Joy Tribble, Planner/Evaluator (aka “The BEAM Whisperer”) of the DVRS PPPE section had a very exciting day today as she was able to share her employment story with Governor Cooper and a small audience of advocacy and workforce development leaders, supporters, activists, government officials and the press.   Her speech was one success highlighted as a component of the signing of the long overdue North Carolina response to the Employment First national initiative.   This initiative, now NC law today by executive order,  emphasizes the importance of hiring individuals with disabilities within the competitive integrated NC workforce and calls for the State Government of North Carolina as a key employer  to demonstrate through proactive recruitment and integration of individuals with disabilities within its own workforce.
 
The photo below shows Joy receiving the pen that Governor Cooper used to sign the executive order.
 
More to come about the executive order, but the immediate objective is to let you know that one of our own was honored in a great way today!   
 
Congratulations, Joy!!
 
Phil

Good Carolina Mornin’!
 
Thought it would be nice to start your week off with a summary of the inspiration and important advocacy messages shared at the 2018 C. Odell Tyndall Breakfast held this past Wednesday June 13.    This year’s event was well attended again—thanks for your support with identifying presenters with testimonies and for actively participating.   Simply put, without your support in these ways, this event cannot succeed.     We are hoping to share more specifics of some of these testimonies, but this clip will need to serve as an immediate overview.   As always, you will receive the greatest personal benefit through attending the event directly, but understand how much of a sacrifice that requires.   Regardless, you are the team and we are sharing the best that we can to include you in this experience!
 
Program Summary:

• Alma Taylor, NCRA President: welcome and closing remarks
• Steve Allman, Past President: Tribute to C. O’Dell Tyndall
• Joy Tribble, Chapter III Chair: Invocation
• Areatha Dixon,  DSB VR Testimonial, introduced by Demetria Nickens, DSB Rehabilitation Counselor
• Kristy Brinson, DVRS Business Relations Representative, presented t comments on behalf of Yusef Ewais, Human Resources Director, Goldsboro Milling Company, a regular employer of DVRS service recipients
• Jarrad Wilkinson, DVRS VR Testimonial, introduced by Lawanda Anderson, DVRS Rehabilitation Counselor.
• Robert Sorochak, General Manager, NC State University Athletic Dining Services and employer of DSB service recipients, introduced by Betty Gholston, DSB Chief of Rehab Field Services
• Michael Roland, DSB IL Rehabilitation Program Testimonial, introduced by Larry Schlesinger, DSB Rehabilitation Counselor
• Bryan Dooley, NCATP services recipient (video testimonial) introduced by Page Mikol, NCATP Speech Language Pathologist along with a brief NCATP program overview.
• David Tedrow, owner of Senior Health Insurance Brokers, a 2018 DVRS/Small Business Advisory Council Small Business of the Year Award recipient (video) testimonial of DVRS Self-Employment Services introduced by Phil Protz on behalf of the Durham Unit Office.
  

Hope this summary of the breakfast program and the power testimonies coordinated by various staff help you to capture and live the passion of your profession this week—just like the example C. Odell Tyndall left for us!
 
Warm regards,

Phil Protz & Cheryl Revels
Co - Commissioners

Presenting the 2017 GREAT conference “by the pictures.”  This is only a sampling of the great events that did occur those magical days of learning, renewal, and celebration.   Thanks for making history together and if you were not able to make it this year, for taking the time and interest in reviewing this short presentation made for those who stayed behind to keep our operations going!

Presentations about current trends in opioid use and how the Veteran’s Administration collaborates with DVRS to serve eligible veterans.

Christinia Smith and Samantha Johnson kick off the GREAT awards ceremony bright and early Thursday morning. 

Vickie Winters takes a moment to acknowledge the loss of our fellow teammates among the participating SERNRA states. 

SERNRA President Cheryl Revels and Billy Ross represent those lost from the NC team as the directors look on.

