Vocational Rehabilitation Self-Employment Guide
About Us
This website is under development by the Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC:Rural) in collaboration with a group of Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation (TVR) advisors. The website is a translation of a previously developed guide for the state and federal Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs (www.vrselfemployment.org) to improve self-employment opportunities and outcomes for consumers with disabilities.
Acknowledgments
This website reflects years of collaboration among RTC:Rural staff and many others:
UM Rural Institute on Inclusive Communities, RTC:Rural
- Catherine Ipsen, Project Director
- Lauren Smith
- Meredith Repke
- Andrew Myers
- Jordan Costello
- Will Hoard
Pictures, Video, and Stories
- Many TVR stakeholders
TVR Advisors
- Rebecca Holland, Montana Vocational Rehabilitation and Jemez VR Program (New Mexico)
- Kari Fragua, Jemez VR Program (New Mexico)
- Paula Seanez, Navajo Nation Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (Arizona)
- Tom Draghi, State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (Wisconsin)
- Jolleen Laverdure, Oto Kahe Teca VR (South Dakota)
- Amelia Rivers, Central Louisiana Intertribal VR Program (Louisiana)
- Irma Goodwine, Association of Village Council Presidents (Alaska)
- Sara Lizak, Kawerak, Inc. (Alaska)
About RTC:Rural
For over 30 years, RTC:Rural has conducted research on disability in rural communities. Our work has led to the development of health promotion and employment programs, disability policy, and support and education for providers who serve people with disabilities. Through our research, we hope to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in rural communities across the nation.
The RTC:Rural is part of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (RIIC) at the University of Montana. The RIIC is one of 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs) across the United States.
Funding
This website was developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (#90RTCP0002). NIDILRR is housed within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this website do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.