The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69783

Susan Stoddard, PhD, InfoUse, 216 - 9th Street #216, Berkeley, CA 94710, 510-549-6520, sustoddard@aol.com

Can Independent Living Centers and Vocational Rehabitation agencies work together to improve employment prospects for people with disabilities? One project of the Research and Training Center on Independent Living Management has examined collaboration between these organizations with different paradigms of disability. The Center conducted surveys to three different types of organizations: Independent Living Centers (ILCs), Vocational Rehabilitation agencies (VR) and State Independent Living Councils (SILCs). Of the 136 ILCs identified in the RTC database as providing employment services, over 80% responded. The response pool includes 38 of the 40 states identified with ILC employment services (95%). A total of 78 VR agencies received surveys. Of these, 38 general and combined agencies and 16 agencies for the blind have responded, for an overall VR response rate of over 70%.

While it appears that many respondents expect collaboration to improve, many barriers to collaboration are identified in these responses, including understaffing, limited tracking of employment outcomes by ILCs, and difference in philosophy. But new opportunities for collaboration appear to be emerging, due to staff turnover, VR staff with ILC experience, staff deployment to other agencies, meetings between ILC and VR, and cross-referrals. A case study of collaboration on the State Plan illustrates the opportunities of working together. Collaboration is a management skill. Case study examples of what works will be the basis for management training and professional development.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to 1)identify six or more opportunities for collaboration in employment services
• evaluate the effectiveness of alternative collaboration models
• identify management skills related to collaboration in ILCs/VR

Keywords: Disability Policy, Management

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: InfoUse Western University
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Stoddard is President and owner of InfoUse, the contractor conducting the research