Recipients of the Personal Achievement Award & Professional Achievement Award

Joy Tribble of the NCATP Grant Advisory Council calls up the 2017 NCATP Award Recipients

NCATP Director Tammy Koger helps acknowledge Frank Harden as this year’s Professional/Advocate/Volunteer award recipient

Not shown is Carl Reagan, who was recognized as All Star for Leadership- Western Region

Director Myers introduces Deputy Secretary Susan Perry-Manning who generously gave of her time and shared an encouraging testimony and her heartfelt appreciation for the Rehab TEAM.

Thursday sessions continue—this one featuring the work of WorkSource East and West.  Jackie Tetterton Jasmin Okiror, Sascha Prebor, and Ruth Smith presented for this one. 

In all, there were 34 sessions within the categories of Living, Growing, Working, and Innovating with CRC credits offered to those attending the full sessions.

Closing key note speaker Kristen Monaco from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics provided orientation to the information her agency provides and demonstrated the benefits of using the information.

President Hall shared from the depths of her heart during her closing remarks, then passed the gavel on to President Elect Alma Taylor.

And thanks to Lynn Hodges, Donna Storie and team of eager helpers, there were plenty of door prizes and opportunities to win!

Good Morning VR Team with a Dream,
 
In light that our 2017 GREAT/NCRA/NCATP conference is being held this week, it is most appropriate to feature our exploration of what I consider an inseparably vital relationship to the well-being of the national rehabilitation program and the NC  VR program, its network of partners and we the ministers of the mission.  Following this review we should conclude that the National Rehabilitation Association and NCRA are both incredibly important resources and modalities to meet the needs.  These grass roots organizations will only produce dividends based on what we invest through our individual and corporate engagement and support. 
 
We will explore the record, mainly through our revered REACH publications, to present to you a reasonably concise overview of 62 years of consistent activity of the NCRA.   There may be future presentations where items that were missed during this round will be highlighted.  We certainly have plans to share additional photos and other proud moments, hopefully of more recent years so that the faithful can reflect upon and savor the ground we’ve gained all while investing in each other through building our relationships and celebrating our victories.  These victories worth celebrating can be clients’ lives changed or personally gaining a new perspective on best practices or approaches that are needed for equipping clients for today’s global economy or independent living successes.
 
From the January-February Issue of 1968—the message and mission remains the same—we as a state and national program/system with partners such as training universities, rehabilitation centers, treatment centers, community rehabilitation programs, school systems, and other partners can optimize our impact through active engagement and supporting the grand mission we are part of.  Coming together to train and focus on new trends and areas we need to address together is an essential component of that process.   Engagement helps us all to capture the passion of our profession instead of standing as observers on the sidelines of our careers---and lives.  If you wish to engage your profession fully and become a member of North Carolina’s chapter of the National Rehabilitation Association—follow the link:  https://www.nationalrehab.org/

This was published at a time when membership fees were as follows, which, when adjusted for inflation, is likely in line with today’s membership costs:

The earliest record we have in the REACH publications pertaining to North Carolina’s support of the National Rehabilitation Association (which began in 1925) is found in the November-December 1953 issue, which is only the third issue published.    North Carolina’s chapter had not yet been formed as you will see below, it was formed October-November of 1955.   Highlighted in the topics discussed then are often very relevant to us now.  Note the topic in the blue brackets—how inciteful and a testimony to the fact that this is something that will always be an area where we can improve, since the partners are always changing.   It is a reminder that we must remain at the table of discussion and planning with our partners to achieve the full benefit of the “greater sum” from its partner “parts.”
 
Another point of observation is that NC DVRS’s early leaders attended the NRA conference where they became acutely aware that North Carolina was in great need of rehabilitation centers and NC DVRS had an important role over time in helping establish orthopedic clinics and regional rehabilitation centers, such as the one established in Fayetteville.

