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Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute receives national recognition for its distinguished record of excellence

goersab — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:30:00 +0000

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute receives national recognition for its distinguished record of excellencegoersab October 7, 2025

W.F. Faulkes Award given for contributions to research, initiatives, innovation in program design

Abbey Goers

A national organization has honored the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) at �� for its nearly 60-year record of advancing the field of rehabilitation, which has helped tens of thousands of people with disabilities – as well as thousands of rehabilitation professionals – in all 50 states.

The National Rehabilitation Association presented SVRI with the annual W.F. Faulkes Award during its fall conference on Oct. 2. The legacy award was given in recognition of SVRI ��. evidence-based research, innovative program designs and techniques, and for its high-impact technical assistance in transforming systems, improving outcomes, and removing barriers to employment for people with disabilities.

“On behalf of ��, Chancellor Katherine Frank, and our team at SVRI, thank you. This award is truly a team award and honors the historic legacy and cumulative accomplishments and contributions of everyone who has been a part of SVRI for several decades. We’re standing on the shoulders of giants as we continue to advance their work,” Executive Director Kyle Walker said.

“Congratulations, team members, past and present. Thank you all for the work you are doing or have done to advance the thriving, flourishing and full inclusion of people with disabilities,” he added.

Attending the virtual award ceremony were Walker, SVRI ��. Director of Research Cayte Anderson, Director of Education Beth Gaertner, Director of Client Services Kyle Schemenauer, and staff, as well as former executive directors John Wesolek, John Lui and Mary McManus.

The W. F. Faulkes Award was established by the National Rehabilitation Association in 1954 in the name of its founder and first president.

Major national achievements

SVRI was formed in 1966 through federal grants by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (now the Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services). It has led or significantly contributed to numerous national initiatives, including:

Pathways to Independence
PROMISE
The Medicaid Infrastructure Grant
The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Evidence-Based Practice in Vocational Rehabilitation
The Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center on Program Evaluation and Quality Assurance
The Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center on Targeted Communities
The Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment
The Accelerated Disability Initiative Fund project
The provision of technical assistance through the Pathways to Partnerships Model Demonstration Project

These projects have produced tools, training, and resources that improve vocational rehabilitation service quality and employment outcomes for people with disabilities.

Innovation: Eligibility and Order of Selection Unit

SVRI ��. groundbreaking innovations include the Eligibility and Order of Selection (EOS) Unit, recognized as a national model for improving efficiency and equity in the vocational rehabilitation eligibility processes.

EOS is a pioneering service model that centralizes eligibility determinations using highly trained rehabilitation counselors, standardized assessment protocols and data-driven tools.

It improves timeliness and consistency in eligibility decisions; ensures equitable application of order of selection criteria; frees frontline counselors to focus on employment planning; and generates quality assurance data to enhance compliance and practice.

Impact and prevention of disability-related barriers

SVRI ��. work addresses both direct service improvement and prevention of secondary disabilities through early intervention efforts such as PROMISE and Pathways to Partnerships.

By connecting youth and adults with disabilities to education, training and competitive integrated employment, SVRI helps reduce long-term unemployment, poverty and social isolation. Its projects have reached all 50 states, trained thousands of vocational rehabilitation professionals, and improved employment outcomes for tens of thousands of individuals with disabilities.

SVRI ��. contributions are cited in policy discussions and incorporated into state and national vocational rehabilitation systems, making a lasting impact on service delivery and rehabilitation practice.

More about SVRI

SVRI recently released its Annual Performance Report, stating how its services, education and research benefit the university and Menomonie area communities, as well as its partners nationwide.

“SVRI is not a student-facing office, but we have a major impact on the university, the community, and the nation, including through revenue sharing, professional development and national programs,” Walker said.

Highlights of SVRI ��. 2025 report include:

$4,838,963: SVRI revenue
$781,961: �� ACA rate share of SVRI revenue
14,952: Professionals enrolled in continuing education programs
12,591: People with disabilities served by SVRI
51: States and territories represented in projects and programs
60: SVRI full-time employees

SVRI received a five-year, $8.1M grant for its Accelerated VR Training Program from the U.S. Department of Education last fall.

SVRI offers continuing education opportunities for professionals, such as the Certified Rehabilitation Leader credential through the online National Training Center for Transformational Rehabilitation Leadership program.

It partners with Menomonie ��. Project SEARCH to provide area residents with on-campus hands-on internships, work-based learning experiences and career exploration opportunities, as well as training in independent-living skills, such as interpersonal communications, technology, self-advocacy and financial literacy.

SVRI, along with the university ��. Child and Family Study Center, Disability Services, and Counseling Center, which provide applied learning experiences to students and offer free services to community members and students, will move to Heritage Hall upon completion of the building ��. renovation, which began in early September.

Moving these centers to Heritage Hall will centralize services and make them more accessible for students and the community. A new entrance on the north side of the building will offer privacy and confidentiality, while maintaining the centers’ visible presence in Heritage Hall and ensuring that individuals seeking campus services receive attention to their mental, emotional and behavioral health needs.

�� . counseling, rehabilitation and human services department offers five master ��. programs, including marriage and family therapy, clinical mental health counseling, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling and school psychology, as well as three undergraduate programs, minors and certificates.

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute

All Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute News

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October 7, 2025

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Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) secures $8.1M grant for accelerated VR training program

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National leader: Master ��. program ranked in top 10 in U.S. for rehabilitation counseling

A graduate program at �� has been named one of the best in the nation by a leading publication.

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W.F. Faulkes Award given for contributions to research, initiatives, innovation in program design SVRI team

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Kyle Walker

Kyle Walker is the Executive Director of the University of Wisconsin-Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI). He is responsible to the Dean of the College of Arts and Human Sciences to provide leadership and coordination for this nationally recognized institute to promote service, research, and educational excellence for the benefit of students, consumers, and rehabilitation professionals. Kyle is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Certified Public Manager. He began his vocational rehabilitation career at the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, serving in various capacities for over 15 years. In 2015, Kyle was appointed to the role of Director of the Division of Consumer Services at the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. In 2019, Kyle was appointed to his current position at SVRI. He has served in leadership roles in several professional organizations, including as President of the Utah Rehabilitation Association for three terms and as President of the Utah RehabACTion Network, and is currently on the boards of the Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Association and the Great Lakes Regional Chapter of the National Rehabilitation Association. Kyle has received numerous awards during his career, including the 2014 Utah Governor ��. Award for Excellence in Leadership. He has also had the honor of receiving appointments by three governors: an appointment to the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Licensing Board by Utah Governor Gary Herbert, an appointment to the Governor ��. Task Force to make Utah State Government Be the Model Employer of People with Disabilities by Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, and an appointment to the Advisory Council for Educating Students with Disabilities by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Kyle graduated from Utah State University with a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. He has been married to Linda for 32 years and has three children and five grandchildren.

