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Dear Colleagues,

The team at SVRI continues to innovate and develop new ser-vice delivery options to enhance the field of rehabilitation. In this issue, you will learn about the exciting new Eligibility and Order of Selection Assess-ment Services project underway with our colleagues at the Wis-consin Division of Vo-cational Rehabilita-tion (DVR) and meet our newest team members. You will also have an oppor-tunity to learn about the fun AT&T Connect Ability Design Chal-lenge taking place on campus. The design challenge is a cross-disciplinary collabora-tion involving SVRI staff and students and faculty from the Reha-bilitation Counseling, Engineering, and Computer Sciences departments. The

PROMISE www.promisewi.org

Individual Placement and Support (IPS)www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/mh/ips.htm

www.co.chippewa.wi.us/government/human-services/western-region-recovery-and-wellness-consortium/individualized-placement-support-supportive-employment

Rehabilitation Research & Training Center (RRTC www.research2vrpractice.org

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Americans with Disa-bilities Act (ADA) set the course as a critical piece of Civil Rights legislation twenty-five years ago. Our daily work is directly aligned with the ADA and we are proud to continue embracing both the letter and spirit of the law in all our services and initia-tives moving forward.

We continue our com-mitment to research, knowledge translation, and leadership through exciting part-nerships with the PROMISE project, In-dividual Placement and Support (IPS), the Rehabilitation Re-search Center on Evi-dence-Based Practice in Vocational Rehabili-tation (RRTC-EBP VR), and direct ser-vices. For updated in-formation on these ini-tiatives, please feel free to visit the follow-ing web addresses:

A Note from the Executive Director Cayte Anderson, Ph.D., CRC

A Note from the

Executive Director…………..1,2

Eligibility and Order of Selec-

tion Assessment Services Pro-

ject……………………………………2

Thank You to Positive Alterna-

tives, Inc. …………...…………….3

CARF Re-accreditation……….4

Staff Activities…………………...4

Open House Recap……………..5

Alumni Spotlight………………..6

Staff News…………………………7

SVRI Welcomes 7 New Staff

Members……………………….7-9

Congratulations, Cayte Ander-

son………………………………….10

Professional

Development

Opportunities and Upcoming

Events…………………………….11

SVRI and AT&T Teamed up to

Host “Developers Day”………..3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

V o l u m e 1 7 , I s s u e 2

2 0 1 5 S p r i n g N e w s l e t t e r

U n i v e r s i t y o f W i s c o n s i n - S t o u t

SVRI F i n d i n g A n s w e r s , C r e a t i n g S o l u t i o n s , E n s u r i n g F u t u r e s .

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation InstituteStout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute

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S V R I N E W S L E T T E R S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

Eligibility and Order of Selection Assessment Services Project

SVRI has partnered with the Division of Voca-tional Rehabilitation (DVR) for a pilot pro-ject. Beginning this

May, SVRI will begin accepting referrals to the Eligibility and Order of Selection Assessment Services Unit from three DVR offices, located within Workforce Devel-opment Areas (WDA) 1,

2, and 3.

It’s estimated that DVR counselors spend 15-20% of their time on the intake process, which includes determining

eligibility and Order Of Selection place-ment. One of the ex-pected outcomes of the pilot is counselors will now have more time to spend working with con-sumers on developing

the Individual Plan for

Employment (IPE) and vocational counseling and guidance.

SVRI staff members, who have been trained by DVR counselors and su-pervisors, will make rec-ommendations for eligi-bility and the order of se-lection process after con-

ducting intake interviews with consumers. The pi-lot project will be evaluat-

ed and reviewed for qual-ity, consumer satisfac-tion, efficiency, and effec-tiveness. The pilot is de-signed to run for 12

months, with ongoing review during that time frame. Additional offices within each WDA partici-pating in the pilot will be added as the program develops.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Finally, the Workforce Innovation Opportunities Act (WIOA) presents new prospects for innovative

employment services for youth with disabilities. WIOA, along with the updated home and com-munity-based waiver reg-ulations from the Centers for Medicare and Medi-caid Services (CMS) issue a strengthened emphasis

on integrated, communi-ty-based employment for individuals with disabili-ties. The timing of these substantial legislative

and regulatory updates provides a unique oppor-tunity for rehabilitation professionals and sys-tems to re-design and enhance existing busi-ness models. As a uni-versity partner, we do not

provide long-term em-

ployment or community-living supports. Howev-er, we understand the important implications these changes will pre-

sent in the field regard-ing service capacity and delivery options. As a solution-focused public partner, we welcome your suggestions on how we can be a positive force to assist with this transi-

tion. Please feel free to

send your training ideas and suggestions directly to nierenhause-ne@uwstout.edu.

Best wishes for a healthy

summer,

Cayte

Don’t forget to LIKE us on Facebook

and FOLLOW us on Twitter to show

your support and to stay current with

updates.