Not long after attending the NRA meeting, our then Director Charles Warren began to demonstrate strong leadership and became elected as NATIONAL president of the National Rehabilitation Association.  This was a very proud moment for the Division as indicated in the Nov-Dec 1954 REACH:

The excitement apparently spread with in NC DVRS and shortly thereafter it gave birth to the establishment of the North Carolina chapter of NRA --NCRA—North Carolina Rehabilitation Association – Established October 1955 as per Nov-Dec 1955 REACH:

As indicated in the article above, Charles L. (C.L.) Haney stepped up to become NCRA’s first President and later first Executive Director.   To help you get to know this fine leader, am including some biographical information from the Mar-Apr 1955  REACH issue:

From this Mar-April 1969 REACH, we see that he C.L. Haney was serving as NCRA Executive Director, which was a position separate from NCRA President:

In March of 1967, NCRA was experiencing one of its moments of strength when NC Governor Dan K. Moore became a member of NCRA in appreciation for his support for rehabilitation movement and for movement toward addressing architectural barriers within the state.  This was celebrated in the March-April 1967 REACH issue below:
 

NCRA Executive Director C.L. Haney had a special address in the  July-August 1968 REACH – NOTE THE NCRA MEMBERSHIP OF THAT ERA—924 Members--- that is something we can address together!     

NCRA membership remains an important demonstration of commitment to engage and make VR services and career experience better.   From the Jan-February 1957 REACH:

For this portion of this issue’s exploration of NCRA’s past, we fast forward to the 1971 NCRA conference where you see examples of learning, renewal, inspiration, exposure to larger and changing concepts (reframing), and fellow ministers of the mission re-igniting their collaborative relationships. 
 
From 1971 NCRA Conference Nov-Dec 1971 REACH:

NOTE: Recognition of Harold Thoms -- no doubt affiliated with a key partner then and now --Thoms Rehabilitation Hospital (now CarePartners Health Services)

Note the NRA has subdivisions/interest groups comprised of specialty areas where individuals with similar interests can participate in collectively beneficial activities.  One active example is RPEN, which is the Rehabilitation Program Evaluation Network.   Our own Dr. Jeff Stevens, NC DVRS Chief of Planning and Evaluation,  presently serves as the RPEN representative to the NRA board. 
The NRA subdivision/interest group related to counselor concerns had an NCRA Chapter called NCRCA (NC Rehabilitation Counselor Association).   Here were some of its activities from the final issue of REACH Nov-Dec 1972:

NOTE: Perry Crabtree ended his career in Staff Development Section (now PDT) in the mid-90’s.    Ray Hartley ended his career with DVRS in the early 90’s.
 
Fast forwarding to the late 1970’s and early 80’s, we are including some photos that very few have seen until now.   We are including them as there are several of our readership who may remember these individuals who have since retired.   I hope you enjoy them as much as I did:

Some things have changed little—for the good—squeezing in roomies to save and having a good productive time and enjoying the moment!

Team,

I hope you have enjoyed this exploration of NRA/NCRA and its proud heritage and highlights of important points in its development and some fun reminiscent sharing of some photos of those who did support the mission during their tenure and have retired, passing the mantel on to those of us who elected to join the team.   Will you help carry and strengthen NRA/NCRA to the levels of strength and support they and the Division needs to be superlatives in rehabilitation for those who rely on us?   A sincere thanks for your consideration, partnership, and yes—friendship-- as we move forward in our mission!
 
Warm regards,
 
Phil

Good Morning Fellow VR Ministers of Hope!
 
Thought we would take a moment this morning and explore some VR history that ties to the GREAT/NCRA /NCATP conference, since it is just around the corner.   Annually at the conference typically during the award service is a special event—typically two students attending university programs will receive academic scholarships funded by a scholarship fund named in the honor of a much-endeared former area director T. L. McClellan.   The internet, as useful as it is, was not very helpful in helping us explore his history.  Thankfully, REACH publications and information of long time but recently retired scholarship coordinator Georgia Gulledge helped with friends fill in some of the undocumented history gaps.

