For a young person with a disability, planning for the future can seem overwhelming. But it does not have to be! Through our programs and partnerships, we are able to work with youth on their journey to independence. Our Youth Services Teams in Georgia and South Carolina provide programs that instill knowledge today to empower the future.
**Please note: With the current health situation surrounding COVID-19, we are following CDC Guidance with social distancing and reduced face-to-face interactions. We are offering our services Virtually through phone, email and video calls. For more Youth Services assistance, please call your local office: 706-724-6262 (Augusta), 803-279-9611 (North Augusta) or 843-538-1600 (Walterboro).**
OH YEA!
Options are available for youth ages 14 to 24 with disabilities!
Are you and your child looking for individualized/group support as together you look to the future and a career?
Do you want to encourage self-confidence, critical thinking, leadership skills, resilience and much more?
We have the resources for you! Through our work with partners in Georgia and South Carolina,m The Occupational Horizons Youth Empowering Activities (OH YEA!) program offers a variety of transition resources for youth in various settings.
As an extension of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), The OH YEA! Program reaches youth as they look to the future in school and beyond. We do this through:
- Entrepreneurial Skills Training
- Financial Planning
- Pre-Employment Skills
- Self-Determination Training
- Person Centered Planning
- Self-Advocacy Skills Training
- Tutoring Referral Services
- Work Experience Opportunities
- Post-secondary Enrollment Counseling
OH YEA! is offered in in Georgia (Richmond and Columbia Counties) and in South Carolina (Colleton, Allendale, Bamberg, Jasper and Beaufort Counties). In Georgia, we partner with The Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support (GNETS) and the Richmond County Board of Education to provide OH YEA! to various schools across the region.
In South Carolina, we have partnered with AccessAbility to work with schools in the Low Country region to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to transition aged youth. The Pre-ETS services are able to be delivered in group, in-school, after-school or community based settings. We are able to offer these services through a contract with the South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB). Through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) funding, SCCB was able to design CareerBOOST (Building Occupational Opportunities for Students in Transition) as a Demonstration Project for with partners across the state.
To find out more about the OH YEA! program in your area, contact one our three Office Locations.
WIPA Youth Services
The Works Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program is designed to help you navigate the Social Security Benefits available to Children and Adolescents. One of the most confusing things about the Social Security disability programs is that multiple benefits are available and each has its own set of eligibility requirements, operational rules, and work incentives. To complicate matters even more, some you people receive more than one type of benefit at the same time. You can find out more about the different types of benefits and requirements by you to our Youth Services for WIPA page.
If you are interested in any of our Youth Transition Services, please contact Walton Options on 706-724-6262 to speak with an Information and Referral Specialist. Or complete the Self-Referral Form online by clicking here.
For more information about other transition services, please click on the buttons below: