Job-Driven VRTAC

South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department Partnership with the Statewide Technical College System in South Carolina

 

Stephen Marshall, Business Services Coordinator and Kim Mann from Business Services unit at South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD) discuss how SCVRD works with their statewide technical college system to design training programs that meet the needs of VR consumers and businesses.

Read more about the practices and challenges that other states shared in this Community of Practice:  “Vocational Rehabilitation and Community College Customized Training Partnerships: Practices and Challenges”.

Getting More People Employed in North Dakota: Improving Business Engagement and Utilizing Labor Market Information

Presenters: 
Brenda Vennes and Jeff Jenkins
Date/Time [EST]: 
02/22/2017 - 2:00pm
Description 

North Dakota Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (NDDVR) is working to enhance partnerships with business by raising awareness of VR’s business services and how VR can help business with their employment needs. NDDVR is improving their use of labor market information (LMI) to advance clients’ understanding of the job market and potential for employment.

This webinar will explain NDDVR’s JD-VRTAC project regarding business engagement and the use of labor market information. In this webinar, NDDVR staff will discuss project goals, accomplishments, challenges, lessons learned, and what comes next for this project.

Download the Powerpoint presentation: Getting More People Employed in North Dakota: Improving Business Engagement and Utilizing Labor Market Information Powerpoint (PDF)

All ExploreVR webinars are live captioned: Getting More People Employed in North Dakota: Improving Business Engagement and Utilizing Labor Market Information Transcript (WORD)

Business Engagement at North Dakota DVR: 

  • Best Practice Guidelines for Business Engagement (PDF)
  • Business Engagement Rapid Response (PDF)
  • Business Engagement Bi-weekly Meeting Structure (PDF)
  • Governor's Conference Business Engagement Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) 
  • Society of Human Resource Management Business Engagement Powerpoint Presentation (PDF)

Using Labor Market Information at North Dakota DVR:

  • The Career Index Plus Guided Study (PDF)
  • O*Net Guided Study (PDF)
  • Career Exploration Lesson Plan (PDF)
  • LMI Worksheet Occupational Research Summary (Word) 
Project 
Job-Driven VRTAC

Integrating Labor Market Information and Engaging Employers to Hire Minors: An Overview of PA OVR Completed JD-VRTAC Project

Presenters: 
Sara Gales and Vondol Hammond
Date/Time [EST]: 
10/04/2016 - 2:00pm
Description 

Pennsylvania’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (PA OVR) initiated two job-driven projects as part of the Job-Driven VR Technical Assistance Center (JD-VRTAC). For the first project, the results of a preliminary staff survey informed a training curriculum on how to integrate labor market information (LMI) into the VR process. For the second project, the results of a business roundtable helped shape a training curriculum informed a training curriculum on engaging businesses to hire minors.

In this webinar, Sara Gales and Vondol Hammond from PA OVR will provide an overview of their JD-VRTAC projects on LMI and business engagement. They will discuss the goals of this project, how it was implemented, and some accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned. Gales and Hammond will also share their experiences as members of the JD-VRTAC Learning Collaborative, and the future direction of their job-driven projects.

Download the Powerpoint presentation: Integrating Labor Market Information and Engaging Employers to Hire Minors: An Overview of PA OVR’s Completed JD-VRTAC Project Powerpoint (PPT)

All ExploreVR webinars are live captioned: Integrating Labor Market Information and Engaging Employers to Hire Minors: An Overview of PA OVR’s Completed JD-VRTAC Project Transcript (WORD)

All other downloadable files:

The JD-VRTAC is a national center housed at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The center and its webinars are funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) within the US Department of Education under grant #H264A140002.

Project 
Job-Driven VRTAC

RA 101: Introduction to Registered Apprenticeships for VR Professionals

Presenters: 
Zach Boren, Felecia Hart, Edison Freire, Rhonda Basha, Nathan Cunningham
Date/Time [EST]: 
09/22/2016 - 2:00pm
Description 

The US Department of Labor (DOL) Registered Apprenticeship (RA) program provides a unique, flexible training system that combines job related technical instruction with structured on-the-job learning experiences. This “Earn and Learn” training model is highly active in traditional industries such as construction and manufacturing, but it is also instrumental in the training and development of emerging industries such as healthcare, energy, and information technology. While the RA system has been used to meet the needs of America’s skilled work force for over 75 years, Persons with Disabilities (PWD’s) have not typically benefitted from the program. 