We do know that Mr. McClellan began his long career with VR in 1947 following his service during World War II which is summarized in a REACH article from the September-October 1956 edition included below in its entirety:

We also know that later in his career and until his untimely death October, 1968, he served as an Area (Regional) Director for a relatively short period (1966-1968):

As given in an explanation within one of the REACH issues, having six area directors was a method of succession planning during a period when the Division was rapidly expanded.  Standing in the middle was Charles A. Guy who was my Assistant Regional Director of the South Central Region under Larry W. Holland when I began and was my supervisor for six months upon Larry’s retirement around 1995.  It was shortly thereafter when the Division consolidated North Central and South Central regions to become the Central region.   I also was able to work with C.A. McDaniel in a different capacity over the years when he became a driving evaluator/trainer.
Until his untimely death October 13, 1968, T.L. McClellan spent his entire career in the service of the rehabilitation profession and was involved in establishing and supporting the North Carolina Rehabilitation Association across the state.  Mr. McClellan was president-elect of NCRA in 1968; unfortunately, he passed away before assuming Presidency of the association.  He was honored in the next REACH article with top billings.

Finally, in a tribute of honor, members of the rehabilitation profession made contributions toward and established a scholarship fund.   You can see evidence of this effort below in a flyer similar to the VR version of “Coffee News” but with allusions to “Smoking News” which was very common among many of the staff during that time.   Hard to imagine, but it was the practice of many to smoke within their VR offices—this continued until about 1999. 

Transitioning to the topic of GREAT/NCRA/NCATP conferences, I have a scan of the 1974 conference program (the oldest one I have access to) and found it interesting in a few ways:

• The 1974 NCRA annual conference was held in Wilmington at the same hotel as this year’s event—interesting coincidence!
• The theme is consumer involvement “Listen to the Consumer” – listen and partner with the consumer, which was an emphasis of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which required such partnership to be evidenced through signed Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plans (today’s Individualized Plan for Employment).  Also, based on the program, the attendees were focusing on understanding the recent regulations of the era—similar to the point where we are with the WIOA changes, which represent a much more substantial shift in business—I would boldly surmise that we as a team are adapting to more substantial regulatory changes in a shorter period of time than has ever been undertaken—you are to be commended for your perseverance!
• If you look through the program, it looks like there was extensive cooperation and coordination by a lot of teammates who each had a role in the event—a true pulling together as an effective team!
• They had a Governor’s representative in attendance (Philip Kirk, who later became DHHS Secretary and father of Angela Kirk who was a counselor with us for several years).  Additionally, they included in their conference activities the CSAVR executive director.  In recent years, NCRA conferences have also been able to have RSA Commissioners and representatives present and expect that will continue in future years.
  

Well team, I hope this article helped you understand more about T.L. McClellan, a great VR Counselor and Leader who made a tremendous impact within his era.   I hope documenting this better will help us to appropriately memorialize the person for which the scholarship was set up in his honor in 1968.
For fun, I do hope to work in some photos in the next issue from NCRA conferences from a long gone era and one not too distant if I have such materials available—open to receiving any key photos (with year and name info if possible).
 
Please remain mindful that every day spent doing your important work presents an opportunity to contribute toward either positively impacting consumers’ lives forever, or presents an opportunity for you to help strengthen our service delivery programs function with improved quality, impact, efficiency, and optimized customer service.  As we observe from our predecesors, we can achieve tremendous things together and have a fulfilling, fun, and enjoyable time doing it together as a team focusing on that objective of seeing just how excellently impactful we can be!
 
With warm regards,
Phil

Good Carolina Mornin’!
 
Thought it would be nice to start your week off with a short clip of inspiration from the 2017 C. Odell  Tyndall Breakfast held June 7.    This year’s event was well attended with 80 total attendees including 18 legislators—thanks for your support with identifying those with testimonies and for actively participating.   Simply put, without your support in these ways, this event cannot succeed.     I am hoping to share more specifics of some of these testimonies, but this clip will be an overview.   Greatest inspiration will occur with attending the event directly—plan on attending next year’s event!
 
