April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 11

The NET: The NET: National Employment National Employment

TeamTeamVR and BusinessVR and Business

Kathy West-Evans, MPA, CRCKathy West-Evans, MPA, CRCDirector of Business RelationsDirector of Business Relations

Council of State Administrators of Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR)Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR)

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Personal and Personal and Professional Professional CommitmentCommitment

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 33

A Life Changes in an A Life Changes in an InstantInstant

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 44

VR: Career Planning and VR: Career Planning and Employment OutcomesEmployment Outcomes

Employment outcomes are our responsibilityEmployment outcomes are our responsibility Everyone employed in public VR under Title I Everyone employed in public VR under Title I

of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended is responsible for: providing VR amended is responsible for: providing VR services to assist the individual to “prepare services to assist the individual to “prepare for and engage in gainful employment.” for and engage in gainful employment.”

VR is measured on employment outcomes – VR is measured on employment outcomes – the quantity the quantity butbut

Employment outcomes also include quality Employment outcomes also include quality measures – integration, wages and benefitsmeasures – integration, wages and benefits

4

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 55

Hallmarks of the Hallmarks of the Public VR ProgramPublic VR Program 80 Agencies80 Agencies State-Federal Partnership State-Federal Partnership Partner Programs: VA and AIR Partner Programs: VA and AIR Individualized FocusIndividualized Focus HolisticHolistic Comprehensive Plan: IPE Comprehensive Plan: IPE Return on Investment Return on Investment

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 66

Comprehensive Comprehensive AssessmentAssessmentand Individualized and Individualized PlanPlan MedicalMedical Assistive TechnologyAssistive Technology PsychologicalPsychological SocialSocial FinancialFinancial LegalLegal Independent LivingIndependent Living EducationEducation Career Planning and EmploymentCareer Planning and Employment Ongoing SupportsOngoing Supports

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EmployersAdvocacy& Legal Services

FinancialPrograms

HigherEducation

MedicalPrograms

FamilySupports

ILServices

Schools

VocationalRehabilitation

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 88

Business: Business: The The OtherOther Customer Customer

The NET - A National The NET - A National Approach to Serving Business Approach to Serving Business Through VR Points of ContactThrough VR Points of Contact

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 99

The NET Vision The NET Vision StatementStatement

To create a “one company” To create a “one company”

approach to serving business approach to serving business customers through a national customers through a national VR team that specializes in VR team that specializes in employer development, employer development, business consulting and business consulting and corporate relations. corporate relations.

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 1010

The NET The NET Benefits by Customer Benefits by Customer

CategoryCategoryBusinessBusiness will have direct access to the will have direct access to the

qualified candidates and support services qualified candidates and support services provided by State VR agencies on a provided by State VR agencies on a national basis.national basis.

VR consumersVR consumers will have access to will have access to national employment opportunities and national employment opportunities and career development resources.career development resources.

State VR agenciesState VR agencies will have a national will have a national system for sharing employment system for sharing employment resources, best practices and business resources, best practices and business connections. connections.

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 1111

VR’s History with VR’s History with BusinessBusiness

1970-80’s – individual state agencies with informal 1970-80’s – individual state agencies with informal connections , Projects with Industry (PWI)connections , Projects with Industry (PWI)

Washington State DVR – Business Relations/ EARNWashington State DVR – Business Relations/ EARN 1988 Multi-State Marketing Conference, Michigan1988 Multi-State Marketing Conference, Michigan

– 14 States: Alabama, Colorado, D.C., Georgia, 14 States: Alabama, Colorado, D.C., Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas General and Pennsylvania, New York, Texas General and Blind, Virginia – General and Blind, Washington Blind, Virginia – General and Blind, Washington and West Virginiaand West Virginia

2004 National Employment Conference: 2004 National Employment Conference: RSA/CSAVR – Feedback from Business used to RSA/CSAVR – Feedback from Business used to design The NETdesign The NET