Full Name: Kyle J. Walker, MRC, CRC, CPM

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Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute Secures $8.1M Grant for Accelerated VR Training Program

gundlachj — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 17:39:31 +0000

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute Secures $8.1M Grant for Accelerated VR Training Programgundlachj September 9, 2024

U.S. Department of Education Awards $251 Million to Expand Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $251 million in Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) grants to 27 organizations across the nation, supporting efforts to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to competitive integrated employment (CIE) and well-paying jobs in the 21st century. The University of Wisconsin-Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) is honored to be one of the grantees, receiving $8.1 million over the next five years to implement the Accelerated VR Training and Capacity Building Program.

This grant will support SVRI ��. mission to enhance knowledge, skills-based competencies, and proficiency among professionals and paraprofessionals working within the state-federal Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) system. The project addresses critical workforce challenges and capacity issues, promoting improved employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona emphasized the importance of this initiative stating, “Today, more than 60 million adults live with a disability – each with unique talents and strengths. In our 21st century economy, we must provide more opportunities for these individuals to achieve their goals for competitive integrated employment, independence, and economic self-sufficiency. Through the Disability Innovation Fund and today ��. announcement, we’ll make progress to overcome historic barriers to employment, while ensuring the varied needs, preferences, and goals of individuals with disabilities remain at the center of our vision for a strong, inclusive workforce.”

The Accelerated VR Training and Capacity Building Program will be delivered through two training tracks targeting key audiences:

Track 1: Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals and Paraprofessionals – This program will provide an accelerated, short-term training option to enhance competencies specific to contemporary rehabilitation needs. Participants will earn a Certificate in Contemporary Vocational Rehabilitation Practices (CCVRP), collaboratively developed with input from state VR leadership. The training will be delivered online, supported by a robust learning platform and a facilitated Community of Practice (CoP) to support practical application of skills.
Track 2: Community-Based Rehabilitation Agencies (CBRA) and Related Providers – This track offers similar training and micro-credentialing opportunities for staff in community rehabilitation and related service agencies, which frequently partner with state VR programs to provide employment-related services.

A third modified training option will be developed for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Partners, whose staff play a critical role in supporting VR consumer outcomes through collaboration and enhanced disability knowledge.

The program represents a collaborative effort between SVRI, the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Employment Resources, Inc. This program will be available to VR personnel and key stakeholders across all U.S. states and territories, expanding the reach and impact of vocational rehabilitation services nationwide.

For more information on the Accelerated VR Training and Capacity Building Program, please contact svri@uwstout.edu.

Visit RSA ��. website for more information about each grantee.

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) secures $8.1M grant for accelerated VR training program SVRI News

SVRI

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI)

SVRI provides solutions to positively impact the future of people with disabilities through services, research and continuing education programs that prepare VR professionals

Service. Research. Education.

The Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) serves as a leader to advance innovative programs and practices in disability and employment through services, research, and education programs preparing vocational rehabilitation professionals to empower people with disabilities to maximize careers and independence.

SVRI contributes to the mission of the University of Wisconsin-Stout by providing solutions to positively impact the future of persons with disabilities and others in the community through services, research and education.

SVRI NEWS...

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Featuring an Exciting New Training Initiative: StaffUp ASAP

View Podcast

SVRI Receives W.F. Faulkes Award

From The National Rehabilitation Association

SVRI Secures $8.1M Grant

For Accelerated VR Training Program

Renaming Lookout Road in Tribute to Local Icons

Hoffman Street named after Dr. Paul R. Hoffman

SVRI Partners with Mathematica on Five-Year Federal Grant

To deliver national Technical Assistance (TA) to state model demonstration projects for transition services benefitting

SVRI News Continued

SVRI archived news

View Archived News

Mission, Vision, Values

Mission: SVRI contributes to the mission of the University of Wisconsin-Stout by providing services, research, and education programs preparing vocational rehabilitation professionals to empower people with disabilities to maximize careers and independence.

Vision: SVRI aspires to be the preeminent national source of expertise, services, research, and professional education programs that advance the art and science of vocational rehabilitation.

Values: SVRI is committed to the University of Wisconsin-Stout mission, vision, values, and student success. SVRI is committed to empowering people with disabilities to maximize career development, independence, and community inclusion. They are dedicated to the advancement of the vocational rehabilitation profession by providing innovative services, life-long professional career education, and academic research that contributes to the profession's knowledge base. SVRI's actions are guided by core principles of trust and integrity; inclusion; valuing diversity; and treating others with respect and kindness.

History of SVRI

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) is a national leader within the vocational rehabilitation (VR) field, promoting services, education, and research for the benefit of students, persons with disabilities, and VR professionals. As part of the University of Wisconsin-Stout (��), a public, nonprofit educational institution located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, it is tax exempt under Internal Revenue Service Section 170(c)1. As Wisconsin ��. Polytechnic, �� is recognized for its applied learning, career focus, and collaborative partnerships and is the first university to receive the Malcolm-Baldrige National Quality Award for performance excellence. SVRI formed in 1966 through Department of Health, Education, and Welfare grants, led by Dr. Paul Hoffman, to create a graduate-level professional VR training program—the first in the world at that level—and an undergraduate VR program—one of 10 in the nation and the only one built on a vocational rather than psychosocial model at the time. In subsequent decades, SVRI expanded its scope to address the evolving needs of the field and VR consumers, as evidenced by its accomplishments and continued innovations.

Services

Soon after its launch in the 1960s, SVRI established a center to provide direct services to people with disabilities and to serve as a clinical training site for �� students. From the first cohorts until today, over 1,400 graduate students and around 2,500 undergraduates have entered the VR field, benefiting both from �� . programs as well as applied learning at SVRI. For instance, in the past five fiscal years, 20 students held paid positions, 11 completed practicums, and 6 interned at SVRI. In the 1980s, SVRI added independent living, rehabilitation technology, and collaborative projects with industry to its service portfolio. By the 2000s, SVRI expanded to sensory (deaf/blind) services, benefits analysis, and vocational evaluation. In the 2010s, SVRI stepped into a key role in the federal-state VR program, which equips over 1 million Americans per year with skills to obtain high-quality competitive employment and community integration. SVRI piloted and still implements a centralized administrative process for the program, determining eligibility and processing applications for Wisconsin ��. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). In its latest service expansion, SVRI announced in 2021 that it would provide work-based learning and career exploration to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with Project SEARCH. The impact of SVRI ��. nationally accredited staff, who actively design and provide services and offer critical referrals and employer connections, is clear: in the past five fiscal years, SVRI served nearly 48,000 residents of Wisconsin, where almost 1 million adults live with a disability and are employed at a rate half that of those without a disability (41% vs. 85%). Specifically, 46,880 worked with the Eligibility and Order of Selection unit for the DVR program, 465 received Work Incentive Benefits Counseling, 420 accessed Assistive Technology, and 181 completed Vocational Evaluation, in addition to Self-Employment and Business Services support.