A summary of the agenda:

• Amy Hall, NCRA President: welcome and closing remarks, including recognition of Immediate Past President Staci Griswold.
• Kenny Gibbs, Past President: Invocation
• Steve Allman, Past President: Tribute to C. O’Dell Tyndall
• Alan Chase, Ed.D.,: Testimonial introduced by Kathie Trotter, Chief, Rehabilitation Field Services (DSB)
• Rebecca Sorensen, Blawesome, LLC : Testimonial introduced by Craig Lawrence, Small Business Specialist (DVRS)
• Chris Costa, K&W Cafeteria Cameron Village: Employer Testimonial introduced by Carla Vyskocil, Employment Specialist (DSB)
• Kyle Cashwell, NC Farmer: Testimonial introduced by Gloria Jinks, AT Consultant and AgrAbility evaluator NCATP and Tammy Koger, NCATP Director.
• Stephanie Wells, HR Recruiter, Hickory Springs Manufacturing: Employer Testimonial introduced by Frances Robinson, Western Regional Employment Specialist, DVRS.
• Vovanti Jones: Testimonial introduced by Vickie Winters, Rehabilitation Counselor, DVRS
• Larry Harring: Testimonial introduced by Patricia Sikes, Chief of Rehabilitation Programs and Facilities, DSB.
  

Dorothea Dix (April 4, 1802 – July 18, 1887) was an American activist on behalf of individuals with mental illness who were then referenced as “the indigent insane.”   Ms. Dix, through a vigorous program of lobbying state legislatures and Congress, created the first generation of American Mental Illness Treatment Facilities previously referenced as “insane asylums.”  During the Civil War (War Between the States), she served as a Superintendent of Army Nurses.

In 1848 North Carolina, Dorothea Dix followed her established pattern of gathering information about local conditions which she then incorporated into a “memorial” for the NC General Assembly. Warned that the Assembly, almost equally divided between Democrats and Whigs, would shy from any legislation which involved spending substantial amounts of money, Ms. Dix nevertheless won the support of several important Democrats led by Representative John W. Ellis who presented her “memorial” to the Assembly and maneuvered it through a select committee to the floor of the House of Commons. There, however, despite appeals to state pride and humanitarian feeling, the bill failed. Ms. Dix had been staying in the Mansion House Hotel in Raleigh during the legislative debate. There she went to the aid of a fellow guest, Mrs. James Dobbins, and nursed her through her final illness. Mrs. Dobbins’s husband was a leading Democrat in the House of Commons, and her dying request of him was to support Ms. Dix’s bill. James Dobbins returned to the House and made an impassioned speech calling for the reconsideration of the bill. The legislation passed the reconsideration vote and on the 29th day of January, 1849, passed its third and final reading and became law.  One of the buildings on the Dix Hill campus is named after James Dobbins.

As a result of her influence, a legislative commission was created to establish and locate a suitable site for a state-supported institution to treat individuals with mental illness.

In 1851 the commission declared:
“. . . after carefully examining the whole country in the vicinity of Raleigh, we chose a location west of the city and about one mile distant, which in our opinion was best adapted to that purpose . . . This location has a commanding view of the city and is believed to be  perfectly healthy. The grounds are beautifully undulating and susceptible of improvement.”

The state hired the nationally renowned architect Alexander Jackson Davis a principal in the New York-based firm of Town and Davis, to design a modern facility to accommodate the new hospital.  This architect had previously designed a similar facility in Staunton, Virginia, but the Legislature did not wish to spend as much as the Virginia project had cost.   Note: the facility in Staunton, which retained more of its original architectural features was being converted to historical multi-family dwelling last time I had visited Staunton.

For the next seven years, construction of the new Dix-inspired hospital advanced slowly on a hill overlooking Raleigh, and it was not until 1856 that the facility was ready to admit its first patients, which were admitted February 22, 1856.   The cost of the structure, was approximately $185,000 and the cost to operate the hospital was approximately $30,000 per year.   Dorothea Dix refused to allow the hospital to be named after herself, although she did permit the site on which it was built to be called Dix Hill in honor of her father. One hundred years after the first patient was admitted, the General Assembly voted to change the name of Dix Hill Asylum to Dorothea Dix Hospital.

Dorothea Dix Hospital no longer serves as a hospital as a new Central Regional Hospital in Butner, NC replaced it over a period of time in the mid-2000’s.  The building now serves as office space for portions of DHHS operations.
 
Below is a progression of photos beginning with early photos/renderings (circa 1860’s) to more recent ones:

NEXT ISSUE:   CIVIL WAR ACTIVITY ON DIX HILL (and other related Dix Hill topics)
Thanks for joining us for this edition of our exploration of our rich VR History and our vanishing ties with historic Dix Hill.

