View
220
Download
5
Category
Tags:
Preview:
Citation preview
Square Pegs and Round Holes? Vocational Evaluation, Career Assessment and Assistive Technology
Louisiana Rehabilitation Association Pre-conference Training
Janelle Ellis Anthony Langton Erika Peterson Shawn Zimmerman
2010 National Issues Forum 2
Humor slides I will drop in a few humor slides here
and there that we can make use of
2010 National Issues Forum 3
Introductions
Presenters Sponsors Goals and Objectives
2010 National Issues Forum 4
Do you need a technology specialist to use assistive technology in evaluation/assessment activities?
Yes No It depends
2010 National Issues Forum 5
Assistive Technology: Leveling the Playing Field
“For Americans without disabilities, technology makes things easier.For Americans with disabilities, technology makes things possible.”
Mary Pat Radabaugh, 1990
2010 National Issues Forum 6
Technology is often literally the interface between person and environment. The ability to access and use technology is likely to play a pivotal role in functionally redefining disability, and in bridging the wide gulf between what “significant disability” means to the disability community, and what it means today in the business/employer community.
Alexandra Enders, 2004
2010 National Issues Forum 7
Work in progress . . .
For over twenty years efforts have been underway to integrate assistive technology (AT) in vocational evaluation
2010 National Issues Forum 8
Our Shared Vision - AT and VE
Strengthen the field of vocational evaluation
Contribute to improved rehabilitation outcomes
Concept of disability is changing Desire to maximize potential of
persons served AT should be an integral part Impact of Universal Design
2010 National Issues Forum 9
Assistive Technology (AT) and Vocational Evaluation:
In order to remain relevant and to address the barriers to employment faced by people with significant disabilities, vocational evaluation and career assessment practitioners must integrate assistive technology into the evaluation and assessment process to increase employment opportunities; to aid in the removal of barriers; and, to enhance the capability of individuals to accomplish essential skills and functions.
2010 National Issues Forum 10
To accomplish this, vocational evaluation and career assessment professionals must work to ensure that participants have appropriate technology available and have a level of proficiency with the devices to ensure maximum performance within the assessment and evaluation process.
2010 National Issues Forum 11
Technology-Related Services:Technology-Related Services: What VE Programs Could OfferWhat VE Programs Could Offer
AT Information Preliminary
Technology Assessment
Specialized Technology Assessment
Technical Assistance
Comprehensive Evaluation Services
Rehabilitation Engineering/Job Accommodation Services
1991
2010 National Issues Forum 12
AT and Vocational Evaluation
Expands choices and vocational options
Essential for persons with most severe disabilities
Not a Panacea - but AT is a key resource to have available for many persons
AT can integrate and fit well within comprehensive VE process
2010 National Issues Forum 13
VE and AT: Which comes first?
2010 National Issues Forum 14
Background
Vocational Evaluation
Assistive Technology
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
General AT Assessment Specialized Assessments Rehabilitation Engineering Multi-disciplinary
2010 National Issues Forum 15
“Tech Points” in Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation/Assessments
Pre-Evaluation Preparation Initial Interview Evaluation Planning Administering assessment
