Employment and Transition Program

Federal Way High School
30611 16th Ave. South
Federal Way, WA 98003
(253) 945-5521
(253) 945-5523
FAX (253) 945-5525

Program Focus

The Employment and Transition Program is designed to assist students in the Federal Way School District with developmental disabilities toward the most independent lifestyle possible. The students served range from 18 to 21 years of age and have gone through the traditional three-year high school program. Upon graduation, the students have the option of entering the Employment and Transition Program. Once in the program, the E&TP staff work closely with the families to put together the best plan possible to meet the needs of each individual student.

Work Experience

Paid Employment

Students spend between two to three hours per day in work situations. While most of these positions are non-paid work experience sites, they do provide valuable training toward becoming a successful future employee. Typical work sites include office and clerical work, landscape and grounds maintenance, custodial / building maintenance, food service, retail clothing positions, eldercare at retirement centers, elementary and pre-school childcare as a teaching assistants and a wide variety of other valuable training positions.

A very important part of the process in acquiring a paid employment position is the coordination of efforts with the employer, the E&TP staff, the employment vendor, and representatives from Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). All agencies come together to formulate a plan that best suits the needs of each student.

Over the past few years many E&TP students have gained paid employment positions throughout South King County and the surrounding area. Many former students have continued to work at the same jobs several years after leaving the Employment and Transition Program.

Community Access

Personal Management

Students in the E&TP receive assistance and instruction in daily living skills such as money management, communication skills, appropriate social behavior, the use of public transportation and personal hygiene / grooming. The use of money, budgeting, functional reading skills and decision making are high priorities for our students. The community serves as our classroom. The skills needed to be successful comprise the curriculum.

Weekly outings to grocery /retail stores, restaurants, businesses and area malls allow the students to work on these skills in “real-life” settings.

Adult Agency Support

The Employment and Transition Program helps connect students and their families to the essential  adult services they will need through their adult lives such as:

• Division of Developmental Disabilities
• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
• SSI Benefits
• Guardianship
• Employment Vendors
• Community Recreation / Leisure Support

In the end, the ultimate goal is to help prepare students and their families for the challenges that lie ahead.  The wide range of activities that occur in the Employment and Transition Program are aimed to meet these very important issues.