Until next time, fellow rehabbers, you are strongly encouraged to make your own history like the great Dorothea Dix did through your commitment to serving North Carolinians who truly need your help and an extra touch of care and compassion.   Capture and live the passion of your profession!

Happy Carolina Friday, Team!
 
For this edition of the VR Heritage tour, we rifled through some of the documents in the “VR Vault” and found something that we felt would be of interest to you—a 20 page document entitled “Orientation Program for Rehabilitation Counselors.”   Dated December, 1966. This particular copy belonged to Fred Hughes, who was assistant regional director in the western region when he retired approximately 1999.
 
Some interesting notations from our review:

• “The growing emphasis on improving the quality of vocational rehabilitation services is bringing into sharp focus the basic importance of staff development.  In the final analysis, no rehabilitation program is better than its staff.  Therefore, to improve services it is necessary to improve and develop the competency of the counselors.”
• “Experience may be the best teacher but even better is experience under the supervision of an experienced counselor.”
• Reading Assignment first two weeks:
• Counselor’s manual  (3/4” thick) ; State Plan; acquaintance with the Federal Manual  (3” thick)
  

• “Counselors must be taught that their hours of work are different from the clerical staff; they are professional people and they have a job to do regardless of the hours….And he should not return until his work is completed.”
• One of the holidays (May 10) was Confederate Memorial Day
• Annual leave:  1.25 days/month or 15 days/year.  No more than 30 days can accumulate.
• Petty leave: 14 hours/year
• Sick leave: 10 days/year no limit to the amount of accumulation
• Comp time—time for time if asked to work on day off or overtime
• Educational leave:   15 days leave with pay max for professional or graduate study not to exceed 5 such leaves over an eight year period.   No travel or subsistence.
• National Rehab Association:  “Counselors are urged to join the National Rehabilitation Association.  This is the professional organization of the agency and all counselors should be members.  Membership is required to attend State, Regional, and National meetings.  Membership fee 1966: $10/year  $200/life membership.
• Master’s degrees:  “Counselors who do not have Masters’ Degrees should start working on that soon after employment.  In the near future, a Master’s Degree may be a prerequisite for the rehabilitation counselor.”  A person could complete all the requirements for a “Master’s Degree in four years by taking a three-hour course each semester and six hours in summer school.”
• Twelve Weeks Orientation: Soon after employment, the trainee will be assigned to a university training center for a formal six-week orientation course.  Graduate level and six or more semester credit hours may be earned.  Counselors with Master’s degrees were exempt.  Woodrow Wilson Rehab Center, Fishersville, VA was one of the training centers.  Attended for six weeks.
• Counselors working with “mentally handicapped” (now known as individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities) attended an additional six weeks of training at UNC.  Two weeks in training, two weeks in the office.  
• Following the successful completion of 12 weeks of the training course, an incremental pay increase was received.  “By this time, a trainee should definitely know whether he intends to make rehabilitation his profession.  He will represent a considerable investment on the part of the State and Federal governments.  Should he be uncertain about his future, he should drop out before too much has been invested.  The supervisor also should know by this time if this is the type of person who will make a good rehabilitation counselor.”
• On the Job Training List:
  • Completion of all forms: Interview, Plan, Reports to State Office.
  • Case finding: “Referral agencies such as Welfare Department, Health Department, hospitals, doctors, schools, Industrial Commission, BOASI, etc.”
  • Follow up of all clients receiving services with recommended follow up intervals (not listed here)
  • Field work—[ looks like the expectation was to get out and beat the street and visit make calls to clients outside of the office]
    • Itinerary well planned
    • Clients and agencies notified in advance
    • Territory to be covered regularly and often
    • Referral agencies contacted by personal visit frequently
    • Training agencies visited frequently
    • Field books carried on all trips
    • Study caseload every week to determine what cases need contact
    • Study history of case before visit
    • Carry supply of all forms, tests, and other needed materials
    • Prompt contact of all referral cases
    • Make report to referral source
  • Case Recording
    • Keep brief record of all contacts with client on the “R-4” in the field books and later recorded in more detail in the folder
    • Make all records neat and readable
    • Monthly marking on the master list of current status of client
