Vocational Rehabilitation Services: 
Service Development 
Presented By: 
Michael Walsh, Ph.D, LPC, CRC, CPRP 
and 
Kimberly Tissot, Executive Director: Able South 
Carolina
 Agenda 
 Welcome and Introductions 
 Your Thoughts and Questions 
 History: Vocational Rehabilitation Services in 
the U.S. 
 Disability Rights Movement 
 Types of VR Services 
 Customization of VR Services by States 
 Customization of VR Services by Consumer
"Tell me and I'll forget; 
Show me and I may 
remember; Involve me and I'll 
understand." 
-Chinese Proverb
 What do you hope to get from today’s 
meeting? 
 How may we be most helpful to you? 
 (Open Discussion)
 VR service development typically follows 
economic need-- 
◦ History as a blueprint 
 Early 1900’s- World War One: Dawn of Industrial Age: 
People with disabilities begin to be seen as needed by 
industry, especially as casualties mount. Medical advances 
allow for increased survival rates, leading to more people 
with disabilities returning from war. 
 Soldiers with Disabilities Rehabilitation Act of 1918-First 
public funding for VR training for new jobs post-disability. 
Expanded in 1920 to include all people with disabilities.
 VR service development typically follows 
economic need-- 
◦ History as a blueprint 
 Soldiers with Disabilities Act and 1920 expansion 
matched programs already in place in many states. 
 Only for people with physical disabilities. 
 State by state model begins to be seen as a way to 
tailor services to local need/custom.
 VR service development typically follows need 
◦ History as a blueprint—State by State model retained for 
feasibility reasons. Optional Blind/Low Vision Services. 
 1940’s-World War II: As more people with disabilities return 
from war, and as industrial needs multiply. Interest in adaptive 
equipment expands as well as interest in expanding the 
workforce to meet need. 
 Expansion of Rehab Act in 1943 led to service eligibility for 
people with mental illness and developmental disabilities, as 
well as blindness/low vision (Optional by state). 
 Expansion of financial support for rehabilitative medical services 
(surgeries, corrective procedures, etc.) in support of 
employment.
 VR service development typically follows need 
◦ History as a blueprint 
 1950’s and 1960’s-Korean War/Vietnam: Interest in 
economic expansion and industrial needs peak. VR 
programs are further expanded as service needs 
become more complex. 
 1954 Amendments to the Rehab Act 
 Funded scientific research 
 Led to development of National Institute on Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)
 VR service development typically follows need 
◦ History as a blueprint 
1950’s 
 Initial results promising: 
 For every $1 spent on VR services at that time, $7 was 
returned in paid taxes by newly employed clients.
 VR service development typically follows need 
◦ History as a blueprint 
 1960’s- 
 Rehab Act Amendments of 1965: Definition of 
disability dramatically expanded. 
 Services had to be “streamlined” and became less 
flexible and choices more limited as expansion grew. 
 People with most severe disabilities were often not 
getting what they needed.
 VR service development typically follows need 
◦ History as a blueprint 
 Early 1970’s: Interest in rehabilitation expands as does 
interest in civil rights of individuals. 
 Completely new Rehabilitation Act of 1973: 
 Dictates VR serve those with most significant disabilities. 
 Counselors and consumers directed to work together to tailor 
VR services to each individual. The Individualized Written 
Rehabilitation Program (IWRP) was born.
 VR service development typically follows need 
◦ History as a blueprint 
 Mid to Late 1970’s: Disability Rights Movement: 
Interest in rehabilitation expands as does interest in 
civil rights of individuals. 
 Disability advocates begin to call for increased 
community inclusion for people with disabilities as well 
as enhanced consumer choice. 
 Independent living becomes a priority.
 Kimberly Tissot, 
 Executive Director of able-South Carolina
 VR service development typically follows need 
◦ History as a blueprint 
 Some of these ideas come to fruition in the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1986 
 Shifted the focus from sheltered workshops to competitive 
employment in typical jobs in the community.
 VR service development typically follows need 
◦ History as a blueprint 
◦ Rehabilitation Act of 1992 
 Created a new section of the Act that detailed many of 
the principles and definitions involved in rehabilitation. 
 Created locally-based state Rehabilitation Councils 
designed to enhance local and consumer involvement 
in the design and implementation of VR services. 
 Increased the role of the consumer and mandated 
training and outcome measures for VR services.
 VR service development typically follows need 
◦ History as a blueprint 
◦ Rehabilitation Act of 1998 
 Increased consumer choice. 
 Streamlined processes. 
 Mandated partnerships between VR and other state 
and federal agencies providing VR services.
 VR is fundamentally based on two guiding 
principles: 
◦ Employment and productivity lead to independence. 
◦ Independence is a fundamental right of every 
American citizen.
 VR service development typically follows need 
◦ History as a blueprint 
◦ Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 
◦ Rehab Act becomes Title IV of the Workforce 
Investment Act 
◦ Provides specific services for people with 
disabilities whose needs are not met by other work-related 
programs.
 Train and Place 
◦ Equipping the consumer with new of different 
knowledge and skills prior to job placement. 
 Involves “work hardening” prior to placement. 
