Trainings Available

Aging in Place

Aging in place is the ability to live safely, independently, and comfortably in one’s own home and community.  Assistive technology aids participation in daily activities and functioning and allows older adults to live independently.

Blind and Low Vision Assistive Technology

Explore technology and resources available for individuals with vision loss. These technologies are categorized as low and high technology, they can be applied to work and educational settings, home safety and task modifications, leisure and social participation, and daily living activities to improve visual sensory pathways or to utilize alternative sensory pathyways to complete tasks.

Ergonomic Solutions for Your Home Office Workspace

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced much of the workforce to create makeshift home offices where we have hunkered down for many months now. This webinar will show you ways to improve your workspace, decrease risk of injury, and increase productivity while working from home.

Universal Design

Universal design is the design and composition of an environment so it can be usable by all people regardless of age, size, ability, or disability.  In vocational rehabilitation, universal design is created to accommodate the widest array of employees and create an environment that promotes good health for all.

Case File Documentation: Using the DRIVE Notes Model in VR

Case file documentation is vital for the VR Counselor and their agency.  There are legal, audit, and supervisory issues that arise with case file documentation.  This session explores those aspects but also emphasizes the ethical implications of case file documentation and how case file documentation methods can help drive a case and client to a successful outcome.  DRIVE Notes is a model of case file documentation that was specifically developed for VR.  The model helps VR Counselors to be systematic, thorough, efficient and effective in case file documentation that tells the story of the case, justifies actions taken, documents client engagement and informed choice, and drives the case toward competitive integrated employment.

Consumer Driven Vocational Rehabilitation: The Five Literacies of Informed Choice

This session explores the ethical application of informed choice from the perspective of five basic literacies for decision making.  Literacy can be defined as the ability to identify, locate, understand, interpret, create, communicate and differentiate alternatives based on reasoning and logic.  The five literacies that VR counselors can help develop throughout the counseling relationship are self-literacy, employment-literacy, rehabilitation-literacy, alternatives-literacy, and resource-literacy.  Informed choices require literacy at all five levels.  This session explores how VR Counselors can improve the informed choice process by paying attention to the five literacies.

Disability Discrimination in the Workplace

Discrimination against individuals based on a disability is prohibited under federal and state laws in all sectors, including the private sector. In this training, we take a look at several high-profile cases of businesses that refused to hire a qualified individual with a disability and accommodate an employee with a disability. Professionals will learn about these issues so that they can respond to such issues in order to prevent them from happening again. The CRCC code of professional ethics will be included in this discussion.

Emotional De-Escalation: Ethical Considerations Working with People Experiencing Emotional Distress

In this presentation we explore the ethical obligations (CRCC Code of Ethics) of rehabilitation professionals working with individuals who are experiencing emotional distress. We explore how emotionality is a natural part of the human condition and is amplified by disability and related stressors and life change. We explore how emotional crisis is inevitable, unavoidable, and even necessary in the rehabilitation process. Because of this inevitability, we explore our professional obligation to become more skilled and confident in addressing emotional crisis and distress. And we introduce a conceptual de-escalation model that helps professionals prepare for and become more confident in dealing with emotionally charged crisis.

Ethical Dilemmas Working with Students with Disabilities, Educators & Parents

In this presentation, we explore the ethical dilemmas that VR Counselors commonly face when working with transition aged youth and students with disabilities, their parents and their educators.  We also explore some common situations that are sometimes not viewed as ethical dilemmas, we introduce the Pyramid Model for Ethical Decision Making.

Ethical Systems: Exploring the Ethical Implications of Organizational Culture & Practices

Good ethics is a combination of individual ethics and the ethical behavior expected by your employer.  Attendees will be able to identify potential organizational cultural triggers that enhance or impede ethical behaviors. 

Gender Informed VR Counseling: Ethical Considerations for Working with People Who are in the LGBTQ+ Community

This webinar explores the ethical considerations that Rehabilitation Counselors must know in order to provide professional, effective, and ethical services.

Implicit & Explicit Bias: Self-Discovery, Personal Awareness & Avoiding Prejudice and Bias

Explicit bias is conscious bias; implicit bias is subconscious bias. Everyone has natural implicit and explicit “cognitive” bias. It’s part of being human and what shapes our actions and attitudes. This session will provide options for professionals to identify and understand their explicit and implicit biases when working with consumers/clients in vocational rehabilitation and counseling in general.

Integrity & Fidelity: 8 Principles of Professional Integrity

This presentation challenges common myths about truth-telling and is really about getting honest about honesty.  With the backdrop of the CRCC Code of Professional Ethics, we explore common misperceptions about truth and lies, honesty, common self-deceptions, the ways we use the truth to convey false impressions, and we introduce eight applied principles that can help guide ethical decision making and improve integrity.

Poverty Informed VR Counseling: Ethical Considerations Working with People Who Have Experienced Intergenerational Poverty

What are the impacts on human services because of the rules of socio-economic class?  Who is served and who is not served under these rules and why.  Learn about the direct and indirect damage done by a culture of poverty and the historical response.

