Linking Learning to Careers
Last Revised: December 17, 2025
Program overview
Helping high school students with disabilities transition to postsecondary opportunities: Youth with disabilities transitioning out of high school face significant barriers accessing employment and education. Linking Learning to Careers (LLC) is a statewide program run by the Vermont Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) that helps young people with disabilities navigate the transition out of high school and into college or the workforce. These career building opportunities helped LLC participants achieve a six percentage point higher rate of employment and a $2.50 higher hourly wage when compared to a control group of vocational rehabilitation participants.
Providing individualized postsecondary planning and support: DVR staff engage high schoolers already receiving pre-employment and transition services and deliver LLC programming at school or at one of the 12 district DVR offices across Vermont. LLC staff work with participants to create an individualized plan for employment (IPE) and use online tools like the LLC Career Pathway Plan to collaborate with participants in creating short and long term career goals. As part of participants’ IPEs, LLC provides work-based learning experiences (WBLEs), college counseling and prep courses, as well as personalized case management to support young people with disabilities in achieving their education or career goals.
Offering meaningful work-based learning experiences (WBLEs): LLC coordinates up to three WBLEs for each participant, including job shadowing, unpaid internship/volunteer experiences, and paid internships. LLC staff work with participants to assess their interests and skills to match them with relevant and appropriate opportunities. WBLEs are most often in public-facing industries such as retail, recreation, or hospitality.
Increasing post secondary education enrollment: LLC prepares young people with disabilities for college with a range of resources including counseling, college exploratory courses, and prep courses focusing on building skills like self advocacy and time management. Through a partnership with the Community College of Vermont, the statewide network of community colleges, participants also received specialized campus tours and information sessions as well as access to dual-enrollment courses. LLC improves postsecondary enrollment for participants by 9 percent.
- Location
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Vermont
One study with a rigorous design provides some evidence for the LLC model as a strategy for improving employment outcomes for young people with disabilities.
- A 2025 randomized controlled trial found that LLC participants achieved a 9% higher rate of enrollment in any postsecondary education and enrollment in courses at the Community College of Vermont. LLC also led to a $2.50 increase in hourly wages among those who closed with an employment outcome.
Taking a team-based approach to transition services: The program uses a team-based approach led by dedicated LLC staff to coordinate and provide pre-employment transition services. The transition team typically includes career consultants, school-based transition counselors, LLC staff, and DVR staff providing other accessibility services like interpretation. To track transition services, each participant has online case notes that LLC staff, career consultants, or transition counselors can update to describe progress and coordinate services.
Strong partnerships with community colleges: LLC maintains a strong partnership with the 12 Community College of Vermont (CCV) campuses. The LLC program offers high schoolers campus tours, information sessions, introduction to college and career classes, and vouchers for two CCV courses. CCV staff work with LLC participants to connect their academics with career goals. Additionally, LLC participants are paired with a mentor, a CCV work-study student, who provides guidance from lived experience and helps LLC students navigate their work-based learning experiences.
Accessible postsecondary planning: To ensure the program is accessible for all, LLC provides assistive technology specialists who meet individually with youth to demonstrate products and provide ongoing support to help youth effectively use assistive technology.