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Transition to Employment: A Case Study Looking at Improving Outcomes for Transition Age Youth by Including Teachers in the Process

Publication Year: 2013

This case study focuses on the efforts of West Virginia Department of Rehabilitation Services (WVDRS) to improve employment outcomes for transition age youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

The Student Transition to Employment Project (STEP) provides training for teachers and aides from various county schools to become certified vendors with the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (WVDRS). This process allows for a smooth transition from school to work for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Students continue the transition process with adult professionals whom they already know and trust, and who are familiar with all aspects of the student’s life. This effort is a partnership between WVDRS, Vocational Services, Inc. (VSI) (a community rehabilitation provider), and special education staff in 24 West Virginia counties. Solely funded by the West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council (WVDDC) for the first three years, WVDRS is currently providing joint funding for STEP. As of February 2012, 75 teachers have become registered as certified vendors and 73 students have entered employment through this project.

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Collaborating Towards Better Outcomes: A Case Study Featuring Interagency Collaboration for Better Outcomes for Transition Age Youth

Publication Year: 2013

This case study features King County School-to-Work project as employed by Washington Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. It particularly focuses on interagency partnerships and collaboration for the purpose of improving employment outcomes for transition-age youth with developmental disabilities. 

The School-to-Work (STW) project in King County, Washington assists students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in obtaining employment after leaving high school. STW is a collaborative effort between 17 school districts in King County, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), 15 employment service providers, the King County Work Training program, and the King County Developmental Disabilities Division (KCDDD). DVR and KCDDD have taken a lead role in this project in funding and coordinating youth employment service delivery. The project streamlines transition services provided by DVR, KCDDD, and employment vendors to improve employment outcomes for students.

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Employment for Individuals on a Waiting List: A Case Study on Using State Legislature's Funds

Publication Year: 2013

This case study focuses on the efforts made by the Utah state Office of Rehabilitation to use funds available from the state legislature. Utah's office of rehabilitation used state legislature to fund long-term supported employment for individuals on a waiting list.

In 2006, Utah’s developmental disability agency, the Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD), was faced with a waiting list that reached 2,012 people due to budget limitations. The Utah State Office of Rehabilitation (USOR), DSPD, and the Utah state legislature created House Bill 31 to fund a pilot project that provided long-term supported employment (SE) for 100 individuals with disabilities in fiscal years (FY) 2007 and 2008. In 2008, House Bill 45 was passed to continue funding long-term SE through a special pool of state dollars that would serve individuals on the DSPD waiting list.

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From Day Habilitation to Vocational Rehabilitation: A Case Study Focusing on Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Publication Year: 2013

This case study is derived from the pilot program run by Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. This program focused on improving the process of referring individuals with developmental disabilities from day habilitation to vocational rehabilitation.

The Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation piloted a process for referring individuals with developmental disabilities (DD), who receive day habilitation services from community rehabilitation provider agencies and who are interested in employment, to the Missouri state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program to access services and supports necessary to obtain community employment.

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A Rural Model of Collaboration between a Vocational Rehabilitation Area Office and a Community Rehabilitation Provider: New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Case Study

The VR-RRTC partnered with a national group of content experts to identify potential promising VR employment practices serving people with psychiatric disabilities. These case studies were designed to identify some creative and collaborative ways that VR agencies could develop improved strategies to improve employment outcomes for their clients using this most current knowledge efficiently and effectively.

Vocational Rehabilitation- Mental Health Partnership: Coordinating Supported Employment Services Across State Agencies - Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Case Study

The VR-RRTC partnered with a national group of content experts to identify potential promising VR employment practices serving people with psychiatric disabilities. These case studies were designed to identify some creative and collaborative ways that VR agencies could develop improved strategies to improve employment outcomes for their clients using this most current knowledge efficiently and effectively.

Aligning Agency Policies and Procedures through Systems Integration: Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services Case Study

The VR-RRTC partnered with a national group of content experts to identify potential promising VR employment practices serving people with psychiatric disabilities. These case studies were designed to identify some creative and collaborative ways that VR agencies could develop improved strategies to improve employment outcomes for their clients using this most current knowledge efficiently and effectively.

An Evolving Partnership: Aligning Agency Missions and Integrating New Technologies to Streamline Agency Processes - Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Case Study

The VR-RRTC partnered with a national group of content experts to identify potential promising VR employment practices serving people with psychiatric disabilities. These case studies were designed to identify some creative and collaborative ways that VR agencies could develop improved strategies to improve employment outcomes for their clients using this most current knowledge efficiently and effectively.

Creating a Sustainable Partnership: Utilizing a Medicaid Billing Code as a Stable Source of Funding for Supported Employment Services - Oregon Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Case Study

The VR-RRTC partnered with a national group of content experts to identify potential promising VR employment practices serving people with psychiatric disabilities. These case studies were designed to identify some creative and collaborative ways that VR agencies could develop improved strategies to improve employment outcomes for their clients using this most current knowledge efficiently and effectively.

Partnering from the Top-Down and Maintaining Fidelity to IPS using Jointly Funded Staff: South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department Case Study

The VR-RRTC partnered with a national group of content experts to identify potential promising VR employment practices serving people with psychiatric disabilities. These case studies were designed to identify some creative and collaborative ways that VR agencies could develop improved strategies to improve employment outcomes for their clients using this most current knowledge efficiently and effectively.