This one hour webinar provides an introduction to the RA program and feature presentations by staff from the US DOL and the Office for Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), which released a report in 2015 related to increasing the number of PWDs entering RA programs. Information on locating and accessing RA programs in your state/area will be shared. For more information about the program: https://www.doleta.gov/oa/apprenticeship.cfm

Download the Powerpoint presentation: RA 101: Registered Apprenticeships for VR Professionals Powerpoint (PDF)

All ExploreVR webinars are live captioned: RA 101: Registered Apprenticeships for VR Professionals Transcript (WORD)

For more information about Registered Apprenticeships, read, The Basics of Registered Apprenticeships 

FAQ from this webinar, RA 101: Introduction to Registered Apprenticeships for VR Professionals coming soon!

The JD-VRTAC is a national center housed at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The center and its webinars are funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) within the US Department of Education under grant #H264A140002. 

Project 
Job-Driven VRTAC

JD-VRTAC Hosts Learning Collaborative in Chicago for State VR Agencies Receiving Intensive TA

On July 12-13, the Job-Driven Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center (JD-VRTAC) hosted its second Learning Collaborative meeting for state VR agencies receiving intensive technical assistance (TA). 

Ten VR agencies from the first round of TA shared updates from their job-driven projects about establishing business relations units in their agencies, incorporating labor market information into VR practice, and supporting employers who hire VR consumers.

Skills for Business Engagement: Part 2 - Making Connections

Presenters: 
Laurie Ford, Lara Enein–Donovan, and Rick Kugler
Date/Time [EST]: 
09/16/2016 - 12:00pm
Description 

Are you new to business engagement and/or job development? Even if you’re an experienced rehabilitation professional, it’s natural to be apprehensive about your new role. This webinar will offer you strategies for making connections with employers in both formal and informal situations. We’ll also share ideas to help you understand employers’ business needs, and respond to concerns and misunderstandings they may have about employing people with disabilities.

Upon completion of this webinar, you will be able to:

  • Introduce yourself and VR services in a succinct manner that will be attractive to businesses
  • Assess labor needs of your business contacts to promote more effective job matches
  • Respond to employers’ concerns about hiring candidates with disabilities

Download the PowerPoint Presentation: Skills for Business Engagement: Part 2 - Making Connections Powerpoint (PDF)

All ExploreVR webinars are live captioned: Skills for Business Engagement: Part 2 - Making Connections Transcript (Word)

The JD-VRTAC is a national center housed at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The center and its webinars are funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) within the US Department of Education under grant #H264A140002. 

The Vocational Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Demand-Side Strategies (Demand-Side RRTC) is housed at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The center and its webinars are funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) Grant # H133B120002.

Project 
Job-Driven VRTAC

Labor Market Information (LMI): An Embarrassment of Riches or Fool's Gold?

Presenters: 
Libin Zhang, Rick Kugler, Lindy Foley, and Rob Hines
Date/Time [EST]: 
08/16/2016 - 2:00pm
Description 

This webinar will focus on how vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies can identify and use labor market information (LMI) to benefit clients. Libin Zhang and Rick Kugler from the Institute for Community Inclusion will discuss uses and misuses of LMI. Lindy Foley from Nebraska VR and Rob Hines from the Washington VR will explain their agencies’ experiences incorporating LMI into VR practice with clients.

The goals of this webinar are to:

  • Assist counselors and employment specialists in identifying relevant LMI
  • Help supervisors guide counselors and employment staff on the best ways to incorporate LMI into their tasks
  • Inform participants about how 2 state VR agencies think about LMI and put it into practice

 

Download the Powerpoint presentation: LMI: An Embarrassment of Riches or Fools Gold? Powerpoint (PDF)

All ExploreVR webinars are live captioned: LMI: An Embarrassment of Riches or Fools Gold? Transcript (WORD)

The JD-VRTAC is a national center housed at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The center and its webinars are funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) within the US Department of Education under grant #H264A140002. 

The Vocational Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Demand-Side Strategies (Demand-Side RRTC) is housed at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The center and its webinars are funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) Grant # H133B120002.

Project 
Job-Driven VRTAC

Assistive Technology for People with Mental Health Conditions: Part 2

Presenters: 
Mark Harniss and Maria Kelley
Date/Time [EST]: 
07/29/2016 - 2:00pm
Description 

In Part 2 of this ExploreVR webinar, Mark Harniss and Maria Kelley from the University of Washington Center for Technology and Disability Studies will identify different types of assistive technologies to address executive function and emotional support for people with mental health conditions. The objective of this webinar is to help participants understand how assistive technology can address common cognitive barriers and improve employment outcomes.

Download the Powerpoint presentation: Assistive Technology for People with Mental Health Conditions: Part 2 Powerpoint (PDF)

All ExploreVR webinars are live captioned: Assistive Technology for People with Mental Health Conditions: Part 2 Transcript (WORD)

The JD-VRTAC is a national center housed at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The center and its webinars are funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) within the US Department of Education under grant #H264A140002. 

Project 
Job-Driven VRTAC