Education

SVRI began offering in-person continuing professional education, career advancement, and specialized education services in the late 1960s and online training in the 2000s. It is able to achieve nationwide impact with its training and technical assistance for rehabilitation professionals and state VR agencies by providing direct consulting and training while playing key roles in grant-funded technical assistance centers, such as the Administration for Community Living Rehabilitation and Research Training Center, Program Evaluation and Quality Assurance Technical Assistance Center, Quality Employment Technical Assistance Center, and Targeted Communities Technical Assistance Center. SVRI also delivers exam preparation for those VR professionals who wish to become Certified Rehabilitation Counselors through the national Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). As a progression of this offering, SVRI launched the National Training Center for Transformational Leadership in 2021, in partnership with UMass-Boston and CRCC, for those who wish to become Certified Rehabilitation Leaders. All education is informed by the SVRI Continuing Professional Education Advisory Council, which comprises small and large VR agencies in rural and urban states that represent diverse agency types. Over the past five fiscal years, over 28,000 VR professionals from all 50 states have participated in SVRI training events, including staff of state VR agencies, community-based organizations, workforce agencies, community rehabilitation programs, as well as K-12 and post-secondary institutions.

Research

SVRI has served as a resource for and conductor of innovative VR research since its founding. In the late 1960s, SVRI created a center for print publications, which it ran through the 1980s and the onset of online materials in the 1990s, and put out a bulletin that reached thousands of VR professionals across and outside the U.S. SVRI has also sought to publish in peer-reviewed journals and join collaborative grant projects, notably with the Council of State Administrators in VR; Educate, Empower, Employ within Targeted Communities; Include, Respect, I Self-Direct; National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research; Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Evidence Based Practice in VR; Social Security Administration; Telecommunications Equipment Purchase Program; Veterans' Administration; Western Region Recovery and Wellness Consortium; and Wisconsin Board for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Department of Health Services, and Promoting the Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income. In the past five fiscal years, SVRI carefully managed $17 million in grant monies. And SVRI continues to push for research and resource-sharing, debuting the Innovation Inspiration Expo in 2022, an annual event to highlight innovative field-initiated practices.

Kyle Walker became SVRI ��. fifth Executive Director in 2019, leading the four functional units (Services, Research, Education, and Operations) and managing the $5 million annual budget, which is primarily funded through grants and services. The 30+ member team is focused on operationalizing the Chancellor-approved 2022–2026 Strategic Plan by enhancing the three core competencies and focusing on mission and vision: respectively, To contribute to the mission of �� by providing services, research, and education programs preparing VR professionals to empower persons with disabilities to maximize careers and independence AND To be the preeminent national source of expertise, services, research, and professional education programs that advance the art and science of VR.

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute

All Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute News

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute receives national recognition for its distinguished record of excellence

W.F. Faulkes Award given for contributions to research, initiatives, innovation in program design

October 7, 2025

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute Secures $8.1M Grant for Accelerated VR Training Program

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) secures $8.1M grant for accelerated VR training program

September 9, 2024

National leader: Master ��. program ranked in top 10 in U.S. for rehabilitation counseling

A graduate program at �� has been named one of the best in the nation by a leading publication.

May 16, 2023

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National leader: Master ��. program ranked in top 10 in U.S. for rehabilitation counseling

polingj — Tue, 16 May 2023 16:18:20 +0000

National leader: Master ��. program ranked in top 10 in U.S. for rehabilitation counselingpolingj May 16, 2023

Recognition by U.S. News & World Report reflects ‘dedication of the faculty and staff’

A graduate program at University of Wisconsin-Stout has been named one of the best in the nation by a leading publication.

The Master of Science in rehabilitation counseling is tied for 10th in the U.S. News & World Report ��. new rankings of graduate programs the U.S. The program has been consistently among the national leaders in recent magazine rankings.

“This ranking reflects the dedication of the faculty and staff who teach and serve in the program,” said Professor Daniel Kelsey, chair of the counseling, rehabilitation and human services department at ��. “Furthermore, it underscores the high-quality graduates of our program and the work they do across the country.”

Rehabilitation counseling graduate students learn about assistive technology, a driving simulator, at Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute from Becky Albricht, back left. / ��

The ranking is part of the magazine ��. Best Health Schools 2023-24 report.

M.S. rehabilitation counseling, offered online, is geared toward professionals in the field who want to advance their education and career, but it also is for those with limited experience who are interested in the field. Students enhance their skills with two required practicum experiences.

According to the university ��. most recent First Destination report, 100% of M.S. rehabilitation counseling graduates were employed within six months.

The program, which has been offered at �� for more than 50 years, prepares students to work with people who have all types of disabilities including physical, cognitive, intellectual, psychological and/or sensory. Counselors help clients and consumers make decisions, reach their potential and optimize personal, social and economic independence.

Counseling, Rehabilitation & Human Services Department

We prepare students to perform a vital role as counselors who have specialized knowledge and skills for both mental health and rehabilitation service delivery.

Graduates are prepared to take the national Certified Rehabilitation Counselor examination and are eligible to apply for the Licensed Professional Counselor credential in Wisconsin. They may be eligible for similar credentials in other states.

�� . rehabilitation and counseling department also offers undergraduate degrees in rehabilitation services and criminal justice and rehabilitation, a master ��. in clinical mental health counseling and a minor in disability services. The Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute offers education, services, training and research to positively impact people ��. lives.

In 2022, �� began offering a new national industry-recognized Certified Rehabilitation Leader credential through SVRI. Participants in the six-month online National Training Center for Transformational Rehabilitation Leadership program receive training in collaborative, conscious, creative, cultural, inspirational and purpose-driven leadership.

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A graduate program at �� has been named one of the best in the nation by a leading publication. Rehabilitation counseling

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Rehabilitation counseling graduate ‘epitomizes service in her role,’ receives national award

Stillion ��. holistic approach is at the center of her client care

Daniel Kelsey

Daniel Kelsey, Ph.D., CRC, is a professor in the Counseling, Rehabilitation, and Human Services Department at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He serves as the Department Chair and teaches graduate and undergraduate rehabilitation courses. His research interests are focused in the areas of social justice for individuals with disabilities, sociopolitical construction of disability, and power and ethics in the counseling relationship. Dr. Kelsey received a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Brigham Young University, and both a Masters of Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC) and a Ph.D. from Utah State University. He is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and has experience in state/federal vocational rehabilitation and mental health case management.

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Degree: Ph D Disability Disciplines, Rehabilitation Counseling

University: Utah State University

Location: Logan, UT, United States, 2012

Degree: MRC Rehabilitation Counseling

University: Utah State University

Location: Logan, UT, United States, 2006

Degree: BS Psychology

University: Brigham Young University

Location: Provo, UT, United States, 2003

Degree: Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)

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Biederman recognized with February University Staff Employee Appreciation award

polingj — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 20:34:29 +0000

Biederman recognized with February University Staff Employee Appreciation awardpolingj April 10, 2023

Assistant at Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute honored for work ethic, ‘can do’ attitude

Beth Biederman has received the University Staff Employee Appreciation award for February at ��.

