If your student has a disability and is thinking about life after high school, you may hear the term Pre-ETSshort for Pre-Employment Transition Services. These supports help eligible students explore careers, build workplace skills, and prepare for education or employment after graduation.

Here is a clear overview of what Pre-ETS can include in Minnesota, how families can stay involved, and how L&S Consulting supports transition-age youth across the Twin Cities metro and North-Central Minnesota.

What are Pre-ETS?

Pre-Employment Transition Services are early career supports for students with disabilities. They are designed to start before a student is fully in the adult employment system, so exploration and skill-building can happen while school supports are still in place.

Pre-ETS often focus on five core areas:

1. Job exploration counseling — learning about careers, interests, and workplace options
2. Work-based learning — job shadows, informational interviews, work experiences, and similar real-world exposure
3. Counseling on postsecondary opportunities — exploring college, training, certifications, or other pathways
4. Workplace readiness training — soft skills, communication, problem-solving, and on-the-job expectations
5. Self-advocacy instruction — helping students speak up for needs, accommodations, and goals

Why Pre-ETS matter

Transition can feel overwhelming. Families juggle IEP meetings, graduation requirements, benefits questions, transportation, and “what comes next?” conversations—all at once.

Pre-ETS help students:

• Connect school learning to real jobs
• Try roles before committing to a long-term path
• Build confidence in interviews, routines, and workplace communication
• Practice self-advocacy in low-stakes settings
• Enter adult services with clearer goals

How VRS and community providers work together

In Minnesota, Pre-ETS may be coordinated through Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) and delivered with help from community partners.

L&S Consulting provides transition-focused employment supports as a CARF-accredited provider. We partner with counselors, schools, and families to keep services practical, person-centered, and employment-focused.

We serve:

• Minneapolis–St. Paul metro and surrounding suburbs
• North-Central Minnesota communities such as St. Cloud, Brainerd, Baxter, Staples, Wadena, Fergus Falls, Little Falls, Nisswa, and Crosby
• Additional Minnesota locations when services are a good match

Questions families can ask

Bring these to your next IEP, VRS, or provider meeting:

• What Pre-ETS has my student already received, and what’s still needed?
• Which career interests should we explore next?
• Can we arrange a job shadow, informational interview, or work experience this semester?
• How will progress be shared with our family and school team?
• What supports continue after graduation if employment is the goal?
• Who do we contact if services slow down or stop unexpectedly?

If you believe entitled Pre-ETS are not being provided, Minnesota’s Client Assistance Project (CAP) can help families understand rights and next steps.

How L&S Consulting can help

Depending on authorization and student needs, L&S may support:

• Career exploration and interest discovery
• – Workplace readiness and soft-skills practice
• – Work-based learning experiences
• – Self-advocacy coaching
• – Connections toward job placement and coaching as students move into adult employment services

Our approach is flexible (in-person and virtual), collaborative, and focused on meaningful next steps—not one-size-fits-all plans.

Next step for families

Ask your VRS counselor or school transition team about Pre-ETS and whether a referral to L&S Consulting makes sense for your student.

Call/text: (651) 505-2250

Email: info@lsconsultingmn.com

Parents page: https://lsconsultingmn.com/for-parents/

Every student deserves a thoughtful path toward work, training, and confidence after high school. Pre-ETS are one of the best places to start.