Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act
Engaging Businesses from a Blindness Perspective: New Jersey’s Development of a Business Relations Unit
Over the past 2 years, with assistance from the JD-VRTAC, the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI) has developed a 4-person Business Relations Unit (BRU) dedicated to engaging and serving business as a primary customer, coordinating and providing trainings and technical assistance, organizing targeted hiring events, and facilitating a talent pipeline from one of NJ’s untapped talent pools. By providing a range of services to NJ businesses, our goals are to increase awareness, eliminate misconceptions and stigma around blindness, and reduce barriers to employment for persons with vision impairments. Complementing the developing of the BRU was an additional project goal with a focus on business: to implement strategic training initiatives on the use of Labor Market Information (LMI) as a counseling tool by VR Counselors to facilitate greater informed choice by CBVI consumers. In this webinar, Amanda Gerson from CBVI will discuss the goals of the project, lessons learned, and the successes of participation in the JD-VRTAC Learning Collaborative.
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Building Blocks of Registered Apprenticeship (RA): A Deep Dive into RA Implementation
Geri Scott, Director of Jobs for the Future; Mark Genua, Apprenticeship Program Director at Philadelphia Works; and Elizabeth St. Clair, Apprenticeship Director, at the Urban Technology Project will discuss the key components of Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs. On this webinar, presenters explained:
- Core components of Registered Apprenticeships;
- How RA's are implemented;
- Suggestions for developing RA models that meet the needs of people with disabilities;
- Key RA implementation challenges;
- Tips for RA program replication; and
- The role VR agencies can play in RA programs.
Download the powerpoint presentation slides [PDF]
Download the webinar transcript [DOC]
New Hampshire Vocational Rehabilitation Business Engagement: Success, Setbacks, & Lessons Learned
- the process for creating their Business Engagement structure;
- steps they took to prepare the field to engage business; and
- unique barriers they encountered when integrating the Business Engagement Unit into the field.
Download the Powerpoint presentation [PPT]
Customized Employment: Exploring Opportunities with a Dual Customer Approach
With the support of the JD-VRTAC technical assistance grant, Nebraska VR has initiated staff training on customized employment with a focus on business networking, job analysis, development and negotiation. During this webinar, Paige Rose and Lindy Foley of Nebraska VR will highlight lessons learned from the grant and efforts to align this work with other state and federal initiatives.
The JDVRTAC Project in Illinois: "We're on a Mission"!
This ExploreVR job-driven webinar will focus on Illinois Department of Rehabilitation's (DRS) journey through their JD-VRTAC project to develop a cohesive, strategic business relations structure. On this webinar, presenter John Marchioro will discuss Illinois DRS's rationale for the job-driven project as well as the project overview, communication, training components, how DRS incorporated internal and external resources, evaluation, and factors for sustainability. Illinois’ approach to business services utilizes existing staff in regional Business Engagement and Services Teams, unleashing the talent and dedication of counselors and Workforce partners.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Community College Customized Training Partnerships: Practices and Challenges
Authored By: Katie Allen, Neil McNeil, and Kartik Trivedi
Customized Training: An Inclusive Employment Training Option in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Practice
The Langston University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Research and Capacity Building for Minority Entities (Langston RRTC) and the Job-Driven Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center (JD-VRTAC) are presenting a webinar on how vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs serve people with disabilities through the use of Customized Training (CT) models. The presentation will focus on the challenges faced and benefits gained by people with disabilities from racial, ethnic, and other minority backgrounds participating in CT employment training programs.
The objectives for this webinar are to:
- Identify and explore employment barriers that people with disabilities from racial and ethnic minorities and other diverse populations experience.
- Present CT practices and programs that demonstrate the benefits of CT for employment success.
- Identify outreach efforts that support the development of CT programs and inclusion of a diverse range of people with disabilities in CT.
Download the Powerpoint presentation: Customized Training: An Inclusive Employment Training Option in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Practice Powerpoint (PDF)
Download the list of resources and links mentioned in this webinar: Customized Training: An Inclusive Employment Training Option in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Practice Resource List (Word)
Download the webinar transcript: Customized Training: An Inclusive Employment Training Option in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Practice Transcript (Word)
Making Sense (Cents?): Having a Disability-Friendly Business
By: Russell Thelin
This presentation explains 25 ways to make a business more accessible and disability-friendly.
South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department Partnership with the Statewide Technical College System in South Carolina
Stephen Marshall, Business Services Coordinator and Kim Mann from Business Services unit at South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD) discuss how SCVRD works with their statewide technical college system to design training programs that meet the needs of VR consumers and businesses.
Read more about the practices and challenges that other states shared in this Community of Practice: “Vocational Rehabilitation and Community College Customized Training Partnerships: Practices and Challenges”.