Biederman, from Menomonie, is an administrative assistant in the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute. She has worked at �� for 20 years.

The person nominating Biederman stated: “Beth steps up wherever and however she is needed in order to help ��, our staff, students and stakeholders. In her role at SVRI, she is proactive in identifying and investigating issues or needs and presents her team with potential options for solving the problem.

Beth Biederman, left, receives the February University Staff Employee Appreciation award from Chancellor Katherine Frank. / ��

"In 2021 when the Counseling Services Clinic experienced staffing shortages, Beth willingly stepped in to split her position between SVRI and the clinic. This required her to be flexible, dedicated and committed to learning new tasks and skills. Beth sought out training and professional development when she recognized a skills gap that needed to be addressed within her role."

When SVRI hosted its first Innovation Inspiration Expo, a national conference with more than 300 rehabilitation professionals, “Beth was instrumental in the planning and logistics. All of this was on top of her normal job duties such as processing invoices and payments, monitoring client services data and quality assurance functions, and responding to public requests for information on SVRI.

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The Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) serves as a leader to advance innovative programs and practice in disability and employment through partner

"Beth has an outstanding 'can do' attitude toward her co-workers, the public and �� students. When you talk to her, you get the impression that �� is in her very bloodstream. She personifies being Stout Proud."

Each employee of the month receives a certificate of recognition and a gift presented by Chancellor Katherine Frank.

The award, in its 17th year, was established by the Chancellor ��. Office and is co-sponsored by the University Staff Senate.

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Beth Biederman has received the University Staff Employee Appreciation award for February at ��. Beth Biederman award

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New nationwide partnership offers credential to distinguish vocational rehabilitation leaders

First year ��. graduates from 14 states will earn Certified Rehabilitation Leader credential

Beth Biederman

Bethany Biederman is an Administrative Assistant II at the University of Wisconsin-Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI). She serves as administrator for SVRI databases, provides operational support to the SVRI Services team, and coordinates SVRI recruitment and records management. Bethany is also a member of the �� Safety and Workers’ Compensation Committee. Previously, she worked in the �� Learning and Information Technology and Registration and Records units. Bethany studied at �� and recently completed software development coursework at Chippewa Valley Technical College. She has an extensive cookbook collection and enjoys adding to it whenever she travels.

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Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute partners with Project SEARCH to offer career exploration opportunities

goersab — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 16:27:24 +0000

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute partners with Project SEARCH to offer career exploration opportunitiesgoersab October 21, 2022

Hands-on internships help train interns for employment; community information session Nov. 17

Abbey Goers

�� . Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute is teaming up with Menomonie ��. Project SEARCH to provide five area residents with on-campus hands-on internships, work-based learning experiences and career exploration opportunities. This is the second year in a row that �� has sponsored the national program.

The Menomonie Project SEARCH program is a hybrid site, working with people with disabilities, ages 18 to 30, who are either connected to a school district or a long-term support program, such as IRIS-TMG or Inclusa.

This year ��. cohort is receiving training in independent-living skills essential to obtain and maintain successful employment, interpersonal communications, technology, self-advocacy and financial literacy.

Skills Trainer Brooke Vanderwyst, front left, and Co-instructor Em Rainer, front right, with 2022 Project SEARCH interns. / ��

They are completing unpaid internships in multiple campus departments, including Facilities Management, the Sports and Fitness Center, University Dining, University Catering ��. bakery, the University Library Archives and University Recreation. An internship with Human Resources is also being developed.

Kyle Walker, director of SVRI, appreciates the �� employees who worked to make the program successful in its first year. “The leaders from the units where the interns completed work experiences were proactive, thoughtful and worked very hard to make course corrections because of their incredible commitment to �� and our enduring values.”

Caren Husby and Em Rainer are Project SEARCH co-instructors, hired through the Cooperative Education Service Agency #10. They focus on curriculum work, agency collaboration, community resources and program development.

Husby and Rainer are �� alumni. Husby has a child development and family life degree (1983), M.S. in vocational rehabilitation (1986) and special education certification (2003). Rainer has a human development and family studies degree (2019) and is currently pursuing licensure in special education.

Em Rainer, center, and Project SEARCH interns in the SVRI classroom. / ��

They work with Brooke Vanderwyst, a skills trainer with the L.E. Phillips Career Development Center. Vanderwyst works directly with the interns and focuses on systematic instruction, including task analysis, accommodations and training room activities.

“Not only is this program wonderful for the individuals participating, it ��. also an incredible opportunity for our colleagues on campus to work alongside these interns, collaborating with the skills and knowledge they offer, while creating an equal opportunity for all,” said Meghan Lieffort, Human Resources generalist.

Rainer is “grateful for the hospitality, enthusiasm and flexibility that have been shown to us since day one on campus. We are looking forward to the continued collaboration with the university and the many individuals who are dedicated supporters of employing those with disabilities,” they said.

Five participants, three internships

Project SEARCH runs during the academic year, from September through May. Interns receive about three weeks of onboarding and orientation to prepare them for campus. Transportation is provided to and from their training.

At the start of the semester, Rainer and the interns created a mind map of things they wanted to learn throughout the year. Their main themes included aspects of social life and living skills, navigating transportation needs and finances, communication and career goals.

The program consists of three internships in different departments that are approximately 10 weeks long. Rainer creates internships for the interns with their job goals in mind. Each provides career exploration opportunities, with a transition week between internships.

Brooke Vanderwyst, center, and Project SEARCH interns in the SVRI classroom. / ��

During transition week, interns participate in community business tours and reverse job fairs, building social skills, navigating public transportation and increasing their independent living skills.

They are also able to take advantage of services on campus: participating in Career Conference prep events, conferences, resume checks and professional attire sessions.

After completing the first and second internships, participants have the option of an externship within the community. During the third internship, the focus shifts from skill building to transitioning into competitive integrated employment within the community, Rainer explained.

The first class of six area interns graduated from �� . Project SEARCH in May. Multiple interns were hired prior to graduation.

Project SEARCH began in 1996 and now has more than 621 employment sites in 48 states and 705 international sites. Since 2010, more than 37,275 young adults with disabilities have successfully participated in the program and obtained quality employment. Eligible individuals may apply.

Students, families and community members interested in learning more about Project SEARCH are invited to an information session from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, at SVRI in the Vocational Rehabilitation building, rooms 207 and 208.

SVRI serves as a leader to advance innovative programs and practices in disability and employment through partnerships in research, training, education and services.