A Toolkit for Planning a Successful Group: What the VR Counselor Needs to Consider

This presentation will explore the many factors a VR counselor needs to consider when planning a group counseling curriculum. Consistent with this, the presenter will first discuss group dynamics, therapeutic forces, group stages, and multicultural factors. Next, ethical, and legal considerations will be presented. The presenter will conclude with a discussion about pre-group planning and group member selection.   

Autism and Motivational Interviewing for Adults

Learn to adapt classical Motivational Interviewing strategies to adults on the spectrum with comorbid mental health conditions. This training focuses on those without intellectual disabilities on the autism spectrum. 

Autism and Person Centered Practices

A review of Rogerian methods to approach Autism from Motivational Interviewing and feedback Informed treatment and how to think clinically about this population while remaining human centered.

Career Pathways – STEM - Vocational Counseling & Guidance Strategies for STEM Careers

This session will explore why STEM is a concentration in WIOA, define the range of careers that are considered STEM, explore the labor market needs for STEM careers, explore and give examples of STEM career pathways and training options and explore Vocational Counseling and Guidance strategies to help people with disabilities to explore, enter, engage, and advance in STEM Career Pathways.

Career Pathways - Using Career Pathway Approaches for Career Entry, Development & Advancement

This session will provide an overview of Career Pathways as well as forms and resource links (e.g. Labor Market Information, The Career Plus website, regional Career Pathways industries and training locations) which DVR counselors can use immediately to counsel and guide their clients towards life-changing careers rather than dead-end jobs.

Client Engagement: Practices that Enhance the Client-Counselor Working Alliance

Empowering consumers to actively engage can create ownership and satisfaction with services to effectively achieve their goals.   This webinar will focus on the definition of client engagement and explore twelve reasons why clients disengage, the complexities of client engagement, practices that enhance engagement, and how motivation and engagement help clients.

Contemporary Approaches to Vocational Evaluation

This session provides a background overview of essential components of the vocational assessment process. Current approaches and adaptations being used in the field will be shared, along with discussion regarding benefits and challenges of conducting vocational evaluation remotely. The new CVE credential offered through the CRCC will be featured as a key professional path for those interested and eligible to pursue this exciting career direction.

Eight Ways Rehabilitation Professionals Can Engage with Large Businesses

Rehabilitation professionals are subject matter experts who are charged with helping individuals with disabilities to secure and maintain employment. As part of their responsibilities, rehabilitation professionals are required to engage with businesses. However, many rehabilitation professionals don’t know where to start when it comes to large businesses. This training was created to provide you with 4 ways to connect and engage in a meaningful conversation with large businesses.

Exceeding Expectations (Customer Service Skills)

All people who have contact with the vocational rehabilitation system have expectations and it is our job to understand and exceed those expectation.  Register for this webinar and get the lists of Ten Common Errors and the Six Unbreakable Rules which can be used in a Customer Service Model to exceed expectations of all who have contact with vocational rehabilitation.

Facilitating Effective Meetings

Collaboration at work is the new normal for good reasons and collaboration means meetings.  This session will show attendees methods and approaches to prepare for a meeting, facilitate the meeting and follow-up to the meeting.  Attendees will learn about tools and tips to ensure effective and productive meetings as well as tips for facilitating meetings where conflicting opinions and perspectives need to be blended into a final product. why.  Learn about the direct and indirect damage done by a culture of poverty and the historical response.

Financial Empowerment for Clients

This toolkit gives you the resources you need to help people set goals, choose financial products, and build skills in managing money, credit, and debt. It is designed so you can pick the tool or tools that meet the needs of each person you’re working with.

Group Counseling Skills and Techniques: A VR Counselor's Guide to the What and How

The presenter will first introduce the skills of group counseling and will provide examples. Next, the presenter will explore the types of exercises commonly used in group counseling (e.g., written; movement; rounds, dyads, triads; creative; feedback; trust; moral dilemma, group decision). The presenter will then explore how to conduct and process exercises and will conclude with process question examples.

Habit Stacking

Are you interested in empowering your clients to grow and adapt to change? Do you want to learn techniques that work in the field? If so, then please join us to learn and share ideas on habit stacking! Together we will discuss strategies around helping clients adjust to change, safety net questions, easy formula’s to keep you focused, and how to link this to your documentation and report writing. Sign up now and join the discussion!

History of Vocational Rehabilitation: Part 1

This webinar will explore the history and evolution of disability rights and the vocational rehabilitation profession. Key legislation, disability rights movements, and changes to both the vocational rehabilitation system as well as rehabilitation counseling will be discussed.

History of Vocational Rehabilitation: Part 2

This webinar will build off of History of VR Part 1 exploring deeper into the history and evolution of disability rights and the vocational rehabilitation profession. Expanding on the basic understanding of key legislation, disability rights movements, and changes to both the vocational rehabilitation system as well as rehabilitation counseling will be discussed.