tasks and activities Conducting career exploration Developing Recommendations
2010 National Issues Forum 16
OPTION I have a set of slides that show AT
being inserted in the VE process. We can toggle and use this if we
want
2010 National Issues Forum 17
VE and AT: Options Available
1. Maintain traditional service delivery boundaries
2. VE programs can infuse AT into existing service delivery
3. AT programs could add vocational assessment into existing service delivery
4. VE and AT can be combined to form fully integrated, hybrid service delivery option
5. Other options?
2010 National Issues Forum 18
VE/AT Programs: Profile and Analysis
Career Assessment Program – Fairfax County Schools
Intensive Evaluation – Stout Virginia DRS
VE - Northern Region RE – Northern Region WWRC – Statewide Center
2010 National Issues Forum 19
BREAK - Part 2 Probably need a break here before we get
into the three approaches? Would be good to spend 10-12 minutes
presenting overview on each of these We can use a flip chart to make
notes/observations as each present It would be good if we can try and hold
questions until the three have been covered
2010 National Issues Forum 20
Assistive Technology Services
Fairfax County Public Schools Janelle Ellis
2010 National Issues Forum 21
Intensive Vocational Evaluation
Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute Erika Peterson
2010 National Issues Forum 22
Vocational Evaluation Services
Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services Shawn Zimmerman
2010 National Issues Forum 23
VE/AT Programs: Analysis and Discussion
Career Assessment Program – Fairfax County Schools
Intensive Evaluation – Stout Virginia DRS
VE - Northern Region RE – Northern Region WWRC – Statewide Center
2010 National Issues Forum 24
VE and AT Services: Survey Findings
Awareness Issues Cost/Funding
Concerns Access to
information and Resources
Logistical Issues Impact on
Standardization
Limited Time for AT
Need for Technical Support
Training Needs VE Process
Restraints
2010 National Issues Forum 25
BREAK
2010 National Issues Forum 26
NOTE The actual survey material is
something that we can use if needed but I’d rather not make it an automatic
We can remove these slides and have them, along with others to toggle to if we need to
2010 National Issues Forum 27
Length of Evaluation
Less than 1 day (19%) 1-2 days (33%) 3-5 days (24%) 1-2 weeks (10%) More the 2 weeks (5%)
2010 National Issues Forum 28
AT Specialist immediately available
yes (34%) no (43%)
2010 National Issues Forum 29
Program/School offers AT services
yes (57%) no (26%)
2010 National Issues Forum 30
Number of cases where AT specialist was used - 24%
2010 National Issues Forum 31
Part 3: Practices, Strategies and Resources This is the wrap-up segment We can use the challenges barriers
that have been identified We can also add to these with
anything from the part 2 segment If we can make this interactive
between the four of us we should able to draw in the audience
2010 National Issues Forum 32
Challenges and Barriers
Perceptions/Limited Awareness Lack of Knowledge of AT Time Available Cost/Funding Staff/Training Issues Logistics and Coordination Lack of Clear Directives Connections to outcomes unclear
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Lack of AT Knowledge
AT specialist allied with or assigned to VE program Ongoing in-service training such as monthly “lunch and learn”
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Time constraints: Limited time available
Option to extend eval for persons w/AT needs
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Limited availability AT resources/services
Establish cooperative agreements w/programs that have AT
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Impact of Standardization: Are we assessing ability to use AT or work aptitudes?
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Staff training
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
VE staff fail to consider AT possibilities
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Attitudes of employers/ educators: Reluctance to consider AT or accommodation options
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Logistical Issues/Multiple Locations
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Budget and Cost Considerations
Create line item in budget for AT (annually) Develop list of needed AT to have ready
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Impact on standardization: Use of AT invalidates assessment instruments?
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Staff Training on AT
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
VE staff fail to consider AT
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Where to go for info on AT?
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Reluctance to consider AT or accommodationsAttitudes of Employers/ Educators
Challenges, Issues and Strategies
Issue/Challenge Approaches/Strategies
Logistics in providing AT to multiple locations
2010 National Issues Forum 48
Technology in the VE Process
All VE programs should incorporate AT information
Comprehensive VE should include opportunity to use/tryout AT
Programs the market AT services need staff with specialized expertise
1991
2010 National Issues Forum 49
Strategic Partnerships and Alliances
Implementing assistive technology services requires resources and technical expertise
Establishing partnerships and cooperative agreements should be one consideration
2010 National Issues Forum 50
Role for Professional Associations and Organizations
National Rehabilitation Association Louisiana Rehabilitation Association VEWAA VECAP RESNA LATAN Other professional organizations or
associations?
2010 National Issues Forum 51
Questions or follow-up:
Pathfinder AssociatesSuite 301712 Woodcreek Ct.Columbia, SC 29212803.767.8043Info@pathfinderassociates.netwww.pathfinderassociates.net
Recommended