Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Conference 2008
Every two years, SVRI co-sponsors a vocational rehabilitation conference with the Department of Rehabilitation and Counseling. The next conference is October 16th and 17th, 2008. The theme is Rehabilitation <-> Employment: Supply <-> Demand
Pre-approved CRC and CVE credits available - 5.75 clock hours for preconference and 4.25 for conference.
Click here to register for the conference. Email svri_training@uwstout.edu or call (715) 232-1685 if you require an alternate format for registration.
Schedule (subject to change)
Pre-Conference – 8:30 -3:30 Thursday, October 16, 2008
Sponsored by the Job Placement Division of the National Rehabilitation Association
8:30-10:00
Mental Health in the Workplace
Dawn Zak, BSW, CSAC
In the last few years businesses have become increasingly aware of the profound impact of mental health on productivity, the work environment and the bottom line. There are significant benefits to businesses that invest in creating a mentally healthy workplace and the role of the manager or supervisor is critical. During the presentation we will identify why this is a workplace issue, the benefits of a proactive focus on mental health, and how to create a mental health-friendly work environment. We will discuss the signs and symptoms of common mental illnesses, causes, treatment options and how to access resources. In addition, participants will be given information to assist in recognizing performance warning signs in employees that may indicate a mental health issue.
10:30-12:30
Reasonable Accommodation-The Key to Success
Robin A. Jones, MPA, COTA/L, ROH
The principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are simple, but applying them is not always obvious. Even employers who are experienced in hiring and promoting employees with disabilities can be confused by the requirement to make reasonable accommodations. This session aims to define key terms including disability, reasonable accommodation, undue hardship, & direct threat as well as assist professionals to develop a "thought process" for effective compliance and identify the available resources and tools. Best practice strategies employed by companies across the country will be explored and discussed.
1:30-3:30
Legal Issues Associated with Recruiting, Hiring and Retaining Workers With Disabilities
Mindy Dale & Vicki Seltun
This presentation will focus on the interplay between the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, and federal and Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave laws. Topics discussed in this presentation will include coverage and requirements of federal and Wisconsin disability laws as well as how the reasonable accommodation process is triggered and possible accommodations.
Conference Day – 9:00-3:45 Friday, October 17, 2008
9:00-10:15
Welcome and Awards
10:30-11:45
Keynote Presentation
Economic Development and its Connection to the Workforce
Terry Ludeman
This keynote address will discuss the concept that workforce development is economic development. We will look at the three goals of economic development and make the case that the most certain way to assure economic success is through increased productivity and the key to increased productivity is attention to workforce skills. We will discuss the skills that are important for economic success, and why employers are so eager to find workers who possess those skills. The address will examine the assets a community should have in place to ascertain a skilled workforce and thus an active, vibrant economy.
12:30-2:00
Concurrent Sessions
- Brain Drain - Terry Ludeman
This presentation will look at the number of Wisconsin graduates who are not available for Wisconsin’s workforce needs. We will examine the magnitude of the graduates leaving the state, the reasons for their exodus, the affect it will have on Wisconsin’s future, and potential solutions to stem the exodus. The session will look at the link between education and higher wages made attainable through higher productivity.
- Lean-Flow for Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) - Lloyd Peterson
You may have heard of, or tried, Lean. See why some CRPs call Lean-Flow “Lean on Steroids.” One of Lean-Flow’s primary tools for CRPs is the Round Table System (RTS). It is specifically designed to benefit the Social Enterprise using employees/clients who have mental, physical, and emotional disabilities. Social enterprises like CRPs find that their social and financial missions are often in conflict with one another. The RTS’s primary goals are to improve the enterprise’s production capabilities to generate revenue and integrate client development into the production process.
- Ethical Dos and Don’ts: Avoiding Potential Dilemmas When You Can and Dealing with Problems When You Can’t - Tony Langton & Spencer Mosley
This presentation willbuild on a good awareness of ethical practices to help steer clear of potential ethical dilemmas. Participants will share experiences and resources and then work together to use strategies and tools to address ethical dilemmas when they cannot be avoided.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Association (WRCEA)
2:15-3:45
Concurrent Sessions
- Help for the Angry Worker - Ronald T. Potter-Efron, MSW, Ph.D.
This presentation will include a discussion of typical characteristics of angry workers, their effects on the workplace environment, and suggestions that help these individuals manage their anger.
- Culturally Diverse Clients in the Vocational Rehabilitation System: What Can We Learn From the Data? - David A. Rosenthal, PhD, CRC, Vivian Larkin, PhD, CRC, & Geno Pichette, PhD
This presentation will cover a series of research studies exploring the rehabilitation counselors’ perceptions of consumers from diverse backgrounds. Archival data will also be presented regarding vocational rehabilitation acceptance rates, closure statuses, and service delivery patterns of consumers from diverse backgrounds. Lastly, strategies to combat counselor biases and how to work effectively with rehabilitation consumers from minority backgrounds will be presented.
- Employer Solutions to Work Interruptions: Tools for Return-to-Work at Andersen Windows - Menomonie - Scotty Wertel
The purpose of this presentation is to provide a working example of how return-to-work tools, plant philosophies, and company benefits create an effective case management program. The presentation includes tools that help the plant case managers work interactively with associates to return associates to productive tasks as soon as practical. The discussion also focused on the similarities between the plant’s ergonomic improvement focus, return-to-work accommodations, and lean manufacturing efforts.
5:00-?
Picnic Gathering at the Menomonie Country Club
Support the Voc Rehab Club! The Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Club will again be selling t-shirts and sweatshirts. The same style that was sold last time as well as a new style will be available. Orders made ahead of time will be available for pick-up at the conference. Shirts can also be shipped to your address. Order form.