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Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Conference on Exceptional Children Post Conference Institute November 1-3, 2010 Alma Price Taylor Program Specialist – Transition Services. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Vocational Rehabilitation Program

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Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

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  1. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Conference on Exceptional Children Post Conference InstituteNovember 1-3, 2010 Alma Price Taylor Program Specialist – Transition Services

  2. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services • Vocational Rehabilitation Program • Independent Living Services • Disability Determination Services • Assistive Technology Program • Client Assistance Program

  3. Vocational Rehabilitation Services • Vocational Rehabilitation Programs began in the 1920’s • To assist disabled veterans to return to work • The agency serves all disability groups with the exception of individuals served by the Division of Services for the Blind

  4. Vocational Rehabilitation Services • State agency that assists individuals with disabilities to secure employment, regain employment or retain employment that is consistent with their strengths, abilities, and informed choice!

  5. VR Agency • There are 31 VR Unit Offices statewide covering all 100 counties • Two Rehabilitation Facilities • WorkSource West • WorkSource East • 16 Independent Living Offices • 11 NC Assistive Technology Regional Centers

  6. VRS Western RegionPatricia Bland: Regional DirectorKent Millsap: Assistant Regional Director VR Office Unit Manager Phone • Albemarle Mary Walls 704-982-8124 • Asheville Kathryn McIntyre 828-670-3377 • Boone (IL) Mike Birkmire 828-265-5396 • Charlotte Georgia Gulledge 704-568-8804 • Forest City David Herndon 828-245-1223 • Gastonia Eric Davis 704-853-5358 • Hickory Henry Steele 828-294-0120 • Salisbury David Matheny 704-639-7575 • Sylva Robbie Benton 828-586-4032 • WorkSource West Connie Barnett 828-433-2423

  7. VRS Central RegionLenore Guidoni: Regional Director : Assistant Regional Director VR Office Unit Manager Phone • Burlington John Marens 336-570-6855 • Chapel Hill John Scotten 919-969-7350 • Durham Jessie Pickett-Williams 919-560-6810 • Dunn Scott Daniel 910-892-7040 • Fayetteville Ellen Morales 910-486-1101 • Greensboro Veta Cooper-Henderson 336-299-7337 • Henderson Gordon Agingu 252-492-3141 • Lexington Karen Caviness 336-249-0241 • Lumberton Sandra Britt 910-618-5513 • Pinehurst Beth Beachum 910-295-1530 • Raleigh (IL) Kenny Gibbs 919-733-7807 • Winston Salem Toni King 336-784-2700

  8. VRS Eastern RegionCharles Bodiford: Regional DirectorJim Pleasants: Assistant Regional Director VR Office Unit Manager Phone • Elizabeth City Karen White 252-331-4768 • Goldsboro Jeff Herring 919-778-3795 • Greenville Billy Ross 252-830-8560 • Jacksonville Shannon Vitak 910-455-1445 • New Bern (IL) Kathy Crow 252-514-4727 • Rocky Mount (IL) Tammy Murphy 252-977-2112 • Washington Chloe Hudson 252-946-0051 • Whiteville Jai Robinson 910-642-5406 • Wilmington Becky Setliff 910-251-2659 • Wilson Elizabeth Brown 252-237-7161 • WorkSource East Tara Myers 919-731-7956

  9. Federal Legislation: VR & Education Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) have continued to emphasize the coordination of services to youth with disabilities in transition from school to post school activities.

  10. InteragencyCollaboration • A mutually beneficial and well-defined relationship entered into by two or more organizations to achieve common goals.

  11. DVRS Transition Program“School to Life” • North Carolina began Cooperative Programs with Public Schools in the early 1960’s • A written Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) exist between: • DVRS and DPI-Exceptional Children • 91 of the 114 school systems • The NC School for the Deaf (West) and Eastern NCSD

  12. Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) The written agreement outlines the… • Shared funding and administrative support • Local Education Agency pays 21.3% of Administrative Cost of the program & Vocational Rehabilitation pays 78.7% in federal funds • Dedicated positions • VR pays all the case service costs for serving eligible students through cooperative programs

  13. MOA allows the… • Administrators of the School System (LEA) and VR to outline partnership for their community • VR staffing needs for school system • Collaboration between VR and school staff • Referral of students to VR • Sharing of information • Joint participation in student’s Individualized Education Planning (IEP) • Coordination of the student’s Transition Plan into the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) • Work closely with local transition team including specific needs in each local agreement