    • Complete contact reports in case folder showing services rendered and progress of the case
    • Prompt reply to all correspondence and memoranda.
  • General Casework (condensed)
    • All forms completed in full
    • Complete medical and vocational diagnosis of each client before making plan
    • Adequate psych test scores on all clients when training is planned
    • Each client treated in every instance as a very important person
    • Case records completed daily so that anyone else could resume services if something happened to you
    • Genuine interest in problems of the client
    • Frequent follow up of all clients receiving services—three months interval between contacts is absolute maximum of time
    • Visit home of client early in planning stage
    • Use medical consultant for problem cases
    • Follow through on recommendations of the specialist
    • “From the first interview, establish rapport with the client; encourage and inspire, but do not promise too much too quickly.  Let the client know you will help him to do that which he is capable and anxious to do.  Let him know that is his plan, his rehabilitation, and that you are there to help him become self-supporting.”
    • Do not close case before rehabilitation is assured
    • Provide only those services which client or someone else cannot furnish
    • Be conservative in expenditures in or to provide maximum service to the greatest number of clients.  Giving one person too much may hinder his rehabilitation.
    • Any delay in providing service to client should be explained to him.
• “All work must be approved by “district” supervisor during the first year of probation.”
• “Usually a rehab counselor need to do much traveling to effectively carry out the duties of his position.  He cannot effectively do vocational rehabilitation in his office.  He needs to be accessible to the clients.  If his territory is 20 miles or more from his office, he will need to arrange temporary office space within that territory.  He should be in that office at a regularly scheduled time and as often as his service is needed.  A counselor should plan to spend at least half of his time “in the field.”
• “Whatever the specific duty of the rehabilitation counselor, they all have the one duty in common to perform—to help the clients to become gainfully employed and to do that, there must be a close relationship between the counselor and the client on a one-to-one level.  Vocational rehabilitation of [individuals with disabilities] cannot effectively be done in mass production.”
• “There is no limit to the good a counselor can do if he does not care who gets the credit.”
• The probationary period is usually one year; however, the period may be extended when there is some question about a counselor’s readiness to become a permanent employee.”
• Basic Concepts of Vocational Rehabilitation: “We hold these truths to be self-evident:”
  • Our clients are individuals with problems, and the dignity of each person is to be respected
  • Each person has equal opportunity with another regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, material wealth, education, or social background.
  • Every person has a right to try to work, and that any disability that he may have should not prevent his trying
  • Society should provide an environment which will allow an individual with a disability to develop their maximum capacity in their preparation for work
  • NC DVRS exists only for the benefit of the client, and that all agency activities are geared to promote his gainful employment.
  • Vocational rehabilitation should be so designed as to prevent dependency wherever possible.
  • VR services promote the common welfare and, therefore, rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities becomes a community responsibility.  Liaising with other agencies and disciplines interested in promoting the common welfare becomes standard policy.
  • Costs, numbers, production, and impressions are secondary to helping an individual become employed
  • Staff should strive to grow professionally and neve become static in their accomplishments; that they should always seek better ways to rehabilitation more people.
  • All records pertaining to a client are strictly confidential
  • The counselor’s job is never done until his client is placed in suitable employment (or has achieve their independent living goals)
  • That all people should work to the limit of their ability.
  • That tax consumers should, if at all possible, be made taxpayers, and that attempts should be made to rehabilitate many of the thousands now in institutions or are at home unemployed.
  • That it pays to employ individuals with disabilities!
     
    End of document  (reduced from 20 pages to 4 to help you gain the morsels efficiently in the spirit of this document!)

 
In honor of the excellent work and passion that our Specialist for Transition Services Stephanie Hanes is demonstrating to take the NC DVRS Transition Services to new heights, our final submission for this edition is to share an article from the September-October 1966 edition of REACH touting the NC DVRS Transition Program and partnership with NC Department of Public Instruction that existed even then.