1. ACCES-VR CBVH (formerly VESID)
Introductions: Amy Steiner, Sr VRC with ACCES-VR, supervisor of transition services, and Peter Herrig, Transition VRC with CBVH
We are often thought of as a funding source and lumped in with other financial aid.
But we offer much more than that, especially if you apply for ACCES-VR services during your junior year in high school and even earlier than that with CBVH.
We will tell you what these initials mean, quiz you on what you already know, walk you through the steps in our process, and tell you about what you can gain from developing a partnership with a vocational rehabilitation counselor.
CBVH

2. ACCES-VR Adult Career and Continuing Education Services – Vocational
Rehabilitation

3. ACCES-VR 80 Wolf Road – Suite 200 Albany, New York 12205-2644
Telephone: (518)
Toll Free #:
Fax: (518)

4. CBVH
Commission for the
Blind and
Visually
Handicapped

5. CBVH 40 North Pearl St 15th floor Albany, New York 12210-2329
Telephone: (518) Toll Free #:

6. How much do you already know?
Five questions
Five volunteers
Lovely prizes
Can we have the first volunteer please?

7. Question 1
What factors are used to determine eligibility for VR services?
Family income
Career goal
Disability and limitations
All of the above

8. Answer 1
What factors are used to determine eligibility for VR services?
Family income
Career goal
Disability and limitations
All of the above
c) Disability and limitations - is the correct answer
Family income may affect how much funding you can get for some services
Career goal is very important to the development of you plan for service, but that comes after eligibility. If you come to us with an unrealistic goal, we will work with you to shape it into something that will work for you.
Can we have a second volunteer please?

9. Question 2
What services from VR are offered to everyone who is eligible for services?
College funding
Counseling and job placement
Driving lessons
A card on your birthday

10. Answer 2
What services from VR are offered to everyone who is eligible for services?
College funding
Counseling and job placement
Driving lessons
A card on your birthday
b) Counseling and job placement - is the correct answer – these services are also offered without consideration of family income
College funding and driving lessons depend on their necessity to reach an employment goal.
A card on your birthday is nice, but we generally do not do that!
Can we have a third volunteer please?

11. Question 3 Which of the following are types of services offered by VR?
Assessment
Support for vocational training or college
Supported employment
All of the above

12. Answer 3 Which of the following are types of services offered by VR?
Assessment
Support for vocational training or college
Supported employment
All of the above
d) All of the above - is the correct answer – they are types of services which are considered based on the necessity to develop or reach an employment goal
Can we have a fourth volunteer please?

13. Question 4
Which factor is most important when choosing an employment goal?
What your mother wants you to do
How much money you can make
The uniform
Your interests and strengths

14. Answer 4
Which factor is most important when choosing an employment goal?
What your mother wants you to do
How much money you can make
The uniform
Your interests and strengths
d) Your interests and strengths – is the correct answer, among other employment factors such as capabilities, resources, priorities, abilities, concerns and informed choice
The other answers may influence your choice of a employment goal, but they are not the most important.
Can we please have a fifth volunteer?

15. Question 5 What is the primary end goal of VR services
A college degree
Employment
Self esteem
Independent Living

16. Answer 5 What is the primary end goal of VR services A college degree
Employment
Self esteem
Independent Living
b) Employment - is the correct answer
Again, the other answers are excellent life goals, but those needs are not met directly by VR services.

17. Vocational Rehabilitation
Services are based on eligibility requirements, consumer/family resources, and the availability of funds and services
Services mostly take place after high school graduation
Services lead to employment
So what are vocational rehabilitation services?

18. Who can be referred for VR services?
Any person with a permanent disability can be referred to ACCES-VR for eligibility determination
Legally blind individuals are served by CBVH

19. Who should be referred for VR services?
People who are motivated to work and who will be capable of working independently in the community
This is critical – if your mom or your teacher thinks you need to apply for services, but you don’t want to have anything to do with us – which involves routine meetings with your counselor and working in partnership to develop a viable, realistic employment goal, and sharing information about successes and struggles – then the partnership will not work.

20. Transition Services
Transition services are provided to students with disabilities in order to assist them to transition from school into the world of work. ACCES-VR or CBVH is a partner in the process during high school and continues after with post secondary services that lead to employment.
This is the reason for applying for services while you are still in high school. Your high school staff are the experts in academic achievement and the requirements of graduation; your vocational rehabilitation counselor is the expert in employment and the world of work.

21. Refer high school students
within the last 2 years of high school for eligibility determination and planning purposes.
ACCES-VR funding for services is usually not initiated until the last semester of high school, but there can be individual exceptions.
CBVH offers a continuum of services from birth to post retirement
What services can you get while you are still in high school? Mostly planning and assessment services; guidance about how to find relevant information about jobs so you can make an informed choice about your career.

22. Eligibility for ACCES-VR services
Must have a permanent and/or progressive documented disability
Disability must create an impediment to reaching a vocational goal
Must be able to benefit from services in terms of employment outcome
ACCES-VR services must be required to reach employment goal
Remember this? It was one of your quiz questions ~

23. Eligibility for CBVH services
All services are available to New York State residents who are legally blind. Legal blindness is defined as having a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better or stronger eye with best correction, or a restricted field of vision of 20 degrees or less in the better or stronger eye.

24. Types of services Assessment Vocational Training Supports for college
Supported employment
Job development and placement
Oh look another quiz question!

25. Assessment To determine eligibility
To identify a viable vocational goal
To determine the necessity of a service
Driver evaluation
Technology evaluation
(these are not financial needs based)

26. Vocational Training BOCES training programs
Private vocational school programs
Certificate programs at community colleges
(these may be financial needs based)

27. College support May include financial contribution toward:
Tuition, fees, books, room and board
Travel costs to and from school if no room and board
Assistive technology
(these are financial needs based)

28. College support One- to- one tutor Note taker
Other disability specific supports if required
Interpreter
Personal care aide
(these are not financial needs based)

29. Supported Employment
Job placement services through agencies on contract for specific county and disability group
Intensive services
Situational assessment
Job development
Job coaching
Extended services
Ongoing follow along services funded through OPWDD, OMH or ACCES-VR
(these are not financial needs based)

30. Job Placement
Assistance with choosing a job goal, developing a resume, interviewing skills, searching for a job
On-the-job Training
Work Tryouts
(these are not financial needs based)
Occupational tools & equipment
(these are financial needs and job requirement based)

31. What services will be provided?
Only the services necessary to reach the job goal identified in the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) are provided.
These services are listed as part of the IPE developed by consumer and counselor.

32. EMPLOYMENT
Remember….
The successful outcome of VR services is work