Outside Agencies to Strengthen Student Transition

This resource shares information about organizations or service providers that are not part of the school system but can offer formal supports and services to blind/low vision youth.

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Outside Agencies to Strengthen Student Transition

Outside agencies are organizations or service providers that are not part of the school system but can offer formal supports and services to individuals with disabilities. Outside agencies can support students while they are in school. However, they will mostly assist students when they have exited high school and are adults. Outside agencies can assist with many important areas of an individual’s life, including but not limited to employment, further education, independent living, accessing technology, and vocational training.

Here, we provide a list of commonly used formal agencies in the state of TN and the formal services they provide. Professionals from outside of TN should note that similar or equivalent agencies exist in other states as well. For example, if you are not in TN, a great place to start is Rehabilitation Administration Services to find your Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency.

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services - VR services are available to help eligible blind/low vision adults to successfully compete with others in entering, returning, and retaining employment. Depending upon an individual's particular circumstances, the following services may be available through VR:

Guidance and counseling
Vocational training
Post secondary education
Orientation and mobility training
Independent living services
Personal adjustment training
Work adjustment
Technology related services
Job placement
Medical, surgical, and hospital care needed to eliminate or reduce the effect of the visual disability

VR Blind and Visually Impaired Services - Within VR, TN offers specific Blind and Visually Impaired Services to assist blind/low vision individuals. These specialized services include:

Independent Living Services - The Independent Living Program provides services to eligible individuals of all ages who are blind or who have a severe visual impairment to enable customers to care for themselves in their homes and communities. All services are customized to meet the individual's needs and may include:
- Guidance counseling
- Functional low vision evaluations
- O&M services
- Instruction in communication skills (braille, recording devices, books in alternate format, etc.)
- Instruction in daily living skills
- Leisure time activities

Deaf-Blind Services - Blind and Visually Impaired Services offer statewide support for individuals with dual sensory impairments, with rehabilitation staff available to assist Deaf-Blind individuals.

Newsline for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Newsline is a partnership with the National Federation of the Blind. Anyone who cannot read printed newspapers due to vision loss, dyslexia, or a physical disability is eligible to receive NFB-NEWSLINE. This free service offers over 300 publications, including local newspapers, magazines, and Spanish-language newspapers.

Tennessee Business Enterprises (TBE) - TBE offers vocational training and employment opportunities for individuals who are legally blind. The program provides high-quality products and customer service while maximizing employment and economic opportunities for legally blind individuals. TBE coaches, licenses, and places blind individuals in a facility where they function as independent business owners. Assistance is provided to the owners as needed by TBE consultants.

Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) - Pre-ETS is a service offered in every state by each state’s VR agency. Pre-ETS is a school-based service and is available to those 14-22 years old. Pre-ETS instruction covers five focus areas that aim to prepare eligible students for employment and life after high school. These five areas include (1) Job Exploration Counseling, (2) Work-Based Learning (WBL), (3) Postsecondary Education Counseling, (4) Workplace Readiness Training, and (5) Instruction in Self-Advocacy.

Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) - The DDA is the state agency responsible for administering services and support to Tennesseans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is done in several ways, including Medicaid waiver Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), state-operated Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IIDs), and the Family Support Program. DDA administers services directly or through contracts with community providers.

Tennessee Rehabilitation Center (TRC) - The TRC in Smyrna is a state-operated training center that provides career and technical education to prepare individuals with disabilities for greater independence and competitive integrated employment in their local communities.

Tennessee Technology Access Program (TTAP) - TTAP is a statewide program designed to increase access to and acquisition of assistive technology devices and services. Through its four core programs: (1) Funding Assistance, (2) Device Demonstration, (3) Device Loan, and (4) Device Reutilization, TTAP and a network of assistive technology centers help people with disabilities and their families find and get the tools that they need to live independent, productive lives where and how they choose.

Tennessee Caregiver Coalition - The mission of the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition is to be responsive to the needs of caregivers by providing relief and support services. They help primary caregivers who are caring for someone with disabilities. They provide services in a family’s home and can provide and identify resources for caregiver self-care.

Career education

Independent living skills

Compensatory access