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F i n d i n g A n s w e r s , C r e a t i n g S o l u t i o n s , E n s u r i n g F u t u r e s .

In commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Dis-abilities Act, SVRI and the University of Wis-

consin-Stout are in-volved in the “Connect Ability” Design Chal-lenge, an international design competition sponsored by AT&T and RESNA (The Rehabilita-tion Engineering and

Assistive Technology Association of North America). Other univer-sities involved in the Design Challenge in-clude MIT, Duke, and Johns Hopkins.

On May 16th, The Uni-versity of Wisconsin-

Stout and SVRI hosted a “Developers Day”, where interested stu-dents, who are program-mers and app develop-

ers had the opportunity to develop and present a software based solution that will advance the lives of people with dis-abilities. Welcoming and opening remarks were made by Scott T.

VanderSanden, the President of AT&T Wis-consin and Dr. Mary Hopkins-Best, the Dean of the College of Educa-tion, Health, and Hu-man Sciences for UW-Stout. Local

“exemplars” who were on hand to lend their

perspective of living with a disability includ-ed Will Etzbach of SVRI and Kyle Kleist of UW-Stout’s Rehabilitation

and Counseling Depart-ment. Paul Schwartz of SVRI organized the on-campus event and Me-ghan Donahue gave a presentation to the at-tendees on useful app features for people with

disabilities.

The winning local team from UW-Stout consist-ed of students from the computer engineering and vocational rehabili-

tation majors. This team will now develop their concept into a

working software based solution for the interna-tional competition. The prize money for this competition totals

$100,000 and the win-ners will be announced in New York City on Ju-ly 26, 2015 -- the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabil-ities Act. For more in-formation on this event,

check out http://connectabil-ity.challengepost.com/.

SVRI and AT&T Teamed up to Host “Developers Day”

A sincere THANK YOU to our colleagues at Posi-tive Alternatives, Inc. for their generous dona-

tion to SVRI. Positive Alternatives is a private non-profit, community-based, multi-service or-

ganization serving youth and families in Wiscon-sin. Through a continu-um of family and

strength-based services, Positive Alternatives, Inc. strives to equip at-risk youth and young adults

with the social, emotional and developmental skills needed to flourish.

Questions regarding

SVRI donation options can be directed to Cayte Anderson at ander-

soncay@uwstout.edu

Thank You to Positive Alternatives, Inc.

The Commission on Ac-creditation of Rehabilita-tion Facilities (CARF), granted a three-year re-accreditation to Stout

Vocational Rehabilitation Institute that began in April 2015. SVRI has strengths in many areas. Here are just a few com-mendations that were reported in the 2015 CARF Survey Report...

“Staff members are dedi-cated to the organiza-tion’s work, obviously invested in SVRI, open to suggestions and new ide-as, and willing to look at how to improve process-es, which is a clear indi-

cation of commitment to continual learning.”

“The organization’s lead-ership promotes person-centered thinking with the consumers and demonstrates participa-

tive management prac-tices with its staff mem-bers. This is clear from the dean down to the techs.”

“Assistive technology staff members demon-strate a strong commit-

ment to consumers and have established systems to allow consumers to find and use the best equipment. The staff

members are very per-son-centered and clearly customize their efforts based on consumers’ needs.”

“Consumers are highly satisfied with the ser-vices that they receive

from SVRI and have strong praise for the staff members for their efforts in assisting them with their job develop-ment and job attain-ment.”

“Staff members are well

connected to community resources. The staff

members have developed and understand that re-lationships and commu-nity resources are im-portant for consumers’

success.”

“Staff members are knowledgeable about benefits and the poten-tial impact that these changes can have on consumers.”

“Services are delivered

on a timely basis to con-sumers.”

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S V R I N E W S L E T T E R S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

CARF Re-accreditation

“The staff member’s

dedication, concern,

and teamwork to con-

sumers are commend-

ed. The staff mem-

bers are responsive to

the consumers needs

and willing to assist

them.”

Jaclyn Wilsey, Assistive Technologist at SVRI, presented at the 6th An-nual Youth Transition Conference held by the

University of Wisconsin-Stout in April 2015. The title of her presentation was “Don't Worry...Be Appy." This session pre-sented different apps to

help transition age youth with every day tasks for independent living, school, and employment.

The 1-day conference is

for youth with disabilities transitioning from high school to life. Attendees have the opportunity to listen to speakers, tour

the University of Wiscon-sin-Stout campus, and meet with vendors. The highlight of the confer-ence for many is the net-

working with others with disabilities. A majority of attendees are youth with disabilities, with parents, school person-nel, and local service pro-

viders representing a smaller percentage. Over 400 individuals from Western Wisconsin at-tended the conference.

Staff Activities

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F i n d i n g A n s w e r s , C r e a t i n g S o l u t i o n s , E n s u r i n g F u t u r e s .

