Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation Services
Conference on Exceptional Children
Post Conference Institute
November 1-3, 2010
Alma Price Taylor
Program Specialist – Transition Services
North Carolina Department of
Health and Human Services
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Vocational Rehabilitation Program
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Independent Living Services
Disability Determination Services
Assistive Technology Program
Client Assistance Program
Vocational Rehabilitation
Services
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Vocational Rehabilitation Programs began
in the 1920’s
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To assist disabled veterans to return to work
The agency serves all disability groups
with the exception of individuals served by
the Division of Services for the Blind
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
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State agency that
assists individuals with
disabilities to secure
employment, regain
employment or retain
employment that is
consistent with their
strengths, abilities, and
informed choice!
VR Agency
There are 31 VR Unit Offices statewide
covering all 100 counties
Two Rehabilitation Facilities
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1.
2.
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WorkSource West
WorkSource East
16 Independent Living Offices
11 NC Assistive Technology Regional
Centers
VRS Western Region
Patricia Bland: Regional Director
Kent Millsap: Assistant Regional Director
VR Office
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Unit Manager
Albemarle
Mary Walls
Asheville
Kathryn McIntyre
Boone (IL)
Mike Birkmire
Charlotte
Georgia Gulledge
Forest City
David Herndon
Gastonia
Eric Davis
Hickory
Henry Steele
Salisbury
David Matheny
Sylva
Robbie Benton
WorkSource West
Connie Barnett
Phone
704-982-8124
828-670-3377
828-265-5396
704-568-8804
828-245-1223
704-853-5358
828-294-0120
704-639-7575
828-586-4032
828-433-2423
VRS Central Region
Lenore Guidoni: Regional Director
: Assistant Regional Director
VR Office
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Unit Manager
Burlington
John Marens
Chapel Hill
John Scotten
Durham
Jessie Pickett-Williams
Dunn
Scott Daniel
Fayetteville
Ellen Morales
Greensboro Veta Cooper-Henderson
Henderson
Gordon Agingu
Lexington
Karen Caviness
Lumberton
Sandra Britt
Pinehurst
Beth Beachum
Raleigh (IL)
Kenny Gibbs
Winston Salem
Toni King
Phone
336-570-6855
919-969-7350
919-560-6810
910-892-7040
910-486-1101
336-299-7337
252-492-3141
336-249-0241
910-618-5513
910-295-1530
919-733-7807
336-784-2700
VRS Eastern Region
Charles Bodiford: Regional Director
Jim Pleasants: Assistant Regional Director
VR Office
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Unit Manager
Elizabeth City
Karen White
Goldsboro
Jeff Herring
Greenville
Billy Ross
Jacksonville
Shannon Vitak
New Bern (IL)
Kathy Crow
Rocky Mount (IL) Tammy Murphy
Washington
Chloe Hudson
Whiteville
Jai Robinson
Wilmington
Becky Setliff
Wilson
Elizabeth Brown
WorkSource East
Tara Myers
Phone
252-331-4768
919-778-3795
252-830-8560
910-455-1445
252-514-4727
252-977-2112
252-946-0051
910-642-5406
910-251-2659
252-237-7161
919-731-7956
Federal Legislation:
VR & Education
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Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act
and the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) have continued
to emphasize the coordination of
services to youth with disabilities in
transition from school to post school
activities.
Interagency
Collaboration
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A mutually beneficial and well-defined
relationship entered into by two or more
organizations to achieve common goals.
DVRS Transition Program
“School to Life”
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North Carolina began Cooperative
Programs with Public Schools in the early
1960’s
A written Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) exist between:
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DVRS and DPI-Exceptional Children
91 of the 114 school systems
The NC School for the Deaf (West) and
Eastern NCSD
Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA)
The written agreement outlines the…
 Shared funding and administrative support
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Local Education Agency pays 21.3% of
Administrative Cost of the program & Vocational
Rehabilitation pays 78.7% in federal funds
Dedicated positions
VR pays all the case service costs for serving
eligible students through cooperative programs
MOA allows the…
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Administrators of the School System (LEA) and VR
to outline partnership for their community
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VR staffing needs for school system
Collaboration between VR and school staff
Referral of students to VR
Sharing of information
Joint participation in student’s Individualized
Education Planning (IEP)
Coordination of the student’s Transition Plan into
the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)
Work closely with local transition team including
specific needs in each local agreement
Student: Transition Plans
Post School Outcomes
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School :
Individualized Education Program
(IEP)
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Vocational Rehabilitation:
Individualized Rehabilitation Plan
(IPE)
Teamwork!
