SWAP

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 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:

• Person with a disability under 504 of the Americans with Disability Act
• Receiving special education services
• Suspected or known disability not under any other category

Out-of-School

• Graduated or aged out
• Drop-out or at risk of dropping out
• Under or unemployed

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://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dvr/contact-us-90

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 project. 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.