A recent public hearing gave St. Thomas residents the chance to voice their opinion on the Human Services plan for moving high school students with disabilities into college or the working world.

A second hearing is scheduled for Thursday on St. Croix.

At the St. Thomas hearing Tuesday, members of the territory’s State Rehabilitation Council talked about what is done locally and on the national level to support transition services for high school students with disabilities who plan on either furthering their education or starting their careers.

Through the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, the Department of Human Services collaborates locally with the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education to transition students with disabilities into post-secondary education – such as college – or training and employment positions. Federally funded through the U.S. Department of Education, the program works closely to establish services for students with disabilities, according to officials.

The State Rehabilitation Council sets goals and priorities for those services, designed open up job opportunities for the clients. During the meeting on St. Thomas, the council also spoke about helping students with disabilities preparing for the working world, and discussed updates to their client training services policy manual.

While the public turnout on St. Thomas was smaller than anticipated, Human Services officials are gearing up for a bigger crowd on St. Croix. The hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged.

Meanwhile, the state plan is available for review and comment at Human Services’ Vocational Rehabilitation Offices, located at the Knud Hansen Complex on St. Thomas and the Golden Rock office on St. Croix.

Written comments can be submitted by mail to Disabilities & Rehabilitation Services Sate Plan Comments, Knud Hansen Complex Ste. 1, 1303 Hospital Ground, St. Thomas VI 08802.