Transition Planning
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Student
Family
Special educator
Rehabilitation counselor
Guidance counselor
Vocational evaluator
Therapist
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Adult agencies
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VR Focus in Transition
“School to Life”
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Intensified efforts to appropriately serve more
clients with significant and most significant
disabilities
Focus on collaboration with DPI to meet
transition needs of students including those
individuals in the Occupational Course of Study
Enhance efforts to work with students as
earlier as possible prior to exiting school.
VR Focus in Transition
“School to Life”
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Students at risk of dropout - Work with these
students as early as possible (age 16). If there
is an immediate need work with students
earlier.
Increase Outreach to youth out of school
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Home schooled
Juvenile system
Community agencies that work with youth in
transition
Outreach to individuals that do not have an IEP
Let’s get Started with VR
Eligibility
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An individual with a disability (a physical or
mental impairment, learning disability) which
constitutes or results in a substantial
impediment to employment;
Can benefit from vocational rehabilitation
services in terms of an employment
outcome; and
Requires vocational rehabilitation services to
prepare for, secure or regain employment.
The Individual Plan for Employment
(IPE)
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A plan of services that is developed with
the individual following eligibility
determination and the comprehensive
assessment of the individual’s
rehabilitation needs
Services are planned that will assist the
individual to attain and maintain
employment successfully
All services are planned with the informed
choice of the individual.
Rehabilitation Process
Referral and Application
 Collect Information and Review
 Eligibility Determination
 Development of Vocational Goal
 Individualized Plan for Employment
(IPE)
 Services
 Employment
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Financial Statement
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The individual must meet the criteria for the
financial needs test- to receive certain
services at the expense of the Division
Services are dependent on individual need to
meet the rehabilitation objectives to return to
work
SSI or SSDI recipients automatically meet
program eligibility and financial need criteria
Vocational Rehabilitation
Services
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Assessment & Diagnosis
Mental or Physical Restoration
Training
Job Related Services
Transportation
Placement
Assistive Technology
Job/Home Modifications
Information & Referral
Individuals Served by VRS
School Caseload
NC FFY 2009 -2010
Youth age: 14 - 24 years old
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The agency served 17,724 individuals with
disabilities
Successful Employment Outcome was
achieved by 1,388 for the agency
Major Disability Type
Statewide School Caseload
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Vision
Deaf/Deaf-Blind/Hard of Hearing
Cerebral Palsy
Orthopedic/Amputation
Mental Illness
Autism
Intellectual Disability
 Mild
 Moderate
 Severe
TBI
Other Physical
24
62
235
384
2,235
1,058
5,355
1,239
29
177
452
Independent Living Program
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Resource agency for individuals and support
other agency
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Youth transitioning from school to community
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Home to independent living in community
College or program housing
Youth transitioning from a facility to community
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Youth returning to live at home
Independent Living
Services:
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Evaluation and Counseling
Housing Information
Vehicle modifications
Peer counseling and advocacy
Rehabilitation Engineering
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Personal Assistance Services
Recreational therapy
Assistance with leisure activities
Independent Living Offices
Office
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Albermarle
Asheville
Boone (VR)
Charlotte
Durham
Elizabeth City
Fayetteville
Greensboro
Greenville
Unit Manager
Anthony Cunningham
Kathy Hembree
Mike Birkmire
Donna Lovill
Ron Graham
Valerie Knox
Carolyn Temoney
Mark Steele
Becky Tyndall
Phone
704-985-1172
828-670-3377
828-265-5419
704-568-8804
919-560-6815
252-338-0175
910-486-1717
336-852-4523
252-830-3471
Independent Living Offices
Office
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Unit Manager
Hickory
New Bern (VR)
Raleigh (VR)
Rocky Mount (VR)
Sylva
Wilmington
Winston Salem
Lynn Furr
Kathy Crow
Kenny Gibbs
Tammy Murphy
John Dills
Donny Bracey
Mark Steele
Phone
828-294-0338
252-514-4806
919-715-0543
252-446-0867
828-586-3455
910-251-5810
336-784-2700
Contact Information
Alma Taylor
Program Specialist – Transition
alma.taylor@dhhs.nc.gov
919-855-3572