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Hands-on internships help train interns for employment; info session Nov. 17 Project SEARCH instructors and interns, 2022

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New nationwide partnership offers credential to distinguish vocational rehabilitation leaders

goersab — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 18:19:29 +0000

New nationwide partnership offers credential to distinguish vocational rehabilitation leadersgoersab August 23, 2022

First year ��. graduates from 14 states will earn Certified Rehabilitation Leader credential

Abbey Goers

Public and private sector vocational rehabilitation agency leaders support counseling professionals and constantly work to improve community inclusion and career development services to assist people with disabilities.

To continue their professional education, VR leaders can now earn a new national industry-recognized Certified Rehabilitation Leader credential offered through �� . Vocational Rehabilitation Institute.

Participants in the six-month online National Training Center for Transformational Rehabilitation Leadership program receive training in collaborative, conscious, creative, cultural, inspirational and purpose-driven leadership.

SVRI Executive Director Kyle Walker / ��

“The TRLT curriculum is designed to develop leaders who have the ability to transform organizations to advance the rehabilitation counseling profession and improve system outcomes for people with disabilities,” said SVRI Executive Director Kyle Walker.

The first group of professionals, 17 from eight states, began the TRLT program in January and recently earned their CRL credentials.

Their capstone projects will have meaningful and lasting impacts on their organizations, Walker said.

They represent state VR agencies, the Veterans Administration VR program, a private VR agency, a national center on research materials and the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf Blind Youths and Adults in New York.

�� M.S. rehabilitation counseling alum Ryan Odland, assistant director of field services at the Helen Keller National Center, believes the program was very impactful.

“The mentor that I had was incredible. He was always available for any questions and offered suggestions. The lessons made me think of ways to be able to apply them in my current employment. The capstone project was great, as it gave me a target of being able to apply what I had learned and write out how to do it with expected outcomes,” he said.

Odland and Chris Woodfill, associate executive director of the Helen Keller Center, completed a joint capstone project regarding their goal to make the center an employer of choice for people with disabilities, Walker explained.

"Their ongoing project is examining the organization ��. culture, practices, policies, procedures, climate, systems and other organizational factors to improve equity, diversity and inclusion in their recruitment, hiring, onboarding and continuous recruitment of existing staff to improve employee satisfaction, decrease turnover and improve performance," he said.

West Virginia CRL Cohort with SVRI's Kyle Walker and UMass Boston's Russ Thelin / Kyle Walker

The second cohort began in June and will graduate in December. And a third cohort of VR leaders in West Virginia arranged a private cohort. They will graduate in September.

“This training program, without a doubt, has been the best leadership training that I have had the opportunity to receive in my over 30 years in VR,” said Wayne Harman, West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services.

By the end of its first year, 47 participants from 14 states will have completed the TRLT program. The professionals represent VR agencies in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Registration is open for the fourth cohort, which will begin in January 2023. Eleven professionals are enrolled thus far. The program also counts toward continuing education units to maintain the CRL and offers an alumni peer mentoring program.

The dedicated team behind the program

TRLT is a unique, collaborative nationwide partnership between SVRI, the University of Massachusetts-Boston ��. Institute for Community Inclusion, the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification and the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation. SVRI serves as the curriculum home. The CRL credential is managed by the CRCC.

“This program is the product of many contributors, including our partners at UMass-Boston and the CRCC,” Walker said. “This team of partners brought an incredible depth of applied experience, actually leading rehabilitation organizations in various states and settings. This course is really the product of decades of leadership experience that each partner brought to the table.”

Terry Donovan, SVRI director of education services / ��

Walker believes the successful launch of the national TRLT program is due to the efforts of four of his colleagues at ��:

Chela Cea, research program coordinator, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
Terry Donovan, SVRI director of education services
Jenn Gundlach Klatt, SVRI administrative assistant II
Erin Nierenhausen, SVRI senior instructional specialist

“Chela, Erin, Jenn and Terry ��. outstanding work made the launch of this new program so successful,” Walker said. “On behalf of our partners at UMass-Boston and CRCC, I thank each of them for their contributions. Their blood, sweat and tears made this program possible.”

Cea worked for more than a year on 24 reading assignments, editing to ensure accuracy and improving the quality of the lessons. The quality of the written curriculum was noted by SVRI ��. partners at UMass-Boston, as well as cohort members, Walker said.

Donovan joined the first cohort to gain a participant ��. perspective. He conducted program evaluations in real time as the course progressed. Walker believes Donovan ��. approach to planning helped set up the program for continuous improvement, making it more user friendly.

Gundlach Klatt created a social media marketing campaign and the TRLT website for registration. She coordinates program applications with CRCC, which requires a separate process for participants’ background checks.

Erin Nierenhausen, SVRI senior instructional specialist / ��

Nierenhausen contributed to the curriculum design, leveraging her own leadership expertise, and served with Walker as a TRLT instructor. She created the course in Canvas, an online learning platform; converted written lessons into recorded audio presentations with PowerPoint slide decks and reference links; addressed accessibility and user issues; provided student feedback; monitored chat rooms; and encouraged participation.

“Erin generally made it possible for our students to complete the course successfully,” Walker said. “Her work was valued enough by CRCC and UMass-Boston that they formally issued her the CRL credential in January, making her one of the first three people to earn the credential nationwide.”

The TRLT program is aligned with �� . polytechnic advantage and its three tenets of applied learning, career focus and collaboration. The credential distinguishes graduates within the VR industry.

There are 78 state vocational rehabilitation agencies, as well as agencies in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The state-federal VR program serves an average of 400,000 people with disabilities each year.

SVRI was formed in 1966 through Department of Health, Education and Welfare federal grants. Located in the Vocational Rehabilitation building on campus, it generates more than $4 million annually through grants, contracts and other federal, state and local partnerships. SVRI provides solutions to positively impact the future of people with disabilities through services, research and education programs that prepare VR professionals.

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New national training center provides programming, credentials for vocational rehabilitation leaders

goersab — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 16:06:11 +0000

New national training center provides programming, credentials for vocational rehabilitation leadersgoersab March 14, 2022

�� partnering with UMass-Boston; professionals from 10 states already pursuing new certification

Abbey Goers

The University of Wisconsin-Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute is offering a new, nationally certified professional education program: the National Training Center for Transformational Rehabilitation Leadership.

The six-month online TRLT program prepares vocational rehabilitation agency leaders to support counseling professionals and improve services that assist people with disabilities in career development and community inclusion.

SVRI Director Kyle Walker / ��

“The training curriculum is designed to develop leaders who have the ability to transform organizations to advance the rehabilitation counseling profession and improve system outcomes,” said SVRI Executive Director Kyle Walker.

The first group of professionals in the program, 18 from 10 states, began classes in January.

A nationwide partnership

TRLT was designed in partnership with SVRI, the University of Massachusetts-Boston ��. Institute for Community Inclusion, the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, in collaboration with the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation. SVRI serves as the curriculum home.

