Overview of the Public Vocational Rehabilitation Program

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Overview of the Public Vocational Rehabilitation
Program

• Presented by the
• U.S. Department of Education
• Rehabilitation Services Administration

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Overview of the Public Vocational Rehabilitation
Program

• Goal
• The Goal of this session is to provide the
  participant
• with an understanding of the uniqueness of the
  public vocational rehabilitation service delivery
  system.

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Training ObjectivesAt the end of this session,
participants will

• Understand the individual nature of the VR
  program.
• Be aware of the range of services available to
  eligible consumers.

• Understand the framework of the VR program.
• Learn the benefits of collaborating with VR.

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Disability in America

• Millions of Americans have a disability
• Less than 1/3 are employed
• Among the most disadvantaged

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Disability
A natural part of the human experience
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Persons with Disabilities Have The Right To . . .

• Live independently
• Enjoy self-determination
• Make choices
• Contribute to society
• Pursue meaningful careers
• 
  and . . .

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Enjoy Full Inclusion and Integrationin American
Society

• Economically
• Politically
• Socially
• Culturally
• Educationally

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Purpose of the VR Program

• To empower individuals with disabilities to
  maximize employment, achieve economic
  self-sufficiency and independence, and to realize
  full inclusion and integration into society.

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Demonstrated Ability

• 200,000
• Americans with
• disabilities
• achieve employment
• each year

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Eligibility for VR Services

• To be eligible for VR services, an individual
• 1. Must be an individual with a disability, and
• 2. Must require VR services to be employed

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Eligibility for VR Services

• 1st Criteria
• Must be a person with a disability
• physical or mental impairment
• substantial barrier to employment
• can benefit from services in terms of employment

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Eligibility for VR Services

• Employment Outcome
• Competitive full-time or part-time employment
• Supported employment
• Self-employment
• Other employment . . .

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Eligibility for VR Services

• 2nd Criteria
• The individual with a disability . . .
• must require VR services

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Presumption of Eligibility

• Presumed eligible if
• Is receiving SSI and/or SSDI
• Intends to achieve employment
• Is capable of achieving employment

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The Service Delivery System

• VR services begin with an individualized
  assessment and career exploration
• See a qualified VR counselor
• Collect existing information
• Acquire new information
• Consider the results
• Initiate joint planning
• Specify rehabilitation needs

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The Service Delivery System

• A combination of rehabilitation and
  vocational services become the
• Individualized Plan for Employment
• Identify the employment outcome
• Select VR services
• Choose service providers
• Establish timelines
• Identify responsibilities
• Other

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Vocational Rehabilitation ServicesInclude but
are not limited to . . .

• Assessment
• Counseling and guidance
• Referral
• Restoration
• Vocational training
• Maintenance transportation
• Interpreter services

• Reader services
• Transition services
• Personal assistance
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Supported Employment
• Tools equipment
• Job placement

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Key Elements ofConsumer Informed Choice

• an ongoing process
• a joint effort
• a partnership
• consumer driven
• counselor supported
• individualized career placement

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Enabling policy and procedure(in consultation
with the SRC)

• ? Long term vocational goal
• ? Vocational rehabilitation services
• ? Service providers
• Must also assure
• ? Appropriate mode of communication
• ? Availability and scope of informed choice
• ? How informed choice may be exercised
• ? Support services if assistance is needed

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Confidentiality

• Policies and procedures
• Collection of information
• Protection of information
• Use of information
• Release of information
• Recipients of information

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Successful Rehabilitation

• Criteria for Success
• VR services contribution to outcome
• The right job for the individual
• The right workplace
• Employed for 90 days
• Consumer counselor agreement

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Essential Tenets of the PublicVocational
Rehabilitation Program

• Organizational Requirements
• VR Directors Responsibilities
• Priority of Services to Persons with Significant
  Disabilities
• Comparable Services Benefits
• Consumer Partnership
• Qualified Rehabilitation Personnel
• Quality Employment Outcomes

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Organizational Unit Requirements

• Stipulations of the Act
• DSU is responsible for the VR program
• Requires a full-time director
• All staff must do VR work

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VR Directors Responsibilities

• Determine eligibility
• Decide the nature and scope of services
• Authorize services
• Allocate expenditures
• Exercise control of field staff
• Establish the suitability of closure

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Order of Selection

• Priority for services to persons with
• significant disabilities when there
• are insufficient resources to serve
• all eligible persons.

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Comparable Services Benefits

• Other resources
• Exceptions
• Eligibility assessment
• Counseling guidance
• Delays

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Consumer Partnership

• State Rehabilitation Council
• Purpose
• Functions

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Qualified Rehabilitation Personnel

• Educational qualifications
• Medical aspects of disability
• Counseling and guidance
• Case management
• Rehabilitation technology

• Informed choice
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Other disability-related law
• Work incentive programs
• Employment issues

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Successful RehabilitationRequires

• Quality
• Employment
• Outcomes

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What Does VR Have to Offer?

• Knowledge of
• informed choice
• disability
• disability law
• accessibility
• assistive technology
• career development
• job modification
• community resources

• Experience with
• employers
• networking
• disability management
• youth with disabilities
• rehabilitation providers
• consumer groups
• workplace supports and accommodations

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Questions
and answers
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Thank you