Archived Webinars

Heike Boeltzig presents findings from a case study looking at the characteristics of the VR counselors who use technology in the rehabilitation process.

Webinar handout:

• Technology Adoption and Transformation of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Process: A Case Study of Counselors within State VR Agencies (.ppt)

The third webinar in the VR fiscal series reviews the critical policy and practices issues to be considered in the development of third party funding and other options, such as interagency transfer, for meeting the match requirements for the Title I VR federal funds. There was review of the federal regulations and guidance including the issues raised during third party match in recent RSA monitoring.

This initial webinar concerning alternate match sources sets the groundwork for following webinars on this topic that will include interactive discussions with states that have utilized third party and other options.

This webinar is the first in a series looking at promising practices in prioritizing and delivering of services to individuals with Most Significant Disabilities (MSD). Presenters will discuss results from case studies identifying strategies that VR agencies have used to manage outreach, service access, and case flow to ensure that individuals with MSD are served on a priority basis. Strategies include tools to manage priority categories, fiscal and human resources, performance, waitlists, and stakeholder communication. The goal of this webinar is to provide VR agencies examples of strategies utilized by their fellow VR state agencies under Order of Selection to help them improve employment services and outcomes for individuals with MSD. Presenters will also address the impact on direct service delivery and case management.

Download webinar documents (.ppt) (.doc)

This webinar is the second in a series looking at promising practices in prioritizing and delivering of services to individuals with the most significant disabilities (MSD). Presenters will highlight results from case studies identifying strategies that VR agencies have used to manage outreach, service access, and case flow to ensure that individuals with MSD are served on a priority basis. Strategies include tools to manage priority categories, fiscal and human resources, performance, waitlists, and stakeholder communication. The goal of this webinar is to describe strategies the Maine Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) implemented in 2009 to eliminate the waitlist that had been in place since 2001. This practice represents a successful effort of moving out of Order of Selection (OOS) policy while still maintaining a focus on serving customers with the most significant disabilities.

This webinar hosted by Robert 'Bobby' Silverstein and the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Vocational Rehabilitation (VR RRTC) complements Bobby's timely new paper Funding Health-Related VR Services: The Potential Impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on the Use of Private Insurance and Medicaid to Pay for Health ­Related Services. The webinar discusses findings on the potential impact of the ACA on the payment for certain health-related VR services, including physical and mental restoration services, assistive technology devices and services, and personal assistance services.

Download the presentation slides (.ppt) or presentation text (.doc). 

Download the summary of the question and answers session prepared by Bobby Silverstein (.pdf) or (.doc).

View a fact sheet on the ACA and Medicaid online or download it (.doc)

This is another webinar in the series of the webinars on the impact of Affordable Care Act on funding VR services. Robert "Bobby" Silverstein will be presenting results from his latest paper. This webinar will illustrate the policy actions that can be taken by VR agencies, as the Affordable Care Act will allow many states to minimize their VR agency's expenditures for insurance services and increase the number of clients they were otherwise able to serve.

Presentation Slides (.ppt) or Presentation Text (.doc)

Compilation of all the handouts (.doc or .pdf)

• Medicaid Expansion Activity Handout (.doc)
• State Expansion Activity Handout (.doc)
• Essential Health Benefits Benchmark Plans Handout (.doc)
• CCIIO Final and Interim Final Rules Regarding ACA Handout (.doc)

The Research and Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) on VR Program Management released a request for participation in a research project in late November 2011 for a 12-month learning collaborative laboratory.  This webinar served as an information session for those interested in learning more.

Download presentation (.pdf) (.rtf)

Betsy Hopkins and the BRS QA Director and Karen Fraser from Maine give an update on Vendor Performance initiative and the lessons learned. They investigated and implemented changes in Community Rehabilitation Provider (CRP) services to improve employment outcomes of BRS clients and ensure that there is a maximum return on the resources invested for that purpose. This webinar is part of a series where members of the NIDRR-funded RTAC project on VR Program Management present the lessons they¹ve learned through their management initiative. The RTAC is a collaborative initiative to identify, test, and disseminate management practices to build a performance management model tailored to the vocational rehabilitation system.

Michael Kosec, Quality Assurance Coordinator, and John Walsh, Coordinator - Vocational Rehabilitation Services from the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired give an update on the development and implementation of their comprehensive quality assurance system and the lessons learned. This webinar is part of a series where members of the NIDRR-funded RTAC project on VR Program Management present the lessons they¹ve learned through their management initiative. The RTAC is a collaborative initiative to identify, test, and disseminate management practices to build a performance management model tailored to the vocational rehabilitation system.

Jeffrey Hughes, Region Manager - Vocational Rehabilitation Services gives an update on Indiana's experience with supervision in a virtual environment. In 2008, Indiana VR implemented a Virtual Office environment through distribution of appropriate technology, relocation of offices, and development of paperless capabilities within our case management system. As part of this management initiative, they developed supervisor competencies for successfully operating within this virtual environment. This webinar is part of a series where members of the NIDRR-funded RTAC project on VR Program Management present the lessons they¹ve learned through their management initiative. The RTAC is a collaborative initiative to identify, test, and disseminate management practices to build a performance management model tailored to the vocational rehabilitation system.

Download Presentation (.ppt) (.rtf)

Explore the Virtual Office tookit (.pdf)

Read Virtual Office: Helpful Hints for New Supervisors (.doc)