2005 Commitment of VR Leadership – CSAVR Staff2005 Commitment of VR Leadership – CSAVR Staff 2006 Design and Launch The NET2006 Design and Launch The NET

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 1212

National Employment National Employment Conference 2004: Building Conference 2004: Building with Our Business Customerswith Our Business Customers

AirTran AirwaysAirTran Airways American Red American Red

CrossCross Bridges, Inc.Bridges, Inc. Cellular One / Cellular One /

Western WirelessWestern Wireless CVS/PharmacyCVS/Pharmacy GEICOGEICO General Motors, General Motors,

Inc.Inc.

infoUSAinfoUSA IntelIntel The Kennedy CenterThe Kennedy Center Lenske’s Clamping Lenske’s Clamping

Tools, Inc.Tools, Inc. Manpower, Inc.Manpower, Inc. Marriott, Inc.Marriott, Inc. Motor WorldMotor World Miami UniversityMiami University Microsoft CorpMicrosoft Corp..

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 1313

National Employment National Employment Conference 2004: Building with Conference 2004: Building with Our Business CustomersOur Business Customers

National Bank of National Bank of CommerceCommerce

Oklahoma One-Oklahoma One-Call System, Inc.Call System, Inc.

On Our OwnOn Our Own Principal Financial Principal Financial

GroupGroup Raytheon Raytheon

CompanyCompany Safeway, IncSafeway, Inc..

Social Security Social Security AdministrationAdministration

SouthTrust Bank SouthTrust Bank – Wachovia, Wells Wachovia, Wells

Fargo Fargo Starbucks Coffee Starbucks Coffee

CompanyCompany State of DelawareState of Delaware United States United States

ArmyArmy

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 1414

National Employment National Employment Conference 2004: Building with Conference 2004: Building with

Our Business CustomersOur Business Customers

U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityU.S. Department of Homeland Security University of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham Washington Mutual Washington Mutual West CorporationWest Corporation

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 1515

The NET: A Customer The NET: A Customer Driven System Driven System

Dual Customer FocusDual Customer Focus Customer DrivenCustomer Driven National in ScopeNational in Scope VR as One CompanyVR as One Company Easily Accessible NetworkEasily Accessible Network

– Points of ContactPoints of Contact– VA Employment CoordinatorsVA Employment Coordinators– Community PartnersCommunity Partners

Leveraging the Strengths of the Leveraging the Strengths of the National VR System at the Local LevelNational VR System at the Local Level

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 1616

The NET: VR Consumer’s The NET: VR Consumer’s BenefitBenefit

Career opportunities….not just job placementsCareer opportunities….not just job placements– understand the business environment and understand the business environment and

work culturework culture– ““real time” information incorporated into IPE real time” information incorporated into IPE

planningplanning– informed choiceinformed choice– internal “champions”internal “champions”– corporate culturecorporate culture– benefits & inclusionbenefits & inclusion

Upward mobility opportunitiesUpward mobility opportunities– life-long learninglife-long learning– mentors on sitementors on site

RetentionRetention

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 1717

The NET: Business The NET: Business Customers BenefitCustomers Benefit

Access to VR as a national system with partnerships Access to VR as a national system with partnerships built at the local, state and multi-state level based on built at the local, state and multi-state level based on the needs of the business.the needs of the business.

Easy Access to a coordinated national network of VR Easy Access to a coordinated national network of VR state points of contact and their community partnersstate points of contact and their community partners

Access to a national VR system that delivers quality Access to a national VR system that delivers quality products and services, is responsive and consistent products and services, is responsive and consistent across states. across states.

Access to the largest talent pool of applicants with Access to the largest talent pool of applicants with disabilities in the country.disabilities in the country.

Access to national VR resources, best practices and Access to national VR resources, best practices and technical experts at the national, state and local leveltechnical experts at the national, state and local level

VR points of contact that are linked to resources at VR points of contact that are linked to resources at the local, state, regional and national level.the local, state, regional and national level.

