December 3, 1996

 

MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRICT SUPERVISORS AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELORS

 

From:   Susan Sepe, Coordinator of Special Services

 

Subject: Job Readiness Services Provided by Rehabilitation Facilities

 

Attached is a copy of a letter sent to each rehabilitation facility who currently offer Personal and Vocational Adjustment (PVA) services. In an effort to place more emphasis on employment, we have requested that each facility assist us by conducting mock interviews, providing job shadowing experiences, and developing a resume for each consumer who receives PVA services through their facility. The goal is to assist consumers in acquiring more realistic expectations about the world of work and to develop the skills needed when seeking employment, either for permanent employment and/or for a summer job.

 

Please communicate with facility staff and your consumers throughout their PVA programs to insure that everyone is clear about the career exploration activities for each individual consumer. We will be interested in any feedback you receive from consumers and the facilities about these employment activities. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.

 

SS:jd

Attachment

cc: Sally Howard 

 

 

 

September 23, 1996

 

Jim Cordell, Executive Director Lions World Services for the Blind 2811 Fair Park Blvd.

Little Rock, AR 72204

 

Dear Mr. Cordell:

 

As you are aware, the overall theme and emphasis of the Rehabilitation Act as amended in 1992 is enabling persons with disabilities to become gainfully employed. Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) is taking that mandate very seriously. RSB is continuing to examine areas that we can improve that will positively affect consumers in obtaining employment. As a community based rehabilitation facility who contracts with RSB to provide comprehensive personal and vocational adjustment services, we feel that you represent a key component to the rehabilitation process for a number of our consumers.

 

Thus, RSB hopes to work even more effectively with our PVA contractors in assisting consumers in obtaining the skills and tools necessary to successfully obtain employment. Therefore, we are now requesting that the following activities occur with each RSB consumer prior to exiting your program, as follows:

 

1) Job Shadowing Activities

 

We're asking that each RSB consumer will participate in a minimum of three job shadowing experiences in his/her area of interest. This activity will assist a consumer in making a career selection as well as give a realistic view of the job expectations in an actual work setting. The consumer could gather pertinent information such as the salary range, education and work experience requirements, company benefits (medical, vacation, retirement), adaptive equipment or job modifications that may be necessary to do this type of job, etc. This information may be more meaningful if provided by the actual employer or employee than coming from a textbook or by agency staff.

 

2) Mock Interviews

 

We're asking that each RSB consumer will participate in mock interviews. Many consumers do not have the interviewing skills necessary to sell themselves to a perspective employer even if the consumer possesses the technical skills. This activity is also beneficial for those consumers who still have a lengthy rehabilitation plan to obtain his/her vocational goal. Interviewing skills are beneficial in acquiring part‑time and/or summer employment which is encouraged in order to gain valuable work experience. We would like to see tools such as video or audio taping used during the mock interviews as they are a helpful means for a consumer to more objectively critique his/her performance.

 

3) Resume

 

We're asking that each RSB consumer will have a professional‑looking resume done prior to leaving the facility. The resume can be used by the consumer in seeking employment either on a permanent or temporary basis. We are requesting that a copy of the resume be attached to the final bill submitted to our State Office.

 

We gratefully appreciate your cooperation in working with our consumers to prepare for the world of work and welcome input from your program. If you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter further, please call me at (314) 877‑0158 or (573) 751‑4807.

 

Thanks for your help in working with our agency and our consumers on the above issues.

 

 

Sincerely,

Susan Sepe

Coordinator of Special Services

SS:jd