DOTS, Adult Transition

Career and Transition Centers (CTC) Flyer: English and Spanish

Career and Transition Centers (CTC) Brochure: English | Spanish

Overview

LAUSD Career and Transition Centers provide employment preparation, independent living skills, and social skills instruction to students ages 18-22, who are identified by Individual Education Program (IEP) teams as needing an alternate curriculum. Employment preparation is provided through a variety of vocational training programs offered at the CTC. These programs provide opportunities for students to develop skills that will prepare them to be work ready and prepare them for competitive or supported employment opportunities after they exit the public school system. Independent living skills instruction, which includes community integration and independent travel, provides opportunities for students to learn how to navigate the community to become as independent as possible. The social skills instruction that is incorporated in each of the vocational training programs at CTCs allow students to learn and practice appropriate workplace and social behaviors in the context of real-world situations and environments.

Functional Academics

Students enrolled at the CTC will continue to receive instruction in the areas of Reading, Writing, Mathematics, and English Language Development. Academic instruction is delivered using the district approved and mandated curriculum, Unique Learning System's Transition Grade Band. The Unique Learning System addresses the needs of transition aged students by providing them with monthly lessons and activities that provide lifelong skills that are needed as they transition into adulthood. The lessons and activities are embedded into the vocational training strands and other classes offered at the CTC.

Off-Campus Work Experience

Students who are enrolled at the CTCs and are work-ready can participate in off-campus work experiences through the Work-Based Learning program (WBL). Each CTC partners with local businesses in the community to provide work experience opportunities for students. Students have the option of participating in the program in a volunteer experience (up to 200 hours per experience), and/or in a paid experience (up to 100 hours once student submits their right-to-work documents and the documents are verified/processed). Students who participate in a paid work experience are paid minimum wage for the hours they work. The goal for students who participate in the WBL program is to gain valuable work experience, and be prepared for competitive integrated employment.

Continuum of Placement Options

Instruction provided at the CTC also prepares students with the skills needed to participate in additional transition program opportunities. The Center for Advanced Transition Skills (CATS) and Project SEARCH are work experience/work training programs that are available to students who are enrolled at the CTC. Each program has specific criteria that must be met by the student before entering. Essential skills that are required include independent travel and prior work experience, all of which can be provided at the CTC. Students with a desire to participate in either program must first be screened and assessed in their current level of work readiness to determine eligibility for each program.

Eligibility

Students that are eligible for services provided at the CTC must meet the following criteria:

• Have completed the fourth year of high school or are 18 years old
• Eligibile for special education services as a student with a moderate/severe disability
• Currently on an alternate curriculum
• Have not exceeded the maximum age of service

The Center for Advanced Transition Skills (CATS) is a work experience program established through a partnership between LAUSD and the Los Angeles Community College District. Students that are enrolled in the CATS program receive independent living skills instruction, employment preparation, and work experience in the community. Students also participate in college courses with support from LAUSD staff to assist with integration into the community college environment. There are currently six community college programs that serve LAUSD students: East Los Angeles College, Harbor College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Trad-Tech College, Pierce College, and West Los Angeles College.

LAUSD CATS facilitators are dedicated to providing opportunities for students to integrate into the community. By building partnerships with local businesses, CATS facilitators create opportunities for work experience, internships, and employment for students in the program. In partnership with community college faculty, CATS facilitators support students while participating in college courses to provide instruction that includes the accommodations and modifications needed to meet the individual needs of each student.

Collaboration with students, families, community business partners, and other agencies (regional center, Department of Rehabilitation), provide the support to empower students to become as independent as possible and obtain competitive integrated employment.

Printable CATS Brochure: English | Spanish

CATS Videos: English | Spanish

CATS Locations

	East Los Angeles College  1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez  Monterey Park, CA 91754
	Harbor College  1111 Figueroa Pl. Wilmington, CA 90744
	Los Angeles Mission College 13356 Eldridge Ave.  Sylmar, CA 91342
	Los Angeles Southwest College 1600 W Imperial Hwy  Los Angeles, CA 90047
	Los Angeles Trade Tech College 400 W. Washington Blvd.  Los Angeles, CA 90015
	Pierce College 6201 Winnetka Ave.  Woodland Hills, CA 91371
	West Los Angeles College 9000 Overland Ave.  Culver City, CA 90230

For more information, please contact:

Nicole Douglas, Specialist, [email protected]
David Montalvo, Specialist, [email protected]

Project SEARCH is a work training program established through a partnership between LAUSD, a host business, and a regional center. Students are recruited at age 20 to participate in a one year internship at a host business site. Students receive rigorous independent living and social skills instruction and employability training while participating in internship rotations within multiple departments of the host business.

In collaboration with regional center, students also receive mentorship, employment planning and job development support.

LAUSD and regional centers have partnered with five host business sites to provide this opportunity to students throughout the district; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente South Bay, Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills, and Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles.

Project SEARCH Locations

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles 
4650 Sunset Blvd. 
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center
4867 Sunset Blvd. 
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Kaiser Permanente South Bay
25825 S. Vermont Ave. 
Harbor City, CA 90710

Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills
5601 De Soto Ave. 
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles
6041 Cadillac Ave. 
Los Angeles, CA 90034

For more information, please contact:

Nicole Douglas, Specialist, [email protected]