The Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is a combined federal/ state program under the authority of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Its mission is to assist individuals with disabilities over come barriers to employment, independence, and community life. Various services are provided to accomplish each client’s individualized goals, including a full array of vocational rehabilitation services, supported employment, and assistive technology.

Andy primarily serves people who are hard-of-hearing or deaf. He has a caseload of about 80 consumers (clients) and 2/3 of them are deaf or HOH and the other 1/3 are general disability clients.

He graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, NY in 1999 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW). He did his social work internship working as a social work intern serving people with traumatic brain injury with a private agency that contracted with the Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities, whic

I also made up some questions for Andy to answer but first you need to know some things about him or the questions may not make sense. Andy is HOH (severely) and at time with some clients needs to use and interpreter. She signs to him if he does not understand some of what a client is saying. (He signs ASL) Also he has some physical disabilities. He walks but has Cerebral Palsy so most of my questions were directed at consumer reaction so that I can get a better insight into what I may be facing as a SWK.

He told me that he finds his role of work very fulfilling and with out his college experience in studying SW he would not be in the place he is right now. SW itself is a broad field that opens up a lot of doors.

He told me that in his experience, some consumers find it uncomfortable with the presence of and interpreter, but I always assure them that the interpreter has a code of ethics as well as the counselor in terms of confidentiality. Although it is rare, he told me it does happen. If it is too difficult they can request another counselor.

Specifically, he provides guidance and counseling which is a core service with the agency. He functions as a case manager and refers consumers to the appropriate resources. Guidance and counseling are provided to assist the consumers in achieving their vocational goals as reflected in their Individualized Plan for Employment (IEP). He states that he is fortunate that he has a lot of autonomy and a wonderful supervisor who is supportive and flexible.

The practice theory he tends to practice is Choice Theory (formerly Reality Therapy) which was developed by William Glasser. The reason he uses this is because as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, he is to emphasize “consumer choice” by providing informed choices. With the information given to the consumer by the counselor, the consumer is then encouraged to make choices in order to achieve their vocational goals. Reality therapy focuses on solving problems and on coping with the demands of reality in society by making more effective choices.

Some topics in this essay:
Andy DVR, Rehabilitation Counselor, SW SW, Rehabilitation Act, Deaf HOH, Ombudsman Office, Social Environment, Employment IEP, Counselor NASW, Cerebral Palsy, vocational rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation counselor, rehabilitation counselor, social workers, services available, reality therapy, individuals disabilities, vocational goals, deaf hoh, guidance counseling,