 Instruction 
 Development of skills prior to going on a job site 
 Assumes the ability to generalize information from one 
setting to another.
 Place and Train 
◦ Placing the client on the job site first and allowing 
the client to learn in place. 
 Often used in conjunction with Supported Employment 
(Job Coach accompanies consumer to job site and 
facilitates learning). 
 Utilizes situational assessment for real-time 
information on work performance. 
 Often used for people who have a difficult time 
generalizing information from one setting to another
 Different service types utilize different 
Models. 
◦ Traditional VR services are based on a Train and 
Place Model. 
◦ Supported Employment and many services specific 
to people with intellectual disabilities or mental 
illness are based on a Place and Train model.
 Service Choice is driven by the functional impact of 
disabilities as well as the strengths and capabilities of the 
individual: 
◦ Physical disabilities: Train and Place (Traditional Services) 
◦ Psychiatric Disabilities: Place and Train/Supported Employment 
◦ Learning Disabilities: Train and Place with Situational Assessment 
◦ Developmental Disabilities: Place and Train/Supported Employment 
◦ Vision-Related Disabilities: Train and Place and Initial Supports 
◦ Hearing-related disabilities: Train and Place and Initial Supports 
22
 Supported Employment and Vocational 
Outcomes 
 Individual Placement and Support augmented 
with social skills training superior to 
traditional VR services among people with SMI 
(Tsang, et al, 2009). 
 Supported Employment services are more 
cost-effective than work center-based 
services (Cimera, 2010) 
23
 Supported Employment and Vocational 
Outcomes 
 Among individuals with brain injuries, the type of 
initial placement was the best predictor of 
vocational outcomes and early intervention was 
shown to be a best practice (Malec, et. al, 2000). 
 RCT’s (Tsang, 2009) have demonstrated the 
effectiveness of Integrated Supported Employment 
Services (IPS plus social skills training) as compared 
to IPS alone among people with mental illness. 
24
 Maximizing Natural and Systemic Supports in 
SE Services 
◦ Family Supports 
◦ Infrastructure supports (transportation, social 
decision making) 
◦ Fostering social supports 
◦ Fostering social decision making skills 
25
 Models and types of services are highly 
individualized. 
 Designed to enhance independence and 
function. 
 Development of effective services continues 
to evolve.
 We welcome your questions and comments. 
 For more information, please contact: 
 Michael Walsh, Ph.D, LPC, CRC, CPRP 
 E-mail: michael.walsh@uscmed.sc.edu 
 Phone: 843-304-1662 
 Kimberly Tissot, Executive Director: able South 
Carolina 
 E-mail: ktissot@able-sc.org 
 Phone: 803-779-5121, Ext. 124

Vietnam Delegation VR Presentation

  • 1.
    Vocational Rehabilitation Services: Service Development Presented By: Michael Walsh, Ph.D, LPC, CRC, CPRP and Kimberly Tissot, Executive Director: Able South Carolina
  • 2.
     Agenda Welcome and Introductions  Your Thoughts and Questions  History: Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the U.S.  Disability Rights Movement  Types of VR Services  Customization of VR Services by States  Customization of VR Services by Consumer
  • 3.
    "Tell me andI'll forget; Show me and I may remember; Involve me and I'll understand." -Chinese Proverb
  • 4.
     What doyou hope to get from today’s meeting?  How may we be most helpful to you?  (Open Discussion)
  • 5.
     VR servicedevelopment typically follows economic need-- ◦ History as a blueprint  Early 1900’s- World War One: Dawn of Industrial Age: People with disabilities begin to be seen as needed by industry, especially as casualties mount. Medical advances allow for increased survival rates, leading to more people with disabilities returning from war.  Soldiers with Disabilities Rehabilitation Act of 1918-First public funding for VR training for new jobs post-disability. Expanded in 1920 to include all people with disabilities.
  • 6.
     VR servicedevelopment typically follows economic need-- ◦ History as a blueprint  Soldiers with Disabilities Act and 1920 expansion matched programs already in place in many states.  Only for people with physical disabilities.  State by state model begins to be seen as a way to tailor services to local need/custom.
  • 7.
     VR servicedevelopment typically follows need ◦ History as a blueprint—State by State model retained for feasibility reasons. Optional Blind/Low Vision Services.  1940’s-World War II: As more people with disabilities return from war, and as industrial needs multiply. Interest in adaptive equipment expands as well as interest in expanding the workforce to meet need.  Expansion of Rehab Act in 1943 led to service eligibility for people with mental illness and developmental disabilities, as well as blindness/low vision (Optional by state).  Expansion of financial support for rehabilitative medical services (surgeries, corrective procedures, etc.) in support of employment.
  • 8.
     VR servicedevelopment typically follows need ◦ History as a blueprint  1950’s and 1960’s-Korean War/Vietnam: Interest in economic expansion and industrial needs peak. VR programs are further expanded as service needs become more complex.  1954 Amendments to the Rehab Act  Funded scientific research  Led to development of National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)
  • 9.
     VR servicedevelopment typically follows need ◦ History as a blueprint 1950’s  Initial results promising:  For every $1 spent on VR services at that time, $7 was returned in paid taxes by newly employed clients.