“This partnership with ICI and CRCC will substantially contribute to the advancement of the profession of rehabilitation counseling,” Walker said.

“We recognize the importance of committed leadership in rehabilitation programs directed at purposeful, conscious and inspired change,” added TRLT co-founder Russ Thelin, Senior Policy Fellow at UMass-Boston ICI.

Russ Thelin, Senior Policy Fellow at UMass-Boston ICI / Russ Thelin

“Transformational leadership skills, when learned and applied, provide leaders and those they lead to work and advance each other to higher levels of success. Such leadership fosters cultures which inspire greater achievement for rehabilitation professionals, which in turn creates greater success for those they serve,” he said.

“Professionals in this field are clearly hungry for this type of leadership, as are those this profession serves. TRLT and the credentials it leads to is a natural next step for providing additional resources and points of connection to advance this important need.”

Core leadership skills and earned credentials

Led by a cadre of experienced instructor-mentors, the curriculum focuses on six core leadership domains: collaborative, conscious, creative, cultural, inspirational and purpose-driven leadership.

Walker and Erin Nierenhausen, senior instructional specialist at SVRI, serve as TRLT instructors. Walker also serves as a peer mentor, providing leadership to state VR agencies in South Carolina and Utah.

TRLT focuses on rehabilitation leadership research, publishing evidence-based practices, creating and implementing toolkits, and assisting with federal and state grant funded projects.

SVRI Senior Instructional Specialist Erin Nierenhausen / ��

Applied learning activities allow participants to explore real world concepts and tools and to discuss results within their cohort for feedback and support. Participants also work toward a final capstone project that can immediately impact their agency.

The program leads to a national industry-recognized Certified Rehabilitation Leader credential managed by the CRCC. It also counts toward continuing education units to maintain the CRL and offers an alumni peer mentoring program.

“The second cohort will begin in June, and we have already reached our registration minimum with eight registrants from New Jersey and California. West Virginia requested a private cohort group of six that will begin the course in April,” Walker said.

There are 78 state vocational rehabilitation agencies. Federal law allows states to have a single agency or to have an agency that specializes in serving people with visual impairments and an agency that serves individuals with all other disability types, Walker explained. There are also VR agencies in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The state-federal VR program serves an average of 400,000 people with disabilities each year.

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Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute Secures $8.1M Grant for Accelerated VR Training Program

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) secures $8.1M grant for accelerated VR training program

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National leader: Master ��. program ranked in top 10 in U.S. for rehabilitation counseling

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Vocational rehabilitation professionals share innovative solutions at new national event

goersab — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 18:33:29 +0000

Vocational rehabilitation professionals share innovative solutions at new national eventgoersab February 7, 2022

Alum shares insight, family experiences in keynote presentation during SVRI expo

Abbey Goers

Duane Mayes grew to love helping others at an early age. He and his two siblings were born and raised by deaf parents. His father also had physical disabilities from polio. Although he and his siblings are not hearing impaired, American Sign Language is their first language and was the primary language in their home.

Mayes was an active volunteer in high school, helping students with disabilities. He began his career in social services right after high school when he worked as a certified nursing assistant in a nursing home.

Duane Mayes with his siblings, Bill and Bonnie, also �� alums. / Duane Mayes

Now, as director for the Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, he has 40 years of VR experience, including in the private and public sectors, with special education councils, veteran ��. administrations, workers compensation, senior and disabilities services, and health and social services. He has been a rehabilitation counselor for the deaf and served as an adjunct professor at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, teaching beginning and advanced ASL.

With a wealth of experience and rich stories to share, the �� alum recently was a keynote speaker at the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute ��. first Innovation Inspiration Expo, which drew in VR professionals from every state.

In a broad sense, the expo stemmed from the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which funds workforce development and job centers through the 78 VR state agencies across the country, represented by the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Through the act, CSAVR and agencies are charged with finding new ways to serve clients by coordinating workforce development and related programs.

“The expo provided a platform for frontline vocational rehabilitation professionals to share innovative and creative ideas with colleagues across the country to improve the consumer VR experience,” said SVRI Executive Director Kyle Walker.

The virtual three-day expo, held Jan. 24-26, featured keynote presentations and 27 prerecorded presentations, followed by live discussions.

SVRI Director Kyle Walker / ��

Presenters included the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, which shared how it developed accessible STEM curriculums in public schools. Other presentations ranged from innovations in government, small business services, accessible online portals for clients and program resiliency through the pandemic.

“It is easy to get into the rut of maintaining the status quo without consideration of what and how other state programs may be doing the same work with new and innovative practices,” one attendee commented. “This forum allows the opportunity to learn from multiple entities and various perspectives.”

Mayes’ presentation, “Past, Present and Future of Vocational Rehabilitation,” asked attendees to remember what shaped them, what has worked well for them and their clients, and what must be done to align VR with the future.

Evolving to be a leader in vocational rehabilitation

Mayes explained how he evolved to be a leader, rewriting policies and creating new programs and services. He sees the relationships he ��. built as the most important aspect of his career and understands that finding solutions in VR involves ongoing communication with agency partners and clients. He encourages professionals to get out of their offices and engage with employers in the community.

And he emphasized the importance of listening to others and the power of sharing stories, including his family ��. and his VR journey.

Betty and Gerald Mayes / Duane Mayes

Mayes’ insight and awareness of disabilities began at a young age, at home with his parents, and he felt blessed to be able to understand their experiences. “My parents were instrumental in where I’m at today,” he said.

His parents grew up on farms – Betty in central Wisconsin and Gerald near Omaha, Neb. Betty left school in sixth grade because of a lack of accommodations for her deafness. Gerald attended Omaha School for the Deaf, where he felt he thrived in a supportive community.

Gerald and Betty eventually settled in Wisconsin to raise their family. When Gerald felt discriminated against by his employer in his position as a press machine operator for a local newspaper, the family moved to New Holstein, where he found a similar job.

There, Betty worked on an assembly line at a local factory for 35 years, but Gerald felt discriminated against and quit his job. After eight years working for the local paper, he received no pay raise when he knew his co-workers were receiving raises. He had difficulty finding new employment.

The family was unaware of any vocational rehabilitation agencies in the area. So, at the age of 12, Mayes helped his father navigate the complexities of the workforce hiring process, assisting him in his job search. This was Mayes’ first experience in VR, although he didn’t realize it at the time.

Mayes and his siblings attended job interviews with their father to translate sign language for him. They often heard employers remark that they wouldn’t hire a deaf man, even before the family had left the office.

“Our memories of discrimination against our dad in this time are crystal clear,” Mayes said.

Eventually, Mayes called his mother ��. manager at the factory, whom he felt respected his mother, and asked him if he would meet with his father. Gerald was hired on the spot.

“It ��. all about who you know,” Mayes said.