  14. Student: Transition PlansPost School Outcomes • School : Individualized Education Program (IEP) • Vocational Rehabilitation: Individualized Rehabilitation Plan (IPE)

  15. Teamwork!Transition Planning • Student • Family • Special educator • Rehabilitation counselor • Guidance counselor • Vocational evaluator • Therapist • Adult agencies

  16. VR Focus in Transition“School to Life” • Intensified efforts to appropriately serve more clients with significant and most significant disabilities • Focus on collaboration with DPI to meet transition needs of students including those individualsin the Occupational Course of Study • Enhance efforts to work with students as earlier as possible prior to exiting school.

  17. VR Focus in Transition“School to Life” • Students at risk of dropout - Work with these students as early as possible (age 16). If there is an immediate need work with students earlier. • Increase Outreach to youth out of school • Home schooled • Juvenile system • Community agencies that work with youth in transition • Outreach to individuals that do not have an IEP

  18. Let’s get Started with VR Eligibility • An individual with a disability (a physical or mental impairment, learning disability) which constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment; • Can benefit from vocational rehabilitation services in terms of an employment outcome; and • Requires vocational rehabilitation services to prepare for, secure or regain employment.

  19. The Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) • A plan of services that is developed with the individual following eligibility determination and the comprehensive assessment of the individual’s rehabilitation needs • Services are planned that will assist the individual to attain and maintain employment successfully • All services are planned with the informed choice of the individual.

  20. Rehabilitation Process • Referral and Application • Collect Information and Review • Eligibility Determination • Development of Vocational Goal • Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) • Services • Employment

  21. Financial Statement • The individual must meet the criteria for the financial needs test- to receive certain services at the expense of the Division • Services are dependent on individual need to meet the rehabilitation objectives to return to work • SSI or SSDI recipients automatically meet program eligibility and financial need criteria

  22. Vocational Rehabilitation Services • Assessment & Diagnosis • Mental or Physical Restoration • Training • Job Related Services • Transportation • Placement • Assistive Technology • Job/Home Modifications • Information & Referral

  23. Individuals Served by VRS School CaseloadNC FFY 2009 -2010Youth age: 14 - 24 years old • The agency served 17,724 individuals with disabilities • Successful Employment Outcome was achieved by 1,388 for the agency

  24. Major Disability TypeStatewide School Caseload • Vision 24 • Deaf/Deaf-Blind/Hard of Hearing 62 • Cerebral Palsy 235 • Orthopedic/Amputation 384 • Mental Illness 2,235 • Autism 1,058 • Intellectual Disability • Mild 5,355 • Moderate 1,239 • Severe 29 • TBI 177 • Other Physical 452

  25. Independent Living Program • Resource agency for individuals and support other agency • Youth transitioning from school to community • Home to independent living in community • College or program housing • Youth transitioning from a facility to community • Youth returning to live at home

  26. Independent LivingServices: • Evaluation and Counseling • Housing Information • Vehicle modifications • Peer counseling and advocacy • Rehabilitation Engineering • Prosthetics and Orthotics • Personal Assistance Services • Recreational therapy • Assistance with leisure activities

  27. Independent Living Offices Office Unit Manager Phone • Albermarle Anthony Cunningham 704-985-1172 • Asheville Kathy Hembree 828-670-3377 • Boone (VR) Mike Birkmire 828-265-5419 • Charlotte Donna Lovill 704-568-8804 • Durham Ron Graham 919-560-6815 • Elizabeth City Valerie Knox 252-338-0175 • Fayetteville Carolyn Temoney 910-486-1717 • Greensboro Mark Steele 336-852-4523 • Greenville Becky Tyndall 252-830-3471

  28. Independent Living Offices Office Unit Manager Phone • Hickory Lynn Furr 828-294-0338 • New Bern (VR) Kathy Crow 252-514-4806 • Raleigh (VR) Kenny Gibbs 919-715-0543 • Rocky Mount (VR) Tammy Murphy 252-446-0867 • Sylva John Dills 828-586-3455 • Wilmington Donny Bracey 910-251-5810 • Winston Salem Mark Steele 336-784-2700

  29. Contact Information Alma Taylor Program Specialist – Transition alma.taylor@dhhs.nc.gov 919-855-3572

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