Vermont Vocational Rehabilitation Creating Inclusive Environments

What Is Vocational Rehabilitation? An agency that assists individuals with disabilities to obtain and maintain employment. Referrals are received from a multitude of resources.

Office Locations Throughout Vermont. 12 district offices are located throughout Vermont in Barre, Burlington, Rutland, Springfield, Bennington, Brattleboro, Middlebury, Morrisville, Newport, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury and White River Junction.

Eligibility Requirements Must be a State resident. Have a disability that is a substantial barrier to employment. Disabilities may include physical limitations, mental illness, learning disabilities as well as other disorders.

Eligibility Requirements Requires the assistance of Vocational Rehabilitation to become or remain employed. There is no income eligibility for Vermont DVR services.

Vocational Rehabilitation Process Group intake. Assignment to a counselor. Initial interview with a counselor. Determine eligibility for services.

Vocational Rehabilitation Process Assessment (informal and formal). Identify vocational goals and develop Individual Plan for Employment. Referral to workshops, other agencies, training programs, assistance with job development (referral to VABIR or Employment Training Specialist program).

What Services Are Provided? Basic vocational rehabilitation services include counseling and guidance, job assessments, education, occupational training coursework, books, tools, sign language interpreter services, adaptive equipment or prosthetics and job placement, etc. All services must relate to a Vocational goal.

Vocational Rehabilitation Process Remediation of their disability. Monitor and follow up with the individual for a minimum of 90 days after job placement before case is closed. Case may be re-opened if additional services are needed.

Clientele and Placement Serving approximately 5,800 people per year throughout Vermont. Successfully placed approximately 1,000 individuals with disabilities in competitive employment last year.

VR Works Collaboratively With: Department of Employment and Training Department of Social Welfare Social Security Administration Vermont Association of Business, Industry & Rehabilitation (VABIR) VT Center for Independent Living Recycle North Old North End Training Center Essex and Burlington Technical Centers Local colleges Northlands Job Corps

Northlands/Vocational Rehabilitation Partnership Benefit to Northland. Benefit to VR.

Northlands/Vocational Rehabilitation Partnership Vocational Rehabilitation assisted with an accessibility awareness survey for Northlands Job Corps. Structural changes were recommended for the important buildings and prioritization was given.

Northlands/Vocational Rehabilitation Partnership Vocational Rehabilitation provided a presentation to students and staff at Northlands to make them aware of services available through Voc Rehab. Trainings have been provided to the staff at Northlands on Learning Disabilities.

Northlands/Vocational Rehabilitation Partnership Northlands Job Corps refers their students who are diagnosed with a disability to Vocational Rehabilitation. Northlands Job Corps works with Voc Rehab to provide accommodations that may be needed for students. VR refers individuals to Northlands to participate in training opportunities.

Why the VR/Northlands Relationship Works Team approach to working with the students. Relationship provides a win-win situation for both agencies. VR Counselor goes on site to Northlands Job Corps approximately every two weeks.

My Role at Northlands Division’s liaison with Northlands. Meet with prospective referrals. Work with students while they continue through their program. Refer students to the appropriate VR office when they leave Northlands. Provide Northlands with information on disabilities.

Inclusion within Northlands VR Consumer input. VR Counselors input. Examples of cases.

Recommendations to others Request that a representative from your Job Corps Center attend a local VR staff meeting. Invite VR staff to visit your Center and learn more about the programs offered. Make VR aware that Job Corps is a good resource. Propose to VR that both agencies develop a “working relationship.”