North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

What is Vocational Rehabilitation? A public service program that assists individuals with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and retain gainful employment. A public service program that assists individuals with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and retain gainful employment. State VR agencies operate under the Federal Rehabilitation Act State VR agencies operate under the Federal Rehabilitation Act

Eligibility for Vocational Rehabilitation: Impairment/Disability (physical, cognitive, emotional, developmental) Disability creates an impediment to employment Requires VR services to prepare for, obtain or maintain employment Eligibility for Vocational Rehabilitation: Impairment/Disability (physical, cognitive, emotional, developmental) Disability creates an impediment to employment Requires VR services to prepare for, obtain or maintain employment

Services: Assessment Assessment Counseling and Guidance Counseling and Guidance Training Training Medical Services Medical Services Job Placement Job Placement Support Services Support Services Assessment Assessment Counseling and Guidance Counseling and Guidance Training Training Medical Services Medical Services Job Placement Job Placement Support Services Support Services

TITLE I – EMPLOYMENT IN GENERAL, Title I provides that no EMPLOYER shall discriminate against a QUALIFIED individual with a DISABILITY as long as the ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS of the job can be performed with or without REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS that do not constitute an UNDUE HARDSHIP on the employer.

QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY: An Individual with a Disability who, with or without Reasonable Accommodation, can perform Essential Functions of employment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Job Description Job Description Time Spent on Function Time Spent on Function

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: Making Existing Facilities Accessible Making Existing Facilities Accessible Job Restructuring or Reassignment Job Restructuring or Reassignment Modified Work Schedules or Procedures Modified Work Schedules or Procedures Acquisition/Modification of Equipment/ Devices Acquisition/Modification of Equipment/ Devices Providing Qualified Interpreters or Readers Providing Qualified Interpreters or Readers EXAMPLES:

CLASSROOM ACCOMMODATIONS INCLUDE: Note takers Note takers Volunteer, Student Workers, C-Print Volunteer, Student Workers, C-Print Sign Language Interpreters Sign Language Interpreters Captioning Captioning Reader Reader Scribe Scribe Testing Accommodations Testing Accommodations Extended Time Extended Time Low-distraction Setting Low-distraction Setting Reader and Scribe Reader and Scribe Computer for Written Responses Computer for Written Responses

Academic Support Services Textbooks in Alternate Format Textbooks in Alternate Format Dictation Software Dictation Software Learning Assistance Centers Learning Assistance Centers Tutoring Tutoring Disability Counseling Disability Counseling Collaboration with Faculty and Staff Collaboration with Faculty and Staff

ACCESSIBLE FORMATS FOR PRINTED MATERIAL E-text (electronic text) E-text (electronic text) campus library, Blackboard campus library, Blackboard Audio Audio CD or Tape, Abbey Fine Reader, Screen Reader software CD or Tape, Abbey Fine Reader, Screen Reader software Braille Braille

The TEN COMMANDMENTS of COMMUNICATING with PEOPLE with DISABILITIES

I.Speak directly rather than through an interpreter who may be present. II.Offer to shake hands when introduced. People with limited hand use or an artificial limb can usually shake hands and offering the left hand is an acceptable greeting.

The TEN COMMANDMENTS of COMMUNICATING with PEOPLE with DISABILITIES (cont.) III.Always identify yourself and others who may be with you when meeting someone with a visual disability. When conversing in a group, remember to identify the person to whom you are speaking. IV.If you offer assistance, wait until the offer is accepted. Then listen or ask for instructions.

The TEN COMMANDMENTS of COMMUNICATING with PEOPLE with DISABILITIES (cont.) V.Treat adults as adults. Address people with disabilities by their first names only when extending the same familiarity to all others. Never patronize people in wheelchairs by patting them on the head or shoulder. VI.Do not lean against or hang on someone’s wheelchair. Bear in mind that people with disabilities treat their chairs as extensions of their bodies. And so do people with guide dogs and help dogs. Never distract a work animal from their job without the owner’s permission.

The TEN COMMANDMENTS of COMMUNICATING with PEOPLE with DISABILITIES (cont.) VII.Listen attentively when talking with people who have difficulty speaking and wait for them to finish. If necessary, ask short questions that require short answers, or nod of head. Never pretend to understand; instead, repeat what you have understood and allow the person to respond. VIII.Place yourself at eye level when speaking with someone in a wheelchair or on crutches.

The TEN COMMANDMENTS of COMMUNICATING with PEOPLE with DISABILITIES (cont.) IX.Tap a person who has a hearing disability on the shoulder or wave your hand to get his or her attention. Look directly at the person and speak clearly, slowly, and expressively to establish if the person can read lips. If so, try to face the light source and keep hands, cigarettes and food away from your mouth when speaking. X.Relax. Don’t be embarrassed if you happen to use common expressions such as “See you later” or “Did you hear about this?” that seem to relate to a person’s disability.

Thank you for your attention. Vocational Rehabilitation Services