of devices, software applications, adaptive equipment, and environmental modifications.

  • CEO is capable of creating assessments and evaluations of client needs and capabilities for using assistive rehabilitation technologies. Training on recommended equipment and software can be offered on the job site, at a client’s residence or at the CEO training and evaluation room, depending on the client’s needs. CEO’s Assistive Technology Evaluator is a RENSA nationally certified assistive technology provider (A.T.P)

  • Our Assessment Programs for students and adults has a mission to enable students and adults to use the results to map their own futures. It is an instrument for districts, students, adults and their families to provide direction for potential career options. Our assessment services are multi-tiered in order to enable our districts to utilize the proper assessment for the specific students need.

    Assessment services are designed to help both the client and ACCES-VR counselor develop an appropriate IPE (individualized Plan of Employment) goal. A Diagnostic Vocational Evaluation (DVE) helps in the process of developing an IPE goal as the assessment evaluates an individual’s skills, aptitudes, interests, capacities, work readiness, and functional limitations. It also provides suggested vocational options in keeping with these findings. The assessment can also include an appraisal of the patterns of work behavior of the individual and services needed for the individual to acquire occupational skills and to develop work attitudes, work tolerance, and work related behaviors necessary for successful job performance.

    CEO administered its assessments individually or in small groups. CEO utilizes the latest assessment instruments to measure an individual’s academic achievement, aptitudes, cognitive abilities, personality, vocational interests, and sensory/motor skills and compares them to an appropriate sample population.

    With ACCES-VR approval, CEO can perform a situational assessment (assesses skills abilities, strengths, barriers and need for support in a competitive work environment) within a community based worksite. This type of assessment gives the individual hands-on experience in an actual worksite allowing direct observations by the evaluator, where independent capability and industry standard are measured. CEO has a number of businesses that are willing to work with an individual to gather data about vocational abilities.

ACCES-VR Services

  • CEO is providing PRe-Employment Transition Services (PRe-ETS) through ACCES-VR funding. PRe-ETS include existing ACCES-VR service as well as new services to address the career development needs of students with disabilities. Students with disabilities are defined as individuals with disabilities in secondary, post-secondary or other recognized education programs who are ages 16-21. This service will assist students through the provision of pre-employment services with the objective of preparing students for successful long-term employment consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice. PRe-ETS Services include:

    Post-Secondary Counseling for Students – To provide students with counseling related to education options after high school.

    Job Exploration Counseling for Students – to provide students with counseling related to careers options after high school.

    Self-Advocacy for Students – To develop self-advocacy skills.

    Work Readiness for Students – To enhance career exploration and develop soft skills.

    Work-Based Learning Development for Students – To develop an internship, work try-out or work-based learning experience.

    Work-Based Learning Development may be used as a stand-alone service.

    Work-Based Learning Experience for Students – To assist with paid work experience in instances where the employer is unable to place the student on his/her payroll.

    Work-Based Coaching Supports for Students (for employment) – To provide coaching for supports youth engaged in paid work experiences.