Maine Department of Labor Bureau of Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation is a statewide program that helps eligible people with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep jobs. To be eligible, you must have a physical, mental, or emotional disability that keeps you from getting and keeping a job and need VR services to overcome disability-related barriers. Mention about new rules Talk about the fact that eligibility not entitlement 90 1 1

Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services: Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI) Partner in the Workforce Development System Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Core Partner Co-located in CareerCenters across Maine

Employment Counseling Transition and Adult Caseloads Counselors have specialized training to assist with disability related barriers to employment DVR has 65 VR Counselors around the state DBVI has 9 VR Counselors around the state BRS works with approximately 10000 job seekers annually

Serving Youth… More than one-third of the individuals VR serves are transition age youth Every high school has an assigned VR Counselor VR clients do not experience any disruption in services at age 18

Pre-Employment Transition Services – PreApprenticeship? Job Exploration Counseling Work-based Learning Experiences Counseling on Opportunities for Post-Secondary Training and Education Workplace Readiness Training to Develop Social Skills and Independent Living Instruction in Self-Advocacy

Overview of Services Vocational counseling and guidance services Assessment services Assistive technology Work experience/job shadows/informational interviews Job development Job Coaching Self-Employment Support Services Training and Education – including Apprenticeship 6 6

Business Services Disability Awareness Training On site Technology Assessment Recruitment identification and vetting of candidates Ancillary services such as Orientation & Mobility Instruction and Language Interpretation

Apprenticeship Pilot Working with the Workforce Integration Technical Assistance Center, the Maine Office of Apprenticeship and the Maine Hospitality Association Best Practices from Iowa and Pennsylvania Food Service and Hospitality in Region III

Contact Information Peter Diplock, CRC Assistant Director Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired 150 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0150 (207) 215-3580 Peter.D.Diplock@Maine.Gov Contact your local DVR office: http://www.maine.gov/rehab/offices.shtml or call 207- 623-6799 for assistance finding an office near you Maine Department of Labor provides Equal Opportunity in employment and programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request