How Rehabilitation Professionals Can Help Employers Strengthen Their Accommodation Process

Almost every medium-to-large size company has an accommodation process. The accommodation process begins with a request for an accommodation and ends once the accommodation has been provided. However, some employers struggle with identifying an appropriate accommodation and, as a result, there is a breakdown in the process. This training was created to show rehabilitation professionals how they can partner with employers and strengthen their accommodation process.

I don't hear and see very well. Can you help me?

This webinar will provide helpful tips on planning and implementing VR services for those with a combined hearing/vision loss.  Understanding the differences between those with Usher Syndrome and other etiologies of deaf-blindness.

Intermediate QA and Program Evaluation Techniques

Beyond the basics, how you can integrate program evaluation with quality assurance.  This webinar will present a model and approaches to better integrate these two disciplines.  At their core, quality assurance and program evaluation rely on quality data and how to have quality data with a reasonable allocation of staff time to data.

Job Placement Strategies

Job placement and development can be a stressful and difficult process. This webinar aims to provide tips and strategies for connecting with both consumers and businesses. We will also explore some common barriers to job development and discuss how to find long term solutions to those barriers.

Medical and Psychological Aspects of Disability

This presentation provides medical terminology, and functional implications of a variety of disabling conditions, as well as the psychological and social implications on individuals with disabilities, family members, other individuals, and society. 

Mindfulness for VR Practitioners

Mindfulness comes up a lot these days – especially in the context of rehabilitation and counseling. But what exactly is mindfulness? How can you use it in conjunction with your current strategies? The ideas around – and application of – mindfulness can be confusing. We can help clear things up. In this webinar you will

• Find out what mindfulness is – and what it’s not
• Learn how mindfulness affects the brain
• Discover ways to use mindfulness for yourself
• Help consumers use mindfulness for better outcomes

Negative Attitudes: Simple Strategies to Use with Employers

It’s no secret that the greatest barrier in the workplace for individuals with disabilities is a negative employer attitude. Some of these attitudes are associated with widely held beliefs about disabilities in general, while other attitudes are associated with a lack of knowledge or understanding about their abilities and limitations. The purpose of this training is twofold:

• (1) to shed light on challenges that frequently occur between employers and individuals with disabilities.
• (2) to provide rehabilitation professionals with simple strategies they can use with employers.

Past, Present, and Future of VR

This webinar will speak to the audience about remembering to never forget what shaped you, what has worked well for you over the years, and most importantly, what must be done to align VR with the future. 

Practical Steps to Avoid Pessimism and Negativity at Work

It is surprising how quickly pessimism and negativity can spread and erode work culture without someone stepping in to stop it. This webinar will show how to identify dysfunctional behaviors in your self and others. We will explore methods for changing these behaviors.

Provisions of VR Services to Native Americans: The Basics

This webinar provides you with the basic "do's and don'ts" in preparing for providing VR services to Native American communities.  What is the Native perspective on disabilities? How does cultural customs and etiquette impact the VR intake/service provision process?  This webinar aims to help provide the necessary guidance in answering these and other questions regarding providing quality VR services to our Native American citizens.

Resources and Programs for Employees with Disabilities 

Since the pandemic, the number of people working with a disability has increased. Because of this, large businesses are developing resources and programs aimed at helping their employees thrive both on and off the job. Today, you will find that many large businesses offer a safe space where people with disabilities and allies can go to openly discuss issues that they face on the job. In this training, we take a look at some of these resources and programs and talk about why they are so important.  

Stages of Change: Understanding and Enhancing Consumer Motivation and Engagement

This webinar will draw on recent work in the area of behavioral psychology and motivational interviewing to provide strategies for engaging with clients.  Attendees will learn about different methods for determining levels of motivation and how best to maintain that motivation. These same methods can be adapted to training sessions with staff and managing Projects with multiple partners. 

The Group Session Development Stages: Facilitator Roles and Functions, Structuring by Design

The presenter will first define the stages of a group’s development and the phases of a session. Next the presenter will explore the characteristics of each stage and the associated roles and functions of the facilitator. The presenter will conclude this presentation with recommendations on how to structure a session at each stage of the group’s development.  

The Use of Group Counseling in State Vocational Rehabilitation Settings: The Benefits and Challenges

The presenter will discuss how group counseling is being used with individuals who have disabilities. Next, examples will be provided on how group counseling has been implemented in VR settings. This presentation will conclude by exploring the challenges and benefits of providing group counseling in the context of state VR. 

Time Management for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors

Want to be caught up on paperwork?  Want to have more time to meet and talk with your clients? Want to support clients becoming more independent? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, this webinar is for you.  This webinar will present concrete tasks you can do to reclaim your work life and give your clients the attention they deserve.  These concrete tasks can be easily converted into checklists to help establish new habits for re-taking a measure of control over your work day.

Walking on Sunshine 

Learn about best practices and acknowledging bias when working with LGBTQIA+ clients.