Living in a household with ASL as the primary language, Mayes worked with a speech therapist as a young boy to learn English. In high school, a special education teacher who lived across the street took him under her wing and invited him to volunteer in her classroom.

“I’m thankful to them for helping me evolve to who I am today,” he said.

Mayes at his graduation ceremony. / Duane Mayes

After high school, Mayes held several jobs, including as a certified nursing assistant. He was a roofer for a local construction company, drove tractor and picked oranges in Florida. But he needed direction.

His brother, Bill, was attending �� for his bachelor ��. in vocational rehabilitation, now rehabilitation services, and encouraged Mayes to apply. Their sister, Bonnie, later attended as well.

“My brother was influential in my going to Stout, connecting me with staff and students,” he said. “I felt an absolute sense of purpose.”

Mayes believes the university changed the dynamics of his family ��. life and significantly transformed his professional life and the lives of his siblings. All three have their bachelor ��. in vocational rehabilitation from ��, and Mayes and his sister have their master ��. in vocational rehabilitation from ��, Mayes receiving his in 1982.

So began the next chapter of Mayes’ VR journey and his road to Alaska. His mentor at ��, Professor John See, encouraged him to follow a job lead he’d heard about. Mayes took his very first flight to Alaska and interviewed with Roger Weed at Collins, Weed and Associates, as a private rehabilitation counselor in worker ��. compensation.

The private rehabilitation company, however, would not hire Mayes because he had no professional experience. He returned for a second interview and was denied the job again. Mayes was relentless. He returned to meet with Weed a third time, and when Weed would not speak with him, Mayes sat in the office waiting room for hours until he could speak to him once more.

“I told Roger, ‘I can guarantee you I’m the person you want for this job,’” Mayes said, because although he didn’t have professional experience within a VR agency, he believed that helping his parents, volunteering in the special education classroom, his education at �� and his drive to help people were enough.

Mayes and his wife, Macrina Fazio. / Duane Mayes

Weed gave him a chance. Mayes flew home to Wisconsin. He and his wife, Macrina Fazio – also a vocational rehabilitation specialist – packed their belongings and drove nonstop to Alaska four days later.

“It ��. the same when I’m talking with consumers,” Mayes explained. “When you’re looking to reach a goal, how bad do you want it? What are you willing to do?”

When Betty retired in 1991, Mayes flew home from Alaska to act as her ASL interpreter at her retirement party, as there was no one at the factory who signed. Her managers and co-workers didn’t understand why Mayes volunteered to do this because they thought Betty could hear them well enough.

As she signed her farewell speech, Mayes translated for his mother. She thanked them for their kindness, but she needed them to know that when they talked to her, she would often just smile and nod. Although she felt grateful for her job and the friendships she made, she couldn’t hear them.

Betty ��. manager and co-workers were surprised by her words, as her son voiced her truth. After working with her for 35 years, they discovered they truly didn’t understand her deafness.

Betty and Gerald Mayes in 1991. / Duane Mayes

Gerald retired the same year and was then involved in a pedestrian accident that left him with two broken legs and a broken shoulder. He spent six months recovering in a nursing home. When he was able to return home again, Mayes flew back to modify his parent ��. home and vehicle.

“Having a background in VR made a difference. I could apply my �� education to help my parents so they could live as independently as possible within their home,” Mayes said.

Much of his identity comes from his parents driving him to be the best he can be, he said. “So, why do I do all of this?” he asked toward the end of his presentation, reflecting on all he ��. done in his VR career.

“Because my parents are watching,” was his simple, heartfelt answer.

An expo for frontline professionals

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute provides solutions to impact the future of people with disabilities through services, research and education programs for VR professionals. It serves to advance programs and practices in disability and employment.

Walker and SVRI Director of Education Terry Donovan believe some of the most innovative and creative solutions come from frontline professionals who work directly with clients. However, Walker, who has been in the profession for more than 20 years, has never seen a platform for professionals to present to other professionals.

In developing the Innovation Inspiration Expo, it was key for frontline professionals to be able to attend. The virtual aspect cut travel expenses and enabled agencies to register more staff.

SVRI Director of Education Terry Donovan / ��

At other VR conferences, most attendees are administrators and directors, Donovan noted. “At Innovation Inspiration, 90% of the 348 attendees were frontline professionals, from all 50 states and national territories, meeting our goal of creating accessible material for all VR professionals,” he said.

“Having the prerecorded material was also unique,” Walker added. “Most conferences offer presenters and breakout sessions, and you just can’t get to them all. With the prerecordings, attendees can see everything, and it ��. all on their schedule.”

The presentations were available to registrants for an additional two-week window. SVRI provided 29 continuing education units for certified rehabilitation counselors.

“We truly had a national-scope conference, all managed in little old Menomonie. Stout is on the cutting edge of VR training and evaluation. Innovation Inspiration allowed us to add to that brand, where Stout is the VR place – and future place of VR,” Walker said.

SVRI was formed in 1966 through Department of Health, Education and Welfare grants. Located in the Vocational Rehabilitation building on campus, it generates more than $4 million dollars annually through grants, contracts, and other federal, state and local partnerships.

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Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute Secures $8.1M Grant for Accelerated VR Training Program

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) secures $8.1M grant for accelerated VR training program

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National leader: Master ��. program ranked in top 10 in U.S. for rehabilitation counseling

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Project SEARCH, supporting area young adults, to start in fall on campus

powersp — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 14:01:58 +0000

Project SEARCH, supporting area young adults, to start in fall on campuspowersp June 24, 2021

Program will provide career exploration to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities

University of Wisconsin-Stout has partnered with Project SEARCH to provide work-based learning experiences and career exploration to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities starting this fall.

“Project SEARCH is an ideal fit with ��,” said Kyle Walker, executive director of the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute. “The program supports and reinforces �� . enduring goals and community values. It is hands-on applied learning that prepares students with disabilities to be employment ready and prepare for in-demand careers consistent with their individual abilities, skills and interests.”

Project SEARCH serves high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their last year of high school and out-of-school young adults with disabilities.

About a dozen students from the Cooperative Educational Service Agency 10, which includes school districts from Ladysmith south to Neillsville, Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire, will come to �� in September with their special education instructors and learn employability skills in a classroom and job skills participating in internships on campus, Walker said.

Project SEARCH participants will have internships at the Memorial Student Center and Merle M. Price Commons doing general custodial work and helping to set up conference rooms, University Archives and Area Research Center scanning archive materials and Facilities Management for custodial and maintenance work.

“They will be doing skills development in unpaid internships,” Walker explained, noting the students will not replace university employees.

�� will be the second UW System campus to host the program. UW-Platteville has been a Project SEARCH campus for three years.

Project SEARCH will advance diversity at ��, Walker said.

