10/23/2026
“Most of the kids we work with have an IEP (Individualized Education Program) and have no clue what they want to do and no clue where to start. They're nervous to be away from home or their comfort zone. So, the experience we give them is some of their first work experience. Transitioning from school to the adult world is a major milestone, and for students with disabilities, finding the right starting point can feel overwhelming. Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) bridges this gap. This program is not a direct work experience placement; rather, it is a foundational training ground that helps young people build the confidence, self-awareness, and practical skills they need to navigate their future careers.
In pre-employment transition age youth services, we teach kids about self-advocacy, so they can figure out what they need to succeed in a workplace. Then we go into work-based learning, which covers things like how to dress and follow a work schedule. Then we teach work-readiness, which is all about preparation: how to interview, complete a resume and application, read a paycheck, and budget.
It's funny because everybody looked at me like I was crazy when I asked my boss to order me some play money. But you would be surprised how many kids don’t know how to count money.
We also work with kids going to college or learning a trade. What a lot of them don’t realize is that their IEP accommodations won't go with them. Up to this point, they’ve had support in school, so many of them just feel lost.
And parents can often enable this feeling. They don't want to see them struggle or have more challenges than they already do, but they're actually not helping them. These kids want to do this stuff. They want to drive and live on their own, and what they need is someone who will listen and help them get there. It is completely understandable that parents want to shield their children from struggles or additional barriers. However, overprotectiveness can inadvertently delay a young person's growth. The reality is that these students are highly motivated; they want to drive, they want to live independently, and they want to work. What they need most is someone who will actively listen to their goals and give them the tools to achieve them.
Growing up in my household, I didn't have a voice. Back then, everybody was just so busy, and as long as I came home before curfew, that was good enough. But I was struggling with a lot of things that went undiagnosed. I had mental health issues. I am dyslexic and have ADHD. I had to navigate my whole life without support. My mood and my attention were all over the place, and because I didn't know how to advocate for myself, I ultimately lost my spot on my sports team; a painful experience that left me feeling completely invisible and unheard.
That specific feeling of struggling in silence is exactly what drives me today, as my absolute passion is helping kids find their own voice. By providing a safe space, tools, and unwavering support that I lacked, I want to ensure every young person learns how to speak up for themselves, feel seen, and know that their voice truly matters.
But I wasn’t unloved. My parents just didn’t see where I needed support and didn’t provide a space for me to talk about it or do anything about it. I survived my teenage years by the grace of God. And it took me a long time to figure things out and become my best self.
Most of these kids just want to feel seen and heard, and that’s my calling. When I'm with the kids, they feel this ultimate safe space. I let them know their opinions and feelings matter.
The forever relationships that I have built with some of the youth are fantastic. I’ll get a random phone call from someone who graduated from our program telling me they got a job, and they couldn’t wait to tell me. Or they went to vote after we helped them get registered. Or they made their own appointment to go to the dentist, and it wasn’t that bad. They tell me everything, and I feel honored to be that person for them.”
- Tiaunna Coleman is a Career Coach for ARC Voyagers, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through whole-person centered services.
