BlackMuse
State & Workforce

State Programs Built Around Real-World Opportunity.

BlackMuse partners with Washington State DVR, schools, families, community organizations, and employers to help participants explore careers, build skills, gain real-world experience, and move toward employment.

Refer a Participant
Become an Employer Partner →
How we support participants

One System. Multiple Pathways.

Every participant enters with different goals, interests, experiences, and support needs. BlackMuse helps turn those starting points into a pathway forward.

01Pre-ETS

Career exploration and preparation for students with disabilities.

Explore →02CRP Employment Services

Individualized employment services designed to help participants move toward competitive employment.

Explore →03Work-Based Learning

Real-world exposure through employers, internships, informational interviews, job shadowing, and hands-on experiences.

Explore →04Employer Connections

Connecting participants with businesses interested in mentorship, workplace experiences, internships, and talent.

Explore →

Swipe to explore pathways.

From referral to opportunity

See What Happens Next.

A clear process for participants, families, counselors, schools, and employers.

  1. 01
    01 / 06Start here

    Referral

    A participant is referred to BlackMuse through an authorized partner or program.

  2. 02
    02 / 06

    Intake + Authorization

    We confirm authorization, participant information, goals, service needs, and next steps.

  3. 03
    03 / 06

    Discovery

    Participants explore interests, strengths, careers, workplaces, and possible futures.

  4. 04
    04 / 06

    Skill Building

    BlackMuse uses hands-on learning and emerging technology to help participants build practical workplace skills.

  5. 05
    05 / 06

    Real-World Experience

    Participants apply what they learn through real employers, projects, mentorship, internships, and workplace experiences.

  6. 06
    06 / 06

    Employment + Next Step

    The goal is not simply completing a program. The goal is helping participants move toward a meaningful next step.

Pre-Employment Transition Services

Explore. Practice. Experience. Prepare.

BlackMuse delivers Pre-Employment Transition Services designed to help students explore careers, develop workplace skills, advocate for themselves, and experience the world of work — delivered where students already learn and receive support: traditional schools, alternative education programs, therapeutic schools, residential settings. 116 students have completed documented services across 11 Washington sites.

  1. 01
    01

    Job Exploration Counseling

    Explore industries, occupations, interests, strengths, and career possibilities.

    IndustriesOccupationsInterestsStrengths
  2. 02
    02

    Work-Based Learning Experiences

    Connect learning to real workplaces through employer experiences, projects, internships, job shadowing, tours, and informational interviews.

    ToursJob ShadowsInternshipsProjects
  3. 03
    03

    Counseling on Postsecondary Options

    Explore education and training options connected to career goals.

    CollegeCertificationApprenticeshipTechnical Training
  4. 04
    04

    Workplace Readiness Training

    Practice the skills needed to navigate work successfully.

    CommunicationTeamworkProfessionalismProblem Solving
  5. 05
    05

    Self-Advocacy

    Build the confidence and skills to communicate, make informed decisions, and advocate for yourself.

    Know Your StrengthsCommunicate NeedsAsk QuestionsMake Decisions
This is what learning can look like

Career Readiness Doesn't Have to Look Like a Worksheet.

BlackMuse uses technology, projects, conversation, exploration, and real-world experiences to make career preparation tangible.

Explore →

VR Career Exploration

Explore workplaces and environments through immersive technology.

Explore →

AI + Emerging Technology

Learn how new technologies are changing industries and careers.

Explore →

Game Design

Build creative, technical, collaborative, and problem-solving skills.

Explore →

Entrepreneurship

Turn ideas into concepts, pitches, projects, and businesses.

Explore →

Digital Projects

Create work participants can actually show.

Explore →

Employer Experiences

Meet professionals and experience real workplaces.

Explore →

Internships

Practice workplace skills in authentic professional environments.

Explore →

Career Conversations

Ask people doing the work what the work is actually like.

CRP Employment Services

From Career Goal to Real Employment.

For eligible DVR participants, BlackMuse provides individualized employment support focused on helping people identify opportunities, prepare for employment, connect with employers, and successfully enter the workforce.

    01

    Discover

    Identify goals, strengths, interests, and possible occupations.

    02

    Prepare

    Develop resumes, interview skills, workplace readiness, and a job search strategy.

    03

    Connect

    Identify employers and opportunities aligned with participant goals.

    04

    Interview

    Prepare for and navigate employer conversations and interviews.

    05

    Work

    Support the transition into employment.

    06

    Grow

    Help participants build confidence, independence, and momentum after placement.

Employer Partnerships

Opportunity Requires Somewhere to Practice.

BlackMuse works with employers willing to open a door—whether through an informational interview, workplace tour, project, internship, job shadow, mentorship opportunity, or employment.

Informational InterviewsJob Shadows & ToursInternshipsWork-Based LearningWorkplace ReadinessTrial Work ExperienceOn-the-Job TrainingJob PlacementMentorshipProjects
IntegratedEmployers are not separate from the program. They are part of the participant pathway.
FootprintWorkforce activity across the greater Puget Sound region — Tacoma · Kirkland / Eastside · Bellevue · Renton · Seattle area.
Explore Employer Partnerships Become an Employer Partner
See the full BlackMuse ecosystem
Participant experience

What the Journey Can Look Like.

Example participant journey · Illustrative, not a testimonial
Meet Jordan

Interested in technology, design, and gaming.

Starting point

“I like technology but don't know what I want to do.”

Next step

A clearer career direction + experience + portfolio work + employer exposure.

Progress01 / 08
  1. 01

    Referral

    A DVR counselor refers Jordan to BlackMuse.

