Vocational Rehabilitation Leadership Academy

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Training: Vocational Rehabilitation Leadership Academy

The Vocational Rehabilitation Leadership Academy is an on-line learning environment providing professional development and skills training to Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) staff. Orientation, Core, Advanced, and Specialized courses are tailored to the specific needs of VRS counselors. Selected Leadership Academy trainings are also available to other individuals with an interest in the field of disability services.

The Leadership Academy is the product of a collaboration between Vocational Rehabilitation Services (a program within the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration), and the Center on Community Living and Careers, which develops and coordinates the initiative for the state. By using advances in technology to enhance the skills of those working in the field of disability services, the initiative improves the overall delivery of services to individuals with disabilities.

The Academy provides users with current policies and procedures, offers suggestions on best practices, and connects them with others in the field. The Academy can train individuals within an agency or across an entire system and covers many of the topics needed by staff who want to advance or enhance their skills.

Categories of training and professional development include:

New VRC Orientation—a 4-week, online training course for new Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRCs). Covers agency policies and procedures. Includes time to job shadow coworkers and work individually with supervisors. Orientation resources familiarize VRCs with the field of disability services, the local community, and Indiana VRS.
Core Courses—a series of 10 courses for new Indiana VRCs or for those counselors who want to strengthen their skills in a particular area. Content is based on competency standards and the code of ethics of the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). Courses include:

Foundations of Rehabilitation
Case and Caseload Management
Counselor Roles & Responsibilities
Job Related Services & Concepts
Psychosocial & Cultural Implications of Disability
Medical Aspects of Disability
Career Guidance & Counseling
Mental Health, Addiction & Counseling
Assistive Technology
Consumer Benefits Planning

Advanced Courses—material is developed for a variety of learners and is either Topic Specific or Disability Specific. The intent of the advanced material is to increase or enhance the skill development of the learner with a specific area of study. Examples of topics may include Ceners for Independent Living, traumatic brain injury, autism, and personality disorders.
Specialized Courses—material presented addresses a specific audience (eg., those counselors who work with individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing or blind/visually impaired) or a specific topic. Material gives participants the specific knowledge and skill sets they need to manage their unique needs. This category also addresses special initiatives, such as Project SEARCH, and can be used to train multiple agencies, such as VRS staff and those partner agencies participating in the program. The specialized category is also where a series of courses will provide content from the Employment Specialist Training program for professionals involved in the delivery of supported employment services in Indiana.

Leadership Academy Webinars

Adobe Connect Meeting Space - http://breeze.iu.edu/leadershipacademy/

In the Archives.....

Leadership & Change Management (April 20, 2011)
Webinar Evaluation - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TF2NVMC
Webinar Recording - http://breeze.iu.edu/p75629333/

Download supporting documents...

Leadership & Change - Power Point Presentation

Changes Activity

Leadership Qualitites Activity

Self Leadership Trust Activity

Handling Change Job Aid

Problem Solving & Strategic Thinking (March 30, 2011)
Webinar Evaluation - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VY558DJ
Webinar Recording - http://breeze.iu.edu/p64564965/

Download supporting documents...

Problem Solving - Power Point Presentation

Digging Deeper - Creative Problem Solving

Job Aid - Problem Restatement

Customer Service (March 3, 2011)
Webinar Evaluation - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7MXG8SV
Webinar Recording - http://breeze.iu.edu/p92487364/

Download supporting documents...

Customer Service - Power Point Presentation

Digging Deeper Customer Service Assets

Digging Deeper Behavioral Styles

Job Aid Good Customer Service Habits

Communication (February 8, 2011)
Webinar Evaluation - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3VYMDPH
Webinar Recording - http://breeze.iu.edu/p82147335/

Download supporting documents...

Communication - Power Point Presentation

Digging Deeper Attitudes

Digging Deeper Communication Styles

Digging Deeper Communicating Effectively

Job Aid Listening Tips

Job Aid Communication Styles Color Chart

Time Management and Organizational Skills (January 13, 2011)
Webinar Evaluation - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HQTHHBG
Webinar Recording - http://breeze.iu.edu/p98364297/
Download supporting documents...

Time Management and Organizational Skills - PowerPoint Presentation

Digging Deeper - Planning and Prioritization

Digging Deeper - Time Eaters

Job Aid - Outlook Options Quick Reference Guide

Job Aid - Planning and Stress Reduction

Outlook Basics