“Project SEARCH will contribute to �� . efforts to be a welcoming, fully inclusive and tolerant campus,” Walker said. “This partnership enhances our campus community ��. diversity and inclusivity, and it epitomizes the �� commitment to maximizing each individual ��. potential and opportunities. It builds on the long, proud, and storied history of leadership in vocational rehabilitation and disability services at ��.”

Maria Alm / �� photo

Maria Alm, interim dean of the College of Education, Hospitality, Health and Human Sciences, agreed.

“Project SEARCH aligns wonderfully with the work of the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute, our campus commitment to diversity and inclusivity, as well as with several of our highly ranked programs, such as our master ��. in rehabilitation counseling and our undergraduate degree in rehabilitation services,” Alm said, noting U.S. News and World Report in 2019 ranked the master ��. in rehabilitation program No. 4 in the United States.

Project SEARCH provides real-life work-based learning experiences through unpaid internships that are combined with employability skills instruction, soft-skills training and independent-living skills training essential to obtaining and maintaining successful employment. Interns learn and apply skills including teamwork, workplace safety, work ethic, understanding and meeting employer performance and behavior expectations, interpersonal communications, technology, self-advocacy and financial literacy. The yearlong program culminates in supported job development and placement in a career pathway consistent with individual interests, skills and abilities.

The �� Project SEARCH will be staffed by a special education teacher and qualified work skills trainers provided by partner organizations who work directly with the interns. Participant costs are funded by the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and program costs are funded by the participating school districts and other partner organizations.

The �� Project SEARCH is a partnership of the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, L.E. Phillips Career Development Center in Eau Claire, multiple long-term support provider organizations and several local school districts.

Project SEARCH began in 1996 at the Cincinnati Children ��. Hospital Emergency Department. The program has grown from the initial site to over 621 employment sites in 47 states and 10 countries internationally. Since 2010 over 30,545 young adults with disabilities have successfully participated and obtained quality employment. There are 30 Project SEARCH sites in Wisconsin at companies such as Mayo Clinic, Sauk Prairie Hospital, Marshfield Medical Center, Mitchell International Airport, and the Children ��. Hospital of Wisconsin.

Nationwide, employment for Project SEARCH graduates during the 2017-18 school year was 67.1%. That same year, 69% of Wisconsin Project SEARCH graduates were employed.

The Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute provides programs and practices in disability and employment through partnerships in research, training, education and services.

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Hero Caption: �� . partnership with Project SEARCH is an ideal match says Kyle Walker, executive director of the Stout vocational Rehabilitation Institute. / �� photo

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Rehabilitation alumna is new director of Minnesota agency for the blind

polingj — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 16:38:48 +0000

Rehabilitation alumna is new director of Minnesota agency for the blindpolingj October 22, 2019

Jerde found passion for career while earning bachelor ��., master ��. from ��

Beginning when she was a student at University of Wisconsin-Stout, Natasha Jerde had no doubt about her career path — once she discovered vocational rehabilitation.

“I didn’t realize there was this field focused on helping individuals with disabilities find competitive, integrated employment. It combines two things I value most: people and work,” Jerde said.

Her career choice was solidified as a student when she worked full time from Friday nights to early Mondays at the Arc of Dunn County caring for adults with intellectual disabilities. “That job confirmed working with and for individuals with disabilities was my calling,” she said.

Jerde, a native of Colfax who lives in Hammond, earned a bachelor ��. degree in vocational rehabilitation, now rehabilitation services, from �� in 2006. Then she earned a master ��. degree in rehabilitation counseling and vocational evaluation from �� in 2008.

Her career has been on an upward spiral ever since. Last summer, she was named director of Minnesota State Services for the Blind, leading a statewide staff of about 120 people in 11 cities in addition to the main office in St. Paul.

The agency has been her home since her �� days. She interned there and was hired full time in 2008 as a vocational evaluator, then as a counselor for individuals who are deaf-blind. In her 11 years, she gradually took on larger administrative roles, leading to being hired as director.

"We knew we were looking for a driven, experienced leader," said Carol Pankow, assistant commissioner for Workforce Services at the Department of Employment and Economic Development, in a news release. “We found that in Natasha. She carved her own path, emphasizing policy development, program administration and quality assurance as the best way to help individuals become independent and successful in competitive employment."

The State Services for the Blind helps those who are deaf-blind throughout Minnesota, upwards of about 10,000 clients each year. Services include tools and training for employment, support for seniors and producing accessible materials for accessing information, such as Braille and audio.

Jerde is excited about technology and what it can do for clients, like new apps being developed, podcasts, text messaging, the Radio Talking Book Network, distance learning and webinars.

“There are a lot of exciting things I’m looking forward to doing. Vocational rehabilitation is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020, and we want to make sure we’re around for another 100 years,” she said.

“It ��. a big job, being in my 30 ��., but I felt I was well-prepared for it. I’d been given a good opportunity to develop a skill set through on-the-job training and great mentors. I love the agency and the people we work with and work for,” said Jerde, who noted that about a half-dozen other �� alumni work at the agency.

People of all backgrounds, including seniors who experience vision loss, need and value the agency ��. services, she said. “We have had lawyers, a rap star, teachers come through our program. We want them to be able to have the careers they’ve been dreaming about,” Jerde said.

Jerde has a certificate in deaf-blindness from Northern Illinois University and taught an evening sign language class at �� for five years. She also participated in a state of Minnesota leadership development program, Emerging Leaders Institute.

Early life lessons

Her passion for helping people grew out of her childhood, seeing her mother interact with co-workers and customers as a bookkeeper and office manager at a feed mill, Prairie Ag Supply in Menomonie.

“She had a wonderful customer service presence. I saw how she loved people. That ��. what vocational rehabilitation is all about,” said Jerde, who then was Natasha Lemler. She is married to Brent Jerde, a CNC machinist at Waterous Co., and they have one child.

At ��, Jerde found “some of the best instructors I’ve ever experienced, how real they are and how they brought in their own experiences” to the classroom.

One of them was Professor Michelle Hamilton, Jerde ��. academic adviser, program director, professor and work supervisor. Hamilton said �� is “proud” to have Natasha represent its programs.

“As a student, Natasha was a flexible, creative thinker who took appropriate risks and enjoyed a challenge. Even prior to graduation she had carved out a professional niche for her career in the evaluation and assessment of individuals with dual sensory loss,” Hamilton said.

“Natasha was a first-generation college student. In our first class together, I was impressed with her motivation, enthusiasm and overall approach to her studies. She was an engaged learner who willingly took responsibility for her role as a student and employee (graduate assistant),” Hamilton said.

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month. �� also is home to the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute.

###

Photos

Natasha Jerde

Natasha Jerde, who has two degrees in rehabilitation from ��, stands by the Minnesota State Services for the Blind mission statement in St. Paul.

Michelle Hamilton

Beginning when she was a student at ��, Natasha Jerde had no doubt about her career path — once she discovered vocational rehabilitation. Natasha Jerde

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