  2. 02

    Career Exploration

    Interests map to technology, design, and gaming careers.

  3. 03

    VR + Game Design

    Hands-on projects build technical and creative confidence.

  4. 04

    Workplace Readiness

    Communication, teamwork, and professionalism in practice.

  5. 05

    Technology Employer Interview

    A real conversation with a working professional.

  6. 06

    Short-Term Internship

    Applying skills inside an actual workplace.

  7. 07

    Portfolio Project

    Work Jordan can actually show.

  8. 08

    Employment / Training Pathway

    A clearer direction and a concrete next step.

The outcome

The Program Is a Bridge.

The Destination Is Opportunity.

BlackMuse is designed to pursue outcomes that matter — not to finish a checklist.

VideographyBakery & Food ServiceProgrammingIT SecurityRoboticsCodingGraphic DesignNetworkingHelp DeskServer Maintenance
Career DirectionWork ExperienceProfessional SkillsSelf-AdvocacyEmployer ConnectionsPortfolio DevelopmentInternshipsCredentialsPostsecondary EducationApprenticeshipCompetitive Employment
On the record

What the DVR records show.

Two documented stories from Washington: a multi-site Pre-ETS pipeline and individualized CRP employer development. Participants are never named.

  • Students with completed Pre-ETS services

  • Student-hours delivered

  • School & community sites

  • Returned across service periods

A student and a career coach reviewing a plan together at a school table
Case Study 01 · Washington DVR / Pre-ETS

Building a Multi-Site Workforce Readiness Pipeline

BlackMuse developed a multi-site Pre-ETS delivery model designed to reach students where they already learn and receive support — including traditional schools, alternative education programs, therapeutic schools and residential settings.

Across documented records, BlackMuse reached 162 students across 11 school and community-based sites, with 116 students completing documented services and more than 406 documented student-hours of programming. Approximately 32% of participants with completed services returned across multiple program periods — the model supported continued engagement rather than one-time exposure.

At Lincoln High School, BlackMuse also demonstrated the administrative systems publicly funded workforce programming requires: in the May 2026 cohort, 20 of 20 participants had documented consent, DVR status and VRC approval.

Firwood Secondary SchoolReLifeLincoln High SchoolEmerald Ridge High SchoolWillie Stewart AcademyPearl Youth Residence
  • 116 students with documented completed services
  • 406+ student-hours delivered
  • 11 school/community sites represented
  • 32% returned across multiple service periods
  • Grades 8–12 served

“They do an amazing job with our students.”

Stacy Kidd · Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
A BlackMuse team member meeting with partners around an office table
Case Study 04 · DVR / CRP Employer Pipeline

Moving From Career Interest to Real-World Employer Exposure

We don't send employers a list of names. We prepare the pathway first.

BlackMuse's individual workforce-development work extends beyond classroom instruction. Documented records show 10+ DVR/CRP participants moving through referrals, authorized services, career exploration and placement-development activities across 8+ service pathways — informational interviews, job shadows and tours, workplace-readiness training, work-based learning, trial work experiences, OJT and job-placement development.

The model begins with the participant's actual career interest. For one participant interested in networking, IT help desk and server maintenance, BlackMuse's work-based learning plan covered identifying the employer site, helping address transportation, gathering employer feedback and completing a post-experience debrief.

Another participant interested in robotics and technology completed an informational interview with the CEO of Takamori Robot, with follow-up designed to help determine whether robotics remained the right employment direction. BlackMuse sits between the participant, the public agency and the employer — and has worked as part of the Pierce County Pre-ETS team to provide workplace readiness, self-advocacy, work-based learning, community-based assessment and OJT opportunities.

  • 10+ CRP participants documented
  • 8+ career-service pathways represented
  • Individualized employer-development work
  • Work-Based Learning + Workplace Readiness
  • Employer feedback and post-experience follow-up

“I'm very proud to call them our partners here!”

Stacy Kidd · Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
What our partners say

Trusted by the agencies we serve.

Verified quotes from Washington DVR and school partners.

Washington DVR
“They do an amazing job with our students.”
  • “a vital part of our Pre-ETS Team”
  • “I'm very proud to call them our partners here!”

Stacy Kidd

Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Think Together
“AMAZING!! I have had nothing but great reviews from both PLs and the SPM.”

Isabel Lupio

Think Together

Think Together
“We value the partnership and the creative program that you offer.”

Jaclyn Aviles

Senior Strategist, Think Together

Who can start the process?

“I am a…”

Next step for a dvr counselor:
Start a conversation

Tell Us Where You're Entering the Process.

Referral questions, Pre-ETS programming, CRP services, or just curiosity about how BlackMuse works — send a note and we'll follow up.

No commitment. No paperwork yet. A person reads every message.

Employers: use the employer partner form instead.

Outcomes

Participants may leave with…

BlackMuse programs are designed to build the following. Outcomes vary by program, authorization and participant.

Career

  • Career Direction
  • Work Experience
  • Employer Connections
  • Internships
  • Competitive Employment

Professional Skills

  • Professional Skills
  • Self-Advocacy
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Problem Solving

Pathways

  • Credentials · where applicable
  • Postsecondary Education
  • Apprenticeship

Outcomes vary by program, authorization and participant. No single pathway includes every outcome.

State Program FAQ

Questions counselors, schools and families ask

Resource + forms center

Everything You Need to Get Started.

Forms, referral information, and program documents in one place.

Wherever You're Entering the Process, There's a Next Step.

Whether you're a DVR counselor, school partner, participant, family member, or employer, BlackMuse can help connect the pieces.

Become an Employer PartnerExplore Afterschool Programs