  • 10.
     VR servicedevelopment typically follows need ◦ History as a blueprint  1960’s-  Rehab Act Amendments of 1965: Definition of disability dramatically expanded.  Services had to be “streamlined” and became less flexible and choices more limited as expansion grew.  People with most severe disabilities were often not getting what they needed.
  • 11.
     VR servicedevelopment typically follows need ◦ History as a blueprint  Early 1970’s: Interest in rehabilitation expands as does interest in civil rights of individuals.  Completely new Rehabilitation Act of 1973:  Dictates VR serve those with most significant disabilities.  Counselors and consumers directed to work together to tailor VR services to each individual. The Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program (IWRP) was born.
  • 12.
     VR servicedevelopment typically follows need ◦ History as a blueprint  Mid to Late 1970’s: Disability Rights Movement: Interest in rehabilitation expands as does interest in civil rights of individuals.  Disability advocates begin to call for increased community inclusion for people with disabilities as well as enhanced consumer choice.  Independent living becomes a priority.
  • 13.
     Kimberly Tissot,  Executive Director of able-South Carolina
  • 14.
     VR servicedevelopment typically follows need ◦ History as a blueprint  Some of these ideas come to fruition in the Rehabilitation Act of 1986  Shifted the focus from sheltered workshops to competitive employment in typical jobs in the community.
  • 15.
     VR servicedevelopment typically follows need ◦ History as a blueprint ◦ Rehabilitation Act of 1992  Created a new section of the Act that detailed many of the principles and definitions involved in rehabilitation.  Created locally-based state Rehabilitation Councils designed to enhance local and consumer involvement in the design and implementation of VR services.  Increased the role of the consumer and mandated training and outcome measures for VR services.
  • 16.
     VR servicedevelopment typically follows need ◦ History as a blueprint ◦ Rehabilitation Act of 1998  Increased consumer choice.  Streamlined processes.  Mandated partnerships between VR and other state and federal agencies providing VR services.
  • 17.
     VR isfundamentally based on two guiding principles: ◦ Employment and productivity lead to independence. ◦ Independence is a fundamental right of every American citizen.
  • 18.
     VR servicedevelopment typically follows need ◦ History as a blueprint ◦ Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 ◦ Rehab Act becomes Title IV of the Workforce Investment Act ◦ Provides specific services for people with disabilities whose needs are not met by other work-related programs.
  • 19.
     Train andPlace ◦ Equipping the consumer with new of different knowledge and skills prior to job placement.  Involves “work hardening” prior to placement.  Instruction  Development of skills prior to going on a job site  Assumes the ability to generalize information from one setting to another.
  • 20.
     Place andTrain ◦ Placing the client on the job site first and allowing the client to learn in place.  Often used in conjunction with Supported Employment (Job Coach accompanies consumer to job site and facilitates learning).  Utilizes situational assessment for real-time information on work performance.  Often used for people who have a difficult time generalizing information from one setting to another
  • 21.
     Different servicetypes utilize different Models. ◦ Traditional VR services are based on a Train and Place Model. ◦ Supported Employment and many services specific to people with intellectual disabilities or mental illness are based on a Place and Train model.
  • 22.
     Service Choiceis driven by the functional impact of disabilities as well as the strengths and capabilities of the individual: ◦ Physical disabilities: Train and Place (Traditional Services) ◦ Psychiatric Disabilities: Place and Train/Supported Employment ◦ Learning Disabilities: Train and Place with Situational Assessment ◦ Developmental Disabilities: Place and Train/Supported Employment ◦ Vision-Related Disabilities: Train and Place and Initial Supports ◦ Hearing-related disabilities: Train and Place and Initial Supports 22
  • 23.
     Supported Employmentand Vocational Outcomes  Individual Placement and Support augmented with social skills training superior to traditional VR services among people with SMI (Tsang, et al, 2009).  Supported Employment services are more cost-effective than work center-based services (Cimera, 2010) 23
  • 24.
     Supported Employmentand Vocational Outcomes  Among individuals with brain injuries, the type of initial placement was the best predictor of vocational outcomes and early intervention was shown to be a best practice (Malec, et. al, 2000).  RCT’s (Tsang, 2009) have demonstrated the effectiveness of Integrated Supported Employment Services (IPS plus social skills training) as compared to IPS alone among people with mental illness. 24
  • 25.
     Maximizing Naturaland Systemic Supports in SE Services ◦ Family Supports ◦ Infrastructure supports (transportation, social decision making) ◦ Fostering social supports ◦ Fostering social decision making skills 25
  • 26.
     Models andtypes of services are highly individualized.  Designed to enhance independence and function.  Development of effective services continues to evolve.
  • 27.
     We welcomeyour questions and comments.  For more information, please contact:  Michael Walsh, Ph.D, LPC, CRC, CPRP  E-mail: michael.walsh@uscmed.sc.edu  Phone: 843-304-1662  Kimberly Tissot, Executive Director: able South Carolina  E-mail: ktissot@able-sc.org  Phone: 803-779-5121, Ext. 124