Division of Vocational Rehabilitation or DVR for short Angela Gray Rehabilitation Counselor Division of Vocational Rehabilitation ADVR helps Alaskans with disabilities obtain and maintain sustainable employment ID: 730743
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State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentDivision of Vocational Rehabilitationor DVR for short
Angela Gray, Rehabilitation CounselorDivision of Vocational RehabilitationSlide2
ADVR helps Alaskans with disabilities obtain and maintain sustainable employmentWe are a State Agency - part of the Alaska Dept. of Labor & Workforce
DevelopmentWe Provide services throughout Alaska from five regionsAnc-W; Anc
-ER;
MatSu-Kenai; Northern; SEFind DVR office serves your area:http://www.labor.state.ak.us/dvr/contact.htm
Who Are We? Slide3Slide4
Assisting individuals with disabilities to successfully achieve, LONG-TERM, INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT based on their abilities, strengths, interests, and capacities through an “informed choice” model. the process by which individuals participating in the
VR program make educated decisions about their vocational goals
How does ADVR carry out
our mission & principles?Slide5
Cognitive Disabilities – TBI, IDD/Intellectual Developmental Disabilities, Stroke, Mental Health Disabilities – Ex. Bi-Polar Disorder, Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Personality Disorders, Substance Abuse Disorders, Physical Disabilities – para/quadripligia, herniated discs, DDD, DJD, MS, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel, other physical disabilities effecting employmentSensory Disorders – blindness, deafness, hard-of-hearing, visually impairedExamples of Disabilities Slide6
Must
meet ALL 3 criteria
Determined
by our Master’s level Certified Rehabilitation CounselorsSlide7
ADVR Process
Also See Flow ChartSlide8
What if the significance of the person’s disability becomes an obstacle to receive employment?
Help VRCs to better determine DVR servicesSlide9
It depends…Services are individualized and are unique to both the client’s needs and the service needs of the identified employment goal.Services that are needed (not wanted) to obtain sustainable employmentDVR is required to utilized comparable benefits when appropriate
No services, other than services needed for accurate evaluation, can be offered without an identified employment goal. Many services are based on financial need
What Services are Available?Slide10
Consider Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs… DVR is a planning agency that helps eligible individuals with disabilities develop an individual plan of employment (IPE) and execute said plan. Individuals that are not having their short-term needs met such as safety, food, sleep, water, medical treatment, housing, etc. are not likely to be able to participate and focus on long-term planning which is required when working with DVR.Additionally, in general DVR is not able to support stopgap employment (unsustainable employment). If client’s need immediate employment, DVR is rarely a good fit due to eligibility and plan development timelines.
Clients looking for immediate funding for training or education, again DVR is usually a poor fit given eligibility and plan development timelines. Additionally, all clients transitioning into a new career need to go through documentable career exploration in order to make an informed choice about their career. This is an ethical requirement to provide vocational counseling.
Referrals to DVRSlide11
Client is engaged and stabilized on medical and/or mental health treatment and/or medication.Client has stable housing
Client is open to career explorationClient is available to participate (this may include, but is not limited to multiple all day assessments and/or workshops
)
Client is able (medically, legally, and available (e.g. inpatient)) to participate in work right nowClient is financially stable (has
unsustainable
employment, has financial benefits (SSI, SSDI, APA, etc.), receives assistance from family or friends, or receives assistance from an agency that covers living expenses)
What
a good referral may look like
Referrals to DVRSlide12
Medical insuranceMedical and/or mental health providerMedical release to work (if there are concerns whether or not the client can safely participate in a working environment)Things clients may benefit from prior to applying to DVRSlide13
Send your client to orientation with an ROI (Release of Information). If DVR has an ROI, DVR counselor’s can asked additional questions and referring agencies can contact DVR and find out the reasons for client’s next steps. Best way to make a referralSlide14
Orientation (Consider which office is most accessible to your client)Slide15
Questions?Slide16
ADVR Website: http://www.labor.state.ak.us/dvr/home.htmADVR Offices: http://www.labor.state.ak.us/dvr/office-listing.htm
ADVR Policy: http://www.labor.state.ak.us/dvr/policy_temp.htm
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