From Uncertainty to Employment: How DVRS Transition Services Can Help Young Adults Find Direction After High School

Graduation season is often filled with celebration. Caps fly in the air, cameras flash, and

students walk across the stage toward what everyone hopes will be a bright future. But once the excitement settles, many families are left asking the same question: 

What happens next? 

For some young adults with disabilities, life after high school can feel especially uncertain. The structure they’ve known for years suddenly disappears, and families are often left trying to navigate adulthood, employment, independence, and support services all at once. While schools work hard to prepare students for the future, many still leave high school unsure of what career path fits them, what support systems are available, or how to confidently step into the workforce. 

What many families don’t realize is that graduation does not mean the opportunity for support has ended. 

Through the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS), young adults who have graduated high school can continue receiving employment-focused support through individualized A La Carte Transition Services. While some students begin accessing transition-related services during their time in school through Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), others don’t discover these opportunities until after graduation.

For many young adults, figuring out the future takes time. 

That’s exactly where Da'Shaun found himself. 

Finding Employment Supports After Graduation  

When Da'Shaun first connected with the Progressive Center for Independent Living (PCIL) in Mercer County, New Jersey, he had already graduated high school, but he did not know what he wanted to do next. While he didn’t come in with a clear career plan or a strong sense of direction, he knew he wanted to develop one. 

Through DVRS-funded A La Carte Transition Services, Da'Shaun was able to explore employment in a way that felt personal and realistic instead of overwhelming. Unlike general career lessons offered during the school year, these services are individualized around each person’s strengths, interests, and future employment goals. Once eligible through DVRS, young adults work with vocational professionals to create an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) that connects them with services and real-world experiences designed to help them move toward adulthood and employment with greater confidence. 

Depending on the person, services can include Job Readiness training, career exploration, job coaching, supported employment, community-based work experiences, workplace accommodations, assistive technology, transportation-related supports, college or vocational training assistance, and more. 

For Da'Shaun, the process didn’t begin with choosing a job title. It began with understanding himself a little better. 

Exploring What Comes Next 

At PCIL, Da'Shaun began working with an Independent Living Specialist who helped guide conversations around his interests, strengths, and experiences. Instead of being pressured to immediately decide on a future career, he was given the opportunity to explore what genuinely held his attention and what kind of environments felt comfortable to him. 

Together, they explored what different work environments might actually look like, including jobs in a movie theater, warehouse setting, and garden center. They talked through daily responsibilities, workplace expectations, pace, communication, and what each environment would realistically feel like day to day. 

As those conversations continued, one option kept standing out. 

Da'Shaun began to remember he had spent several years participating in garden club. At the time, it never felt particularly significant—it was simply something he enjoyed doing. But through the exploration process, that experience started to look different. The more they talked about it, the more he realized how naturally drawn he was to that environment. It was something he naturally connected with. Working with plants no longer felt like just a past hobby. For the first time, Da'Shaun could genuinely picture himself doing this kind of work every day. 

From Dreaming to Action 

Once Da'Shaun began identifying a direction, the focus shifted toward helping him build the confidence and practical skills needed to pursue it. Through Job Readiness and Job Coaching, he worked on creating a resume, practicing interview skills, and preparing for real-world employment experiences.  As part of the goals outlined in his Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), Da'Shaun was then matched with a local business, Dragonfly Farms, through a DVRS-supported community-based work experience to begin job shadowing.

While job shadowing, Da'Shaun became actively involved in the daily work environment. He cared for plants, organized inventory, assisted customers, and built relationships with staff. Over time, he realized how much he genuinely enjoyed not just the subject matter, but the routine, the environment, and the feeling of having somewhere to be each day. As Da'Shaun became more comfortable, he also became more confident. Eventually, he approached the business owner himself and expressed interest in employment, which ultimately led to him being hired. 

Today, Da'Shaun continues working at Dragonfly Farms, building experience in a field he genuinely enjoys. 

What Does This Mean for Your Family? 

For families navigating life after high school, one of the hardest parts is not knowing what comes next. Some students graduate with a clear plan, while others are still trying to discover where their interests, strengths, and goals fit into the real world. 

Stories like Da'Shaun’s are exactly why services like DVRS-funded A La Carte Transition Services matter. They provide young adults with the opportunity to explore careers, gain real-world experience, build confidence, and better understand what direction feels right for them before being expected to figure it all out on their own. 

If your family is unsure whether a student is truly prepared for life after high school, PCIL offers a free Transition Plan Audit to help families better understand DVRS eligibility, employment-focused Transition Services, and available supports in Mercer County and Hunterdon County, New Jersey. 

Because sometimes the future doesn’t become clear until someone has the opportunity to explore it. 

Click here to learn more about Student Transition Services 

Click here to learn more about Youth Transition Services 

Click here to read about A La Carte Services