Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
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2010 U.S. Total Population – 316.1 Million People
56.7 Million People – Some Level of Disability (18.7%)
38.3 Million People – Severe Disability (12.6%)
Source: 2010 U.S. Census
Total Pennsylvania Population – 12,773,801
Source: U.S. Census 2013 Estimate
Pennsylvania Population Reporting Disability (Age 5 and
Over) – 1,772,000
Source: 2009 American Community Survey
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i. Overview of OVR
ii. Services to Consumer Customers
iii. Strategic Priorities of OVR
iv. OVR Business Services
v. OVR Business Services Spotlight - Giant Eagle
Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
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To assist Pennsylvanians with
disabilities secure and maintain
employment and independence
Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
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STAFF
1,100 staff members statewide
LOCATIONS
Bureau of Central Operations (BCO)
Located at 1521 N. 6th St. Harrisburg, PA 17102
Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (BVRS)
15 district offices statewide
Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS)
6 district offices (co-located with BVRS)
Hiram G. Andrews Center (HGAC) – Johnstown, PA
24/7 comprehensive training/education center
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OVR’s 2013 Federal Report Card:
Individuals who received OVR services:
83,022
Individuals employed in the competitive labor market
with OVR assistance:
9,461
Estimated federal and state taxes paid by these new
workers:
$56,849,811
Average per person cost for a competitive placement:
$4,997
Average hourly wage of individuals employed with
OVR assistance:
$12.75
Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Sources: US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey & RSA’s 2013 Final Report Card for Pennsylvania
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15 BVRS and 6 BBVS district
offices statewide
OVR Central Office in Harrisburg
Hiram G. Andrews Center in
Johnstown
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HGAC is a comprehensive training facility – 12 acres, all under one roof!
Training @ HGAC
In 2013, HGAC provided
training to nearly 400
OVR customers for
careers in 14 different
fields
Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
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Degree Programs
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ASB Medical Office Assistant
AST Architectural Drafting
AST Culinary Arts
AST Dental Laboratory Technology
AST Mechanical Drafting
AST Networking and Telecommunications
Technology
Diploma Programs
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Automotive Technology
Building Maintenance
Business Retail Sales
Culinary Arts-Kitchen Helper
Materials Management & Distribution
Nursing Assistant
Office Technology
Printing Technology
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OVR provides a wide range of services to eligible individuals:
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Diagnostics
Training
Assistive Technology
Vocational
Evaluation
Restoration
Support Services
Counseling and
Guidance
Placement
Assistance
Business Services
Services are provided on a case by case basis, as every individual presents unique goals, skills,
barriers, resources, etc.
Evaluation, counseling and placement services are free of cost to the individual. However, all other
services may require a financial contribution from the individual depending on their income.
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Starting a referral to OVR can be done in several ways:
1. Call the local OVR district office
2. Ask to see an OVR counselor in a CareerLink
3. Submit a referral through CWDS
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OVR is now connecting with consumers, stakeholders &
businesses on Facebook and Linkedin!
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I.
Customer Service
II. Transition
III. Workforce Development
Collaboration
IV. Stakeholder Relations –
Business Services
V. Public Awareness & Outreach
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Hiring OVR Customers makes good Business Sense!
OVR Serves Consumer Customers
AND
Business Customers
Supply & Demand Considerations in VR services
Meeting the employment needs of people with disabilities and the business
needs of employers.
VR works to prepare our workforce talent with skills and technical capacities
to meet the demands of business today and in the future.
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Our goal is to make hiring individuals with disabilities
a seamless process for you, our Business Partners
Our VR staff Single Points of Contact
 Listen to private sector businesses and public employers about their
needed workforce skills – skills that add value to their
organizations’ profitability and bottom line.
 Cultivate relationships with businesses
 OVR’s “Single points of contact” serve as a single, easy goto resource - businesses don’t want to deal with several
government agencies.
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The gold standard of OVR Business Services and
Outreach Efforts is:
To build a dual customer base of:
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Businesses/Employers that trust and choose OVR as their
preferred talent acquisition source, and
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A Qualified/Pre-screened Talent Pool we assist in skills
development so they can access opportunities and make
contributions as a skilled workforce in a competitive labor
market
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How does OVR provide business solutions
and consultation services to business
owners and operators?
• Business Specialists at OVR’s Central Office &
the Single Points of Contact (SPOC) at OVR’s
district offices:
– Plan and build a talent recruitment and on-boarding
support plan to meet business needs.
– Provide consultation on a variety of tasks for
hiring and retention best practices.
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OVR Services for Employers at no cost
Staffing
 Pre-screened, qualified job
candidates
 Help retain current employees
 Accommodation solutions
Accessibility Analysis
 Consultation on job analysis,
worksite modification and
reasonable accommodations
 Info about assistive technology
Financial Incentives
 OJT reimbursement
 Tax credits
Disability Awareness
 Disability etiquette training
 ADA consultation
Networking Resources
 Employment networks
 Business Leadership Network
 Job Accommodation Network
(JAN)
 VR-NET
 JobGateway
Follow-Up Services
 OVR sticks with the customers
 Will help employer & new hire
problem-solve future issues
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Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
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OVR Services for Employers – making connections
To create a coordinated approach to serving
business customers through a national VR team
that specialized in employer development,
business consulting and corporate relations.
Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
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People with significant disabilities earn the equivalent of the GDP
of Saudi Arabia
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Nearly 65 million people with disabilities and family members,
equivalent to the population of France
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American consumers, especially family members, are much more
likely to buy products of companies who employ people with
disabilities
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87% of consumers agree or “strongly agree” that they prefer to
give their business to companies that employ people with
disabilities
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Consumers want to do business with organizations that embrace
a social cause
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Western PA Business
Services
Rob Hodapp, M.A., CRC,
L.P.C.
Western Specialist
Shannon Austin, M.S., CRC,
CWDP P-burgh ADA
John Miller, MA, MRC, LPC,
CRC, CAADC
Business Srv. Supervisor
Eastern PA Business
Services
Ralph Roach, M.S., CRC,
L.P.C.
Division Chief
Vondol Hammond,
Eastern Specialist
Carole Homolash, M.S., CRC
Reading DA
Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
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Thank You!
Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
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