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 1818

NET Key Concept: One NET Key Concept: One CompanyCompany Business expects VR to deliver in Business expects VR to deliver in

multiple locations based on their multiple locations based on their footprint which could be state, multi-footprint which could be state, multi-state, national or global.state, national or global.

Business access a national talent poolBusiness access a national talent pool Business expects to receive high Business expects to receive high

quality services that are consistent in quality services that are consistent in various locations around the countryvarious locations around the country

The NET: VR’s 80 agencies working The NET: VR’s 80 agencies working together around this customer base together around this customer base

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 1919

The Needs Assessment:The Needs Assessment:Dual CustomerDual Customer

BusinessNeeds Assessment

Staff EducationJob Site AnalysisJob Match (KSAs)

Technical AssistanceA.T./ Rehab. Engineering

Reasonable AccommodationFinancial IncentivesRetention Services Customer Outreach

MarketingPlan with Business

ConsumerVocational Assessment

MedicalPsychological

SocialFinancial

LegalAssistive TechnologyIndependent Living

Education Vocational

Individual Plan for Employment (IPE)

Vocational Rehabilitation: Dual Customer Model

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 2020

The NET:VR Business ServicesThe NET:VR Business ServicesDefined by Business CustomersDefined by Business Customers

• Pre-EmploymentPre-Employment• InternshipsInternships• TrainingTraining

• HR/Staffing HR/Staffing • Recruitment & PromotionRecruitment & Promotion• Benefits & CompensationBenefits & Compensation• Retention SupportsRetention Supports• Employee Advisory Services Employee Advisory Services

• AccommodationsAccommodations• Work Site AssessmentWork Site Assessment• Assistive TechnologyAssistive Technology

• Staff TrainingStaff Training• Disability AwarenessDisability Awareness• ADA/Employment LawsADA/Employment Laws

• Diversity ProgramsDiversity Programs• EEOC/Affirmative ActionEEOC/Affirmative Action

• Universal DesignUniversal Design• ContractsContracts• FacilitiesFacilities• Programs/ServicesPrograms/Services• Assistive Technology Assistive Technology • Information TechnologyInformation Technology

• Financial SupportsFinancial Supports• WOTCWOTC• Barrier RemovalBarrier Removal

• Legal & ComplianceLegal & Compliance• Labor Relations Labor Relations • Policy DevelopmentPolicy Development• Risk ManagementRisk Management

• Product DevelopmentProduct Development• Customer ServiceCustomer Service• Marketing & Outreach Marketing & Outreach

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 2121

The Rest of the The Rest of the Story…Story…

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 2222

Empowerment and Empowerment and Self-SufficiencySelf-Sufficiency

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 2323

Challenging Stereotypes Challenging Stereotypes and Attitudinal Barriersand Attitudinal Barriers

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 2424

The Foundations of The Foundations of The Rehabilitation ActThe Rehabilitation Act

Qualified StaffQualified Staff A Comprehensive ApproachA Comprehensive Approach Empowerment and Self-DeterminationEmpowerment and Self-Determination Holistic and Individualized PlanningHolistic and Individualized Planning

Building Careers Through EmploymentBuilding Careers Through Employment Building Lives Through Independence Building Lives Through Independence

and Self-Sufficiencyand Self-Sufficiency

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 Washington TBI ConferenceWashington TBI Conference 2525

Your Contacts in VRYour Contacts in VR

Kathy West-Evans, Director of Kathy West-Evans, Director of Business Relations, CSAVRBusiness Relations, CSAVR– Kwest-evans@rehabnetwork.orgKwest-evans@rehabnetwork.org– 206.999.9455206.999.9455

John Evans, Employer Relations John Evans, Employer Relations Manager, WA DVRManager, WA DVR– EvansJP@dshs.wa.gov– 1.800.637.56271.800.637.5627