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Discovery Certificate Course

Meet & GreetPresented through the

Florida Center for Inclusive Communities at the University of

South Florida

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Welcome to the Discovery Course

Meet & Greet Agenda: • Introduce Course Instructor • Introduce Discovery Stewards• Steward/Participant Assignments• Individual and Group Technical

Assistance• Contact Information• Important Course Information• Questions and Answers

Course Instructor

Tammy Jorgensen-Smith has a Ph.D. in Leadership in Education with a Specialization in Counseling from Barry University and a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Services from Florida State University. She has been a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor since 1999. Dr. Smith has focused her career on the research and implementation of innovative, best practice models that are designed to promote full inclusion for individuals with disabilities and on activities that promote self-determination and quality in all aspects of life. She joined the University of South Florida in 2007 as a Research Assistant Professor with Florida Center for Inclusive Communities - a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Currently, Dr. Smith holds a tenure-earning appointment as an Assistant Professor in the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Department. Dr. Smith remains affiliated with the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities through multiple research grants.

Lead Discovery Steward

Randy Dicks, hails from Pittsburgh, PA where he has been the Employment and Community Supports Program Manager for InVision Human Services the last 14 years. Randy began his work in Human Services in 1993 working for a homeless shelter in Washington, PA. He was hired as the Development Coordinator overseeing aspects of fundraising, seven thrift stores, the recycling center, and the distribution center. Randy spent time getting the know the residents and their interests. He also looked for unmet needs within the shelter when determining where to place each resident in their work readiness program. It wasn’t until several years later after meeting Norciva Shumpert and Mike Callahan that he realized these actions had specific names such as Discovery and Customized Employment. Randy, and his staff, then spent extensive time in Discovery and Customized Employment training with Mike and Civa. In the programs that Randy manages (112 individuals) he works closely with the Office of Developmental Programs, School Districts, and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). Through OVR InVision conducts Discovery incorporated into their Community Based Assessment and feedback from OVR counselors and the Regional Director has been extremely positive regarding the Vocational Profile as a comprehensive product upon completion of Discovery. Randy is also a member of National APSE (Association of People in Support of Employment First) and serves as the Secretary for the PA APSE Board of Directors.

Discovery Steward

Charlotte Guy lives in Gautier, MS. She has a Master’s in Education from the University of South Alabama and a Specialist degree in education from the University of Southern Mississippi. Charlotte is a National Board Certified Teacher and was a classroom teacher for twenty-seven years. As a high school transition teacher she developed an entrepreneur class for students with disabilities. Charlotte Guy was the first teacher in the state of Mississippi to have a class for students with significant disabilities on a college campus. She has been an adjunct faculty member at USM, a consultant with Marc Gold and Associates, The ARC of Mississippi and Ocean Springs School District. As a case manager, she served on the district assessment team, assisted in data collection for the special education MSIS program, assisted in providing staff development on compliance issues of IDEA, and evaluated Individual Education Programs for compliance.

Discovery Steward

Karen Summers is the occupational therapist at the Model Laboratory School at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY. She was introduced to the wonderful world of Discovery 7 years ago and uses this approach to guide her school-based practice to prepare students for their transition to adulthood. She received her undergraduate and master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University in occupational therapy. Karen has published and presented nationally and internationally on numerous topics including the role of occupational therapy in student transition during her 16 year career. In keeping with the spirit of Discovery, Karen’s interests are traveling with her husband, exploring wineries and Italian cooking. She works best in the afternoon after a walk and providing supports for individuals to meet their potential!

Discovery Steward

Dani Baisden has been working in the field of Deaf-Blindness for over ten years. She began her career as an Intervener, working 1:1 with a Deaf-Blind student in the public school system. Dani is presently working at the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. She is the Deaf-Blind Specialist serving all districts in the state. In this capacity, she consults with all agency staff regarding any client with dual sensory loss. She is also the typing instructor at the Addie McBryde Center for the Blind: Mississippi’s only personal adjustment training center for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. Dani is a program manager and serves on the transition committee at the McBryde Center. She was introduced to Discovery and Customized Employment shortly after coming to work for MDRS. She has been a part of the Discovery community since that time participating in several different projects with MDRS both as a participant and as a mentor. Dani and her husband live in Brandon, Mississippi and expect to welcome home their first child in early 2015 through adoption from India.

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Steward Assignments

Randy Dicks will work with:

•Ray Musgrove Margarita Nodal

•Evelyn Martinez Allyssn Ostwalt

•Essen Carter Phyllis Tessel

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Steward Assignments

Charlotte Guy will work with:

•Jennifer Sublett Sandra Wilson

•Emory Collier Brian Jackson

•Linda Butler Andrea Melvin

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Steward Assignments

Karen Summers will work with:

•Devika Ramkissoon Paula Breen

•Jessica Salois

•Idela Hernandez

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Steward Assignments

Dani Baisden will work with:

•Tonia Morris-Pratt Jodi Matson

•Erma Denard Daniel Acheson

•Christine Hugh

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Individual Technical Assistance• Individual technical assistance will

be through email and telephone on an as needed basis.

• Please inform your assigned Discovery steward of any issues you may encounter (e.g. – getting off schedule).

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Group Technical Assistance

Four group technical assistance calls*:•Profile Part I – March 13th•Profile Part II – March 27th•Profile Part III – April 17th•Profile Finalization – May 8th

*Calls times will be set according to availability.

Steward Contact Information

•Randy Dicks – RDicks@invisionhs.org

•Charlotte Guy – cguy5186@gmail.com

•Karen Summers - Karen.Summers@eku.edu

•Dani Baisden – dbaisden@mdrs.ms.gov

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Important Course Information • Please follow the pacing of the course

schedule provided in the syllabus.

• Online access to course manuals is available through the course web page.

• Job seekers will be assigned through VR during week 3 or 4 of the course.

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Important Course Information • The vocational profile is the product of

Discovery and is the component that VRC uses to assist the job seeker with their employment planning.

• A well-written, robust profile that contains descriptive, non-evaluative content learned through Discovery and properly translated to employment opportunities is required to become certified and to bill VR.

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Important Course Information • All assignments including profile

corrections recommended by your Steward must be submitted in a timely manner to successfully complete the course.

• Rarely, extensions are granted on a case-by-case basis for circumstances beyond the control of the course participant.

Discovery Logs:

•Discovery logs are necessary for reimbursement from VR. They are covered in Module 1.•Additional technical assistance is available through your Discovery Steward.

Marc Gold & Associates© 18

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Please Note:• Module 1 indicates that an optional module 7

will be posted. That information is posted on the web page for easy access.

• Module 1 also indicates a maximum of 15 additional billable hours in direct Discovery activities are allowable when necessary to develop a robust profile.

• Updates to the web page go through USF IT and take time.

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IMPORTANT!• VR recently implemented new screening

requirements for vendors.

• Kim Thomas has contacted each of you with a request for information that is needed for the screening.

• You cannot begin the course until all information is received and clearance is given.

• Please contact Kim to submit documentation and with questions. Email address: Kim.Thomas@vr.fldoe.org

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Questions?