SWAP
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School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP)
The School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP) is a collaborative initiative between the Colorado Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation (DVR) and local school districts/Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), and is supported by the
Colorado Department of Education (CDE). SWAP provides case management and direct services to young adults with disabilities
who:
▪ Are potentially eligible, applicants of or are eligible to receive DVR services (meeting disability documentation
requirements and able to benefit from the program).
▪ Have mild to moderate needs inemployment.
▪ Need support in developing vocational awareness, career exploration, and experiencing career and employment
opportunities to become competitively employed and to achieve successful outcomes.
Rehabilitation (DVR) and local school districts/Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), and is supported by the
Colorado Department of Education (CDE). SWAP provides case management and direct services to young adults with disabilities
who:
▪ Are potentially eligible, applicants of or are eligible to receive DVR services (meeting disability documentation
requirements and able to benefit from the program).
▪ Have mild to moderate needs inemployment.
▪ Need support in developing vocational awareness, career exploration, and experiencing career and employment
opportunities to become competitively employed and to achieve successful outcomes.
Purpose of SWAP:
The purpose of SWAP is to assist young adults in making the transition from school to employment, provide successful employment outcomes, increase community linkages, and new patterns of service for young adults within all categories of disabilities. The program's goals include:
▪ Building on current transition planning efforts.
▪ Creating a career pathway through pre-employment transition services.
▪ Filling the case management gap for the targeted population.
▪ Supporting collaboration between DVR and local school districts/BOCES.
SWAP is intended to provide employment-related assistance to young adults with disabilities, who are experiencing mild to moderate barriers to employment. Disabilities can include but are not limited to physical, emotional, or learning disabilities. SWAP provides opportunities for young adults to practice and improve workplace skills, consider their career interests, and obtain real world work experience that will lead to competitive, integrated employment in today’s high demand industries.
SWAP services may include:
Young adults potentially eligible or eligible for services provided through DVR, qualify to receive evaluation and
diagnostic services, vocational counseling and guidance, physical and mental restoration services, and training.
Additionally, SWAP may provide services such as:
▪ Pre-employment transition services
▪ Career exploration
▪ Career development
▪ Employment-related instruction
▪ Job development / placement
▪ Case management
▪ One year of follow-up
▪ Year-round community-based services
SWAP may provide services when appropriate to:
▪ Potentially eligible, applicants of or eligible for DVR services, and
▪ Young adults between the ages of 15-24,and
▪ Have mild to moderate needs in employment, and
▪ Typically living within the boundaries of a school district/BOCES participating in the SWAP program. Young
adults who do not live in a participating district/BOCES may access vocational rehabilitation services directly
through DVR.
Young Adults could be:
▪ In-School: ▪ Out-of-School
o Person with a disability under 504 of the
o Graduated or aged out Americans with Disability Act
o Drop-out or at risk of dropping out
o Receiving special education services o Under or unemployed
o Suspected or known disability not under any other category
SWAP would not be appropriate for:
▪ Middle school aged students or younger
▪ Young adults with significant needs who will require extensive services or currently are eligible for supported
employment services
▪ Young adults with on-going legal problems that make placement in a work setting difficult
Referrals:
The appropriate time for a referral to DVR/SWAP is when a young adult’s focus includes employment, and they are
available for services. To make a referral contact SWAP in the community in which the young adult lives or your local
DVR office. To locate the DVR office nearest you: https://dvr.colorado.gov/
Funding and program support:
Funding of a SWAP site occurs when schools provide state or local funds to DVR, which are then matched with federal
funds. These funds are used to pay for staff and other expenses related to SWAP. Additionally, DVR pays the cost of
case services for young adults assisted by the program. Participation in SWAP is optional by local districts/BOCES.
The Colorado Department of Education, through an interagency agreement with DVR, provides joint training and
technical assistance, product development and dissemination, conflict resolution assistance, and program monitoring to
local SWAP sites.
Colorado Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services Unit
www.cde.state.co.us/offices/exceptionalstudentservicesunit
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation https://dvr.colorado.gov/
