Project Description:
The project was initiated by the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) to build the capacity of the DVR system to effectively serve individuals with significant disabilities by adding Discovery, a component of the customized employment process, as an alternative to traditional vocational evaluation.
Course Description:
The Discovery Course is a 10-week intensive training that combines online learning with a community-based experiential component involving direct work with a job seeker. The online component will be offered through ten weekly 90-minute classes utilizing Elluminate Live software. The experiential component will be paired with the course content so that participants can immediately apply what they are learning. This enhances comprehension and allows for technical assistance from the instructor(s) as course participants work with a job seeker to complete the Discovery process and develop a viable vocational profile.
Course Objectives:
Participants will:
1. Gain an understanding of the customized employment process.
2. Learn about Discovery, a component of the customized employment process, and gain practical experience through applying skills learned with a job seeker.
3. Develop a viable vocational profile  the product of the Discovery process.
4. Receive training and technical assistance throughout the course and process.
5. Learn how to develop a visual resume.
6. Learn next steps for utilizing what was learned through Discovery to assist the job seeker to achieve a competitive, integrated employment outcome.
The course will be offered three (3) times per year in September, January, and May. The initial course will be co-instructed by an experienced USF Assistant Professor, Dr. Tammy Jorgensen Smith (development instructor), and an additional instructor, Nancy Hanisch-Botout (core instructor), who is highly trained in the Discovery process. Subsequent courses will be taught by the core instructor with technical assistance provided by Dr. Smith and MGA representative(s) to ensure the highest level of quality, model fidelity, and outcomes.
Providers seeking certification in the Discovery process will register for the online certification course through USFÂs University College continuing education system. This system allows community members to enroll in online courses without the need to become a student of the University. Course registration fees are paid directly to University College. This fee will then be used to pay the course instructor(s), developer royalties, and other administrative and training fees. A minimum of 7- 10 registrants will be required to offer the course. The exact minimum will be determined once required royalties and the course fees are established.
Materials for the online course will be provided by Mark Gold & Associates and will consist of an approved curriculum, associated Power Point slides, two (2) training manuals, and a fidelity checklist. Additional materials including certificate documents and forms will be developed during the pilot phase of the project. Course participants will purchase the training manuals (approximately $30 for the two manuals). This cost will be included in the course fee. Revenue for course materials will be remitted to the developers/suppliers (MGA).
Sustainability of the certification process will occur through promotion of the online certification course by VR, TACE, and USF. Course participants will complete an evaluation at the end of the course and a summary report of the collected data will be provided to VR along with a list of participants with an indication of successful and unsuccessful candidates. MGA will also provide additional quality assurance measures to ensure continued fidelity of the model. In addition, TACE will provide an annual review of the certification process during the first three years of establishment.
