Training Innovation Project (TIP): Demand-Side Employer Engagement Strategies in Vocational Rehabilitation

Abstract Applicant: University of Kentucky Research Foundation; Entity ID: IHE City and State of Applicant: Lexington, Kentucky; Congressional District: 6th Name of Project Director/LOE: Dr. Kathleen Sheppard-Jones (859-257-8104) 40% FTE Email: [email protected] Telephone: 859.257.8104 A strong workforce depends on employers having skilled employees who meet the moment of achieving a business’ goals. An important part of this imperative is a talent pool that includes people with disabilities. There is a pressing need to implement innovative strategies for current and aspiring rehabilitation professionals that maximize the potential for success for vocational rehabilitation (VR) customers. Developing knowledge and skills through evidence-based and evidence-informed training across a wide variety of accessible learning modalities is essential for rehabilitation professionals if we are to improve the quality of VR services. This requires a dual- customer focus whereby employers are engaged in making employment opportunities and the workplace fully accessible. It also requires an approach that takes into account the array of stakeholders that are engaged on the demand-side of employment. The Training Innovation Project (TIP): Demand-Side Employer Engagement Strategies in Vocational Rehabilitation to Build a 21st Century Workforce focuses on needs around demand-side employer engagement issues, in combination with emerging information technology and disability trends, all to improve employment outcomes for VR customers. The goal of the TIP is to build capacity of VR professionals and aspiring professionals to serve vocational rehabilitation customers and engage with employers through innovative training and technical assistance. TIP will provide training options for rehabilitation professionals across the country that lead to micro-credentials, continuing education units (CEUs), and academic credits and certificates, all of which may provide interconnected and laddered credentials for learners. TIP will provide opportunities for networking and group learning, including a 21st Century Workforce & Employer Engagement Summit and other in-person symposia. A train-the-trainer approach will be used to model and develop community Disability Hiring Academies across states. An Employer Engagement Community of Practice will utilize the expertise of the project’s Advisory Panel and nurture bold and innovative idea sharing that will be highlighted through a Lunch and Learn Series. Universally designed training resources, including toolkits, manuals, modules, and plain language information sheets, will be housed on our fully accessible web portal, using AI to maximize effectiveness and to enable learners to engage with content in ways that fit their needs and interests. Multiple continuous quality improvement mechanisms will be used throughout the life of TIP, to adapt and adjust to evolving needs. TIP will harness the breadth and depth of partnerships and resources that will enhance VR capacity and strengthen connections to employers, workforce development professionals, healthcare providers, and everyone with a role to play in economic vitality and employment success for people with disabilities. Committed partners in this effort include VR agencies, healthcare professionals, workforce development boards, chambers of commerce, professional organizations, education and higher education, and people with lived disability experience. This will result in more VR professionals who are steeped in the dual-customer model, and improved capacity of employers to recruit, hire, retain, upskill, and advance workers with disabilities. 1