WWRC, or Wilson Workforce, is a VR center run by DARS and located in Fishersville, Virginia on a campus-like like setting. WWRC offers training and rehabilitation services to people with disabilities to assist them to enter or re-enter the workforce and live more independently. You may want to consider WWRC ifa program your child is interested in is not available in the community or if being away from home would help your child become more independent.
WWRC provides a variety of services including but not limited to:
- Life skills,
- Career/vocational guidance,
- School-to-work transition services (See PERT program below),
- Vocational evaluation,
- Pre-vocational work adjustment (skills that help people get ready to work),
- Assistive technology evaluation and intervention,
- Driver’s education evaluation and instruction,
- Vocational evaluation,
- Community-based internships,
- Job seeking skills.
WWRC has admission criteria including medical and behavior requirements.
The PERT Program at WWRC is a school-to-work transition program supported by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and DARS. PERT helps students in transition identify their talents and interests, the types of jobs they may enjoy, the skills they need to be employed and live on their own, and the opportunities out there for them.
Students are recommended for PERT by their IEP transition team. They must meet the admission requirements. These include but are not limited to the following:
The student is:
- a DARS applicant,
- a secondary-school aged youth with disabilities,
- enrolled in Virginia’s public education system,
- receiving special education services under an IEP or 504 Plan,
- age 16 at time of requested PERT Initial Evaluation or5 years from graduation or secondary school completion.
There are also medical, behavioral, and functional, and family supports requirements. Click the link for more information WWRC – PERT Program.