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October 5, 2023
Provider Matters is now on the Vocational Rehabilitation website! Find recent issues on the Resources for Job Placement Services Contractors page.
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Greetings,
I want to thank everybody who came to In-Service last week. It was a huge success, and it was so great seeing many of our amazing partners and employment providers in person. We were able to share our successes, learn together and tackle some program challenges together as a team.
In October we celebrate both National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act.
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 contained the first civil rights legislation to protect people with disabilities. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, in programs receiving federal financial assistance, in federal employment and in the employment practices of federal contractors. I encourage you to learn more about the activists who helped pass the legislation by watching this video produced by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development: “The 50th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act: Past, Present and Future.”
VR has also helped coordinate some fantastic events that celebrate NDEAM detailed below. We hope to see you there!
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News for providers
Functional Limitation Training Series
VR Learning Collaborative is providing a Functional Limitation Training Series this fall.
All sessions will be from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. Pacific Time via Zoom.
Intro to Motivational Interviewing
VR Counselor Dan Franks is leading a free Intro to Motivational Interviewing training Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sign up on Workday Learning.
Motivational Interviewing is a particular way of talking with people about change and growth, to strengthen their own motivation and commitment. During this introduction to MI, learners are invited to experience the MI Spirit, The Four Processes, and core skills through structured activities and practice in the virtual format. 6 hours CRC credits available.
Understanding SSA Benefits and Employment
Work Incentives Network staff are leading this free 6-hour training that will cover the basics about work incentives and the impact employment has on benefits. The trainings are split into two half-day sessions from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 14 and 15. Register on Workday Learning.
Invitation to complete VR survey
VR invites you to complete our Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA) survey to help us improve VR services.
We are working with the State Rehabilitation Council and staff at the Interwork Institute at San Diego State University to conduct a needs assessment of the state’s residents with disabilities. Your participation will help VR make decisions about programs and services.
your responses will be anonymous; that is, recorded without any identifying information that is linked to you. You will not be asked for your name anywhere in this survey.
Please follow this link to complete the survey. The survey closes October 20.
If you have any questions regarding this survey or would like to request the survey in an alternate format, please contact Andrew Karhan at San Diego State University at akarhan@sdsu.edu.
In addition to the surveys, the university is conducting interviews for this needs assessment. If you would be interested in an individual or focus group interview, please complete the survey at this link: FOCUS GROUPS.
Celebrate NDEAM with these events
This year, Vocational Rehabilitation joins the State Rehabilitation Council, the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services, the Oregon Commission for the Blind and the Oregon Department of Education in organizing a series of in-person and virtual events to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
Virtual stop-and-learn events
Virtual events will be Tuesdays from 12 to 1 p.m. on Zoom. This Zoom link works for all events. You do not need to register in advance.
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October 10: Employment Successes for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
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October 17: Business, Access and Equity: Celebrating Workplace Success
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October 31: Planning for the Future of Employment First
In-person events
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October 12, Phoenix: Family resource night and screening of the documentary film “Intelligent Lives." 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Rose Theater in Phoenix, 745 N. Rose St.
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Oct. 24, Salem: This NDEAM celebration is set for 12 - 1:30 p.m. at the Barbara Roberts Human Services Building, 500 Summer St. N.E. It will be an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the legislative efforts from the 2023 session that support people with disabilities in having greater access to employment opportunities.
For details on each session and accessibility information, go to the NDEAM event web page.
Help us spread the word! We hope you will widely share the event flyer, available in English and Spanish. There will also be shareable posts on the Employment First and ODHS Facebook pages.
Opportunities for career seekers
These are opportunities and events provided by VR's business partners who welcome hiring people with disabilities. If you have questions about any of these listings, please email vr.employmentteam@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
ODHS Employment Fair | Statewide
This hybrid virtual and in-person job fair will be Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. online and at ODHS East Portland branch, 11826 NE. Gleason St. It’s an opportunity for career seekers to speak to ODHS staff from Aging and Disabilities, Child Welfare and Self-Sufficiency programs. Learn about the important work they do and hear about open positions.
COCC Fall JobFest | Central Oregon Community College
- Redmond campus: Oct. 9
- Madras campus: Oct. 11
- Bend campus: Oct 17
- Prineville campus: Oct. 24
All events are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants can explore job and internship opportunities in a variety of industries and connect with employers in-person.
Trades and Technology Career Fair | Hermiston
On Oct. 19, from 3 to 6 p.m., join Worksource Oregon and Blue Mountain Community College for a career fair targeting trades unions, construction and transportation, including technology opportunities in these industries.
Intro to Healthcare Class | Medford
Valley Immediate Care hosts an Intro to Heathcare class the first Thursday of every month from 4 to 6 p.m. at 100 East Main, Ste C in downtown Medford. This 2-hour class prepares students for job shadows and internships. In this class, we cover HIPAA training, Bloodborne Pathogen training, and teach the students how to get the most out of their experience.
NDEAM Job Fair | Portland State University
Oct. 26, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Memorial Student Union Smith Memorial Ballroom, 1825 Southwest Broadway. Sponsored by Incight, this is an opportunity for job seekers and employers to celebrate, learn and network.
Opportunities for youth
Central Oregon College Fair | Redmond High School
Oct. 10, 9 to 11:30 a.m., 675 SW Rimrock Way, Redmond. Free and open to the public, this PNACAC fair will connect students and families with colleges and universities.
Scholarship Opportunity | Statewide
Applications close Oct. 17 for a $2,000 scholarship from disABLEDperson.com. To participate, students must register and write an essay based on the prompt found on their website. See site for details.
Job Placement Services Contract Training (JPSCT)
Here is a list of upcoming trainings. If you have questions, please contact VR Training at VR.Training@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
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