Debbie Reed - Pre-Employment Transition Services Specialist, University of Missouri-Columbia

Debbie has over 30 years of experience serving individuals with disabilities having worked as a case manager for a community rehabilitation provider, vocational rehabilitation counselor at a medical rehabilitation facility and as a learning specialist in a public school. She has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Missouri in Educational & Counseling Psychology- Rehabilitation Counseling Specialty. Debbie has also completed 27 graduate hours in Special Education from Columbia College. As a Pre-Employment Transition Specialist and North-Central Region Coordinator, Debbie enjoys working collaboratively with others to assist students to envision and pursue their best lives as defined by themselves. Debbie lives in Columbia and takes pride in working for her Alma Mater, a goal she has had since earning her degrees from MU! Debbie is a music fan and likes attending concerts; she also loves the mountains and landscape gardening.

Presentation Description - Pre-Employment Transition Planning: It Takes a Team!

Debbie will provide information on the MU Pre-Employment Transition Services program, an outreach program in the College of Education and Human Development.  Working collaboratively with local school districts, MU Pre-ETS Specialists provide direct services to high school students with disabilities including career exploration, self-advocacy, work-based learning, work readiness and post-secondary counseling.  With parent/guardian consent, Pre-ETS Specialists meet with students at their schools throughout the year and help students think ahead and purposefully plan for life after high school.  MU Pre-ETS is a partnership service with Vocational Rehabilitation and MU Pre-ETS can connect students to VR during their Senior/exit year from high school.