Assisting People with Disabilities to Go to Work

Assisting People with Disabilities to Go to Work: ACCES-VR

ACCES-VR’s Mission • ACCES-VR assists individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living through training, education, rehabilitation, and career development 2

ACCES-VR • Eligibility driven • Voluntary • Provides vocational rehabilitation services Funded by State and Federal dollars • 3

Who Should Apply? ACCES-VR assists people whose disabilities make it harder to find or keep a job. • Individuals should apply if they: – Want to work – Have the legal right to work in the U. S. – Would be able to work as a result of services 4

Eligibility for Services • A physical or mental impairment that prevents, or significantly affects one’s ability to: – prepare for, enter into, engage in, retain or advance in employment • Reasonable expectation that services will lead to employment • Disability does not prevent one’s participation in VR services 5

SSI/SSDI Recipients • There is a presumption of eligibility • If there is concern regarding “ability to benefit”, a trial work experience may be necessary 6

Types of Disabilities • • • Low Vision Hearing Loss/Deafness Orthopedic Carpal Tunnel Low Back Strain Mental Illness Respiratory Cardiac Substance Abuse • • • Arthritis Multiple Sclerosis Cerebral Palsy Intellectual Disabilities Allergies Diabetes Learning Disabilities Alcohol Speech Impediments and many more… 7

Other Considerations… • ACCES-VR must look at all disabilities that the individual has, not just the referral disability (Ex. – orthopedic w/alcohol abuse) 8

Other Considerations… • History of felonies or other convictions does not mean an individual has a disability 9

ACCES-VR Services • • • Job Counseling Job Assessment and Development Job Placement College/BOCES or other Classroom Training Vocational or Technical Training • • • Driver Training Occupational License Supported Employment Vehicle Modifications Self-employment High School-to-Work Transition Services Rehabilitation Technology Job Coaching Hiring Incentives Benefits Counseling 10

How are services determined? • Does the individual have transferable skills? • Does the individual have skills that need updating? • Does the individual need retraining? 11

How are services determined? Factors to consider: • Participant interests/aptitude • Limitations and strengths • Job market • Agency policy 12

Services not based on income… • Medical and psychological assessments to determine eligibility • Rehabilitation technology evaluations • Vocational evaluation and interest inventories • Vocational counseling and guidance • Supported employment • Job placement services • Work Try-Outs/On-The-Job Training • Cost-effective Skills Training* 13

Services based on income. . . • Training at approved colleges, universities and training • • programs (*except for cost-effective skills training) College books and supplies Maintenance ($ toward college living expenses) Modifications to homes, vehicles and worksites Telecommunication devices, sensory or technological aids Driver training for professional license** Self-employment stocks and supplies Occupational and business licenses Transportation 14

Job Placement Services • Work Readiness Training • Job Seeking Skills Training • Resume Assistance • Interview Skills Training • Direct Placement Services • Short-term Job Coaching • Supported Employment 15

Financial Incentives • Federal and NYS Tax Credits • Wage Reimbursement programs 16

Worker Retention Services • • Vocational Counseling Consultation on reasonable accommodation Wage reimbursement for retraining Job consultation 17

ACCES-VR is a resource on. . • Disability Awareness • Accommodations • ADA 18

Working with ACCES-VR Success! Employment First Step Training/Job Placement Planning/Goal Setting Eligibility Application Orientation 19

ACCES-VR • 11, 697 individuals with disabilities were successfully employed during SFY 2015 20

ACCES-VR – (Local DO) • (###) individuals with disabilities were successfully employed during SFY 2015 21

ACCES-VR Consumer Rights • • • Confidentiality Mediation Administrative Review Impartial Hearing Client Assistance Program 22

Referrals to ACCES-VR Documentation should include: • Disability(ies) • Impediment(s) to employment • Clearance to pursue VR services and work 23

Specialty Medical Report Form • Completed for referrals with the physical impairments • Must be signed by one of the following: physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant 24

Mental Health, Alcohol, Substance Abuse Report Form • Completed for referrals with the above impairments • Must be signed by one of the following: psychiatrist, psychologist, medical consultant, MSW, LCSW, NP, or PA 25

Rules of Thumb • If in doubt regarding whether or not someone would be eligible for services…refer or… • Feel free to call with ? ’s • Individuals can work with ACCES-VR more than once • Encourage applicant to be proactive in the ACCES-VR process 26

Resources • Job Accommodation Network – www. askjan. org • Northeast ADA Center – 1 -800 -949 -4232 – www. northeastada. org 27

Success Stories…. . • Some of our many success stories can be found at: www. acces. nysed. gov/vr/success-stories 28

Contact Information • Staff name: – Phone number – Email address www. acces. nysed. gov/vr 29