Summary: We’re celebrating not only the champions of business and industry that hire individuals with disabilities, but also the vocational rehabilitation professionals who’ve dedicated their lives and careers to creating hope and a path forward to employment <br> Transcript of podcast follows:<br> Intro: I believe it is possible for everyone to go to work with the right accommodation: All you have to do is ask.<br> VR Workforce Studio: Inspiration, Education and Affirmation at Work. We’re bringing you the stories of individuals with disabilities who are in or preparing to be part of the workforce in Virginia. And we’re celebrating not only the champions of business and industry that hire individuals with disabilities, but also the vocational rehabilitation professionals who’ve dedicated their lives and careers to creating hope and a path forward to employment so individuals with disabilities can work and lead more fulfilling lives while building Virginia’s workforce and moving our economy forward.<br> Andrew……..Thank you Rick it’s nice to be here. I’ve been a fan of the VR workforce studio and am thrilled to be in the studio with you today.<br> Rick: Andrew how long have you been doing this kind of work…I know its more than 20<br> Andrew: Since 1987. Been around almost since dirt, as one of my voc rehab mentors used to say. And there have been plenty of changes and challenges during that time. The Voc Rehab or VR profession has grown a lot in the past 25 years, from working with a majority of people either with physical or intellectual challenges, to working with a large number of individuals with all kinds of emotional, memory, organization, and social skills issues. This has had at least two major effects: 1) the level of expertise needed to do our jobs has grown, such that now it requires a master’s degree in counseling or rehabilitation counseling to qualify for the work we do, at least in the public sector; and 2) this has spawned a growth industry in the need for people who are known as job coaches. Different organizations call them by different titles, (Employment Specialists, Employment Consultants, Vocational Counselors) but they are people who are trained to provide the proper supports to individuals looking to find and maintain work. And exactly because each person with a disability is an individual, the way one works successfully with one person may look very different from the approach with another.<br> But the heart of the work is to find a good match between an individual and the workplace, and use the prospective employee’s strengths to overcome any of their limitations at the work site.<br> Rick: Andrew a question I ask a lot of our guest is to give us in just a few sentences your perspective on disability employment.<br> Andrew: I’m a firm believer that a fully integrated and diversified workforce strengthens our community. I’ve witnessed again and again how employment allows people with disabilities to increase their connection with others and provide a sense of satisfaction through increased purpose, autonomy, and self-confidence.<br> Rick – Andrew one of our podcast categories is the VR briefing room for VR professionals. We both belong to our professional association, the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA) and its state affiliate, the Virginia Rehabilitation Association or VRA. If I were to briefly describe VRA what would you say.<br> Andrew. This organization works tirelessly to promote the vocational rehab profession, and to provide training, networking, and leadership opportunities to the individuals who dedicate their lives to assisting people with disabilities find and keep jobs. So Rick one of my professionals roles is as the VRA Communications Chair. Our organization supports both people with disabilities and the hundreds of counselors, job coaches, employers,
