The Illinois Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Training Project is leading the charge in transforming employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities across the state. In partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services (IDHS-DRS), the Illinois VR Training Project helps meet the goals of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by providing comprehensive training and tools to vocational rehabilitation professionals.
At the heart of the project, the Illinois Institute for Rehabilitation and Employment Research (IIRER) partners with IDHS administration in designing tailored training programs and other much-needed resources that strengthen the ability of VR personnel to support individuals with disabilities who seeking to enter or re-enter the workforce. The Illinois VR Training Project directly serves vocational rehabilitation professionals throughout the state, working in tandem with IDHS-DRS’ training team to develop and implement useful training plans focused on meeting the professional development needs of VR professionals.
The project primarily focuses its efforts on assisting with the work driven by Title IV of WIOA, which amended Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, addressing vocational rehabilitation services. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act was designed to drive improvements to the public workforce development system in the United States by helping individuals with barriers to employment — including individuals with disabilities — overcome those barriers and achieve meaningful, high-quality work, while simultaneously helping businesses hire and retain skilled workers.
Title IV emphasizes three key areas: enhancing the coordination of state VR programs with other associated stakeholders, expanding access to competitive integrated employment (CIE), and improving service to students and youths with disabilities. The Illinois VR Training Project keeps all three emphases at the center of its work, doing so by providing training on topics such as pre-employment transition services, various disability populations, achieving CIE and understanding employer perspectives on hiring people with disabilities.
Training provided to vocational rehabilitation professionals through the Illinois VR Training Project is conducted via a variety of means, including live and recorded webinars, in-person symposia, fact sheets and research briefs. Content areas range from the core domains of VR counseling — for example, the medical aspects of disability and chronic illness, career development and psychosocial adaptation, among others — to leadership training. Training topics are decided upon based on needs assessment, core curriculum for rehabilitation counselors and feedback from training recipients.
Training sessions are pre-approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) continuing education units (CEUs), with some sessions qualifying as social work CEUs, enabling them to be used for professional development for four different types of licensure.
Dr. Xiaolei Tang, research and training specialist, leads the training unit at IIRER, developing comprehensive training agendas and implementing training activities across the Institute’s various projects, including the Illinois VR Training Project. She has been pleased with the success of the project thus far, while acknowledging that there are still improvements to be made. “We have been delivering high-quality trainings [and] have always received positive feedback from our training participants,” Dr. Tang said. “However, the variety and quantity of our training program still needs to grow and expand.”
Dr. Tang believes the interdisciplinary work conducted by the Illinois VR Training Project is one of the program’s strengths, as the collaborative nature of the work enhances training opportunities and creates connections between key stakeholders that further serve to advance the work and, by extension, the people the work most serves.
“One key value of our Institute … is the power of interdisciplinary work. I believe strongly in its potential to enhance our training programs, and I hope to see our initiatives continue to expand with this interdisciplinary approach,” said Dr. Tang. “For example, we aim to connect with physical therapists, occupational therapists, medical doctors and family members to ensure our work is collaborative and not isolated within an ‘ivory tower.’”
As the Illinois VR Training Project continues to expand and evolve, it remains steadfast in its commitment to doing its part to advance equitable employment opportunities both for individuals with disabilities and for other historically marginalized communities. Through its strategic collaborations, interdisciplinary approach and dedication to addressing the challenges faced by the vocational rehabilitation professionals serving these communities, the Project serves as example to other individuals and employers dedicated to creating an integrated workforce.
By Danielle Fields, Ed.D. | contact-iirer@illinois.edu