An integral part of the Rusk Institute since its inception, the Vocational Services Department has been a pioneer in developing innovative services and award winning programs that enable individuals with disabilities to succeed in competitive employment. Through the programs described below, individuals served by the Department are provided the opportunity to explore vocational options and develop the competencies needed to return to school, work and a productive lifestyle. With a longstanding commitment to consumer-centered services, an increasing network of employment resources and a solid partnership with the business community, the Vocational Services Department is helping to make the goal of vocational independence a reality for our clients.

A young man in the computer skills
training class learns formulas
on an Excel spreadsheet

Vocational Counseling offers individualized career development in an ongoing process that involves examining functional limitations, interests, abilities and objectives. Focusing on career exploration, academic goals and vocational alternatives, the vocational counseling process addresses:

• work readiness
• identification of a vocational goal
• exploration of transferable skills and interests
• accessibility, accommodations and job modifications
• financial disincentives and benefits
• adjustment to disability in a vocational context

The vocational counselor can provide direct assistance with employer contact to plan for return to a job, referral to the state vocational rehabilitation agency and other organizations for services, referral to disability services at colleges and schools, and identificiation/coordination of resources.

In the Diagnostic Vocational Evaluation vocational potential is determined by assessing aptitudes, interests, academic achievement, skills and work tolerance, a process which concludes in the development of a vocational objective and an individualized rehabilitation plan that may include referral for specific skills training or placement services. The unique components of the Diagnostic Vocational Evaluation include:

• Comprehensive learning assessment
• Development of compensatory strategies and decision making skills
• Situational assessment
• Career exploration and Informational interviews
• Referral for medical consultation, cognitive/perceptual retraining and assistive technology assessment

Candidate in the job placement program
being questioned by employers during a
Business Advisory Committee Meeting.

A wide variety of techniques are utilized in the evaluation including behavioral observation, computer based assessment of software and business skills, standardized aptitude, achievement and interest testing and functional learning assessment. By the conclusion of the assessment process participants will have developed a worker profile which identifies their vocational options, skills and attributes, preferred learning style, compensatory strategies, functional needs, and required level of supervision/structure. Potential outcomes of the evaluation may include work adjustment and/ or occupational skills training, further education, avocational options such as volunteering, referral for ancillary services, or direct job placement.

The Work Adjustment/Skills Training (WAT) program provides participants an opportunity to acquire and refine the worker traits, skills and behaviors necessary for successful career development. The WAT is modeled after on-the-job training where participants learn work behaviors and job skills in an actual work setting performing real work tasks. Trainees are placed on worksites in offices, housekeeping areas, food service, information technology services, patient admitting areas, employee health services, and numerous other locations on the NYU Medical Center campus or in external organizations where they receive supervision, training, and the opportunity to gain real work experience while developing work behaviors and job skills. The WAT provides participants a real work situation through which they can:

• Develop and test compensatory strategies
• Identify and try out accommodations and job modifications including assistive technologies
• Increase physical stamina and work tolerance
• Explore alternate occupations
• Determine an optimal work environment based on specific needs

Throughout the program, participants meet weekly with a rehabilitation counselor to address work and training related issues including the development of compensatory strategies for job tasks and job seeking skills. The counselor provides job coaching if required, monitors participant progress, and offers consultation to the site supervisor and staff on disability related issues. Program outcomes may include job placement or referral to occupational skills training schools and academic programs.

Computer Skills Training is an intensive training program in Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office designed to provide participants with the skills necessary for employment in administrative support occupations and other jobs where computer literacy is required. Upon completion of classroom training, students have the opportunity to participate in an internship related to their vocational goal while they receive job placement services. This program is one of only a few in the metropolitan area which offers computer skills training to individuals with severe physical disabilities. Training in the use of voice recognition software is offered in individual sessions, often in conjunction with the Windows and MS Office training for individuals who have limited ability to manipulate the mouse or keyboard or to those who simply want to operate the computer hands free.

Job Placement Services is an outcome focused program designed to provide candidates with effective strategies for navigating the job market, direct employer referrals, job interviews, and employment retention. Services offered include:

• Placement readiness assessment
• Job seeking skills training including interview preparation and coaching and professional assistance with resume and cover letter preparation
• Job clubs and facilities for job search including computers, fax machine and telephones
• Training and assistance with electronic job search and online resume posting
• Occupational and labor market information
• Post-employment follow-up and job coaching

Program participants meet with the rehabilitation counselor regularly to coordinate and direct job search activities and address job placement issues such as disclosure of disability, financial and benefit disincentives, reasonable accommodations, and career enhancement strategies. While participating in job placement services, candidates may take advantage of internships that offer the opportunity to obtain valuable work experience and a current job reference, cross-train, and develop additional job skills.

The Vocational Services Department maintains an extensive Business Advisory Committee and employer network comprised of over 60 organizations from the corporate, non-profit, government, healthcare, and education sectors. Committee meetings provide an opportunity for job ready candidates to meet and network with employers who can offer interviews and job opportunities as well as internships, labor market information, job seeking advice and mentoring. Through these ongoing partnerships with businesses throughout the metropolitan area we have been successful in assisting clients increase their independence and achieve their employment goals while offering employers a diverse and talented applicant pool.

For a Vocational Services referral form, click here.