Stout Vocational Reha-bilitation Institute hosted an Open House on April 16, 2015. A total of 18 individuals were in at-

tendance and represent-ed SVRI, DVR, CEHSS, Center for Independent Living (CILWW), Depart-ment of Rehab and Counseling, REACH, ContinuUs, and Citizens Employment and Train-

ing. Attendees had the opportunity to attend a professional develop-ment session offered by SVRI staff member, Jaclyn Wilsey. Jaclyn

Wilsey, Assistive Tech-nologist at SVRI, pre-sented on “Vision Loss Technology”. During the presentation, individuals

learned about the variety of assistive technology devices available for indi-viduals who have low vi-sion or blindness. Wilsey reviewed simple tech-niques to accommodate low vision, as well as re-

viewed the different low-tech and high-tech solu-tions. The interactive presentation allowed at-tendees to trial different types of assistive technol-

ogy. CRC ethics credits were provided to individ-uals at this session.

Following the presenta-tion, Erika Peterson lead

an informational lab tour of SVRI. Attendees had the opportunity to see the Adaptive Mobility Lab, Computer Access & Office Ergonomics Lab, Fabrication Lab, Com-munity Integration Lab,

Vocational Evaluation Lab, Sensory Lab, Driv-ing Simulation Lab, Hearing and Vision Loss

accommodations, and much more.

Thank you to SVRI staff and attendees for making the first open house of

2015 a success.

SVRI anticipates holding another open house this fall, though a date has not been finalized. More information to follow in the summer 2015 news-letter.

Open House Recap

Computer Access & Office Ergonomics Lab

Jaclyn Wilsey, Assistive Technologist

Community Integration Lab

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My name is Juliet Fried and I am a proud 1977 graduate of the master’s program in Vocational Rehabilitation with a Specialty in Vocational Evaluation at the Univer-sity of Wisconsin-Stout. (The title of the academic program was a little bit different when I attended Stout.) In addition to my master’s degree, I have a doctoral degree from the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Reha-bilitation Counseling, and am a CRC, CVE and PVE. Since graduating from Stout, I have been em-ployed as a Vocational Evaluator, Vocational Evaluation Supervisor, Rehabilitation Counselor, and Director of a compre-hensive Career Develop-ment Center. At the risk of showing my age, I am happy to add that during the past 30 years I also have been a Professor at the University of North-ern Colorado in Greeley teaching Rehabilitation

Counseling, Vocational Evaluation, and Human Services courses, as well as serving in several other concurrent roles at UNC including Department Chair and Executive Di-rector of the Rehabilita-tive Services Clinic.

Attending Stout was one of the best decisions I ev-er made! It introduced me to a wonderful profes-sion; professional group of people including my professors, the staff at SVRI, leaders in the field, both on-campus and off-campus, and professional organizations that were so important in my pro-fessional development. While I have continued to grow as a professional since graduating from Stout many years ago, the impact of that Stout edu-cation has always been significant in my life. It provided a strong founda-tion of competency-based education on which I have built a career that has allowed me to contin-ue to help others build their careers. The di-dactic courses, along with the applied hands-on learning that was preva-lent in my education, were key factors to my success. I not only learned knowledge and skills in the classroom but was able to transfer all of this in applied settings in the community and with real clients.

I have found that profes-sional relationships are so important in our lives for a number of reasons including mentorship, growth, opportunities, and even friendship. A great many of my profes-sional relationships be-gan at Stout and continue to this day. I am still in contact with some of my professors and some of my peers who also at-tended Stout, and have-

had the enormously grati-fying opportunity to serve as major doctoral advisor for two current faculty/staff at Stout (Dr. Michelle Hamilton and Dr. John Lui) who re-ceived their doctoral de-grees from my university. I also have developed professional relationships with more recent Stout graduates and faculty/staff through involve-ments in professional or-ganizations, as well as taught a few courses for the Stout online graduate program. Additionally, I was able to return to

Stout in the fall of 2010 during my sabbatical to benefit from the expertise of SVRI’s Benefits Coun-seling staff in learning about the important ser-vices they provide. I truly value all of these relation-ships for what they have brought to my life and career throughout the years.

Stout’s Rehabilitation Programs, including the degree programs and the many activities of and services provided by SVRI, have always been recognized for its excel-lence and innovation in instruction, service deliv-ery, research, and leader-ship. I am extremely pleased to have benefited from and been associated with these programs be-ginning as a master’s stu-dent and continuing through today.”

S V R I N E W S L E T T E R S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

Alumni Spotlight

Meet Juliet Fried!

“Attending Stout was one

of the best decisions I

ever made! It introduced

me to a wonderful pro-

fession; professional

group of people including

my professors, the staff

at SVRI, and leaders in

the field.”

F i n d i n g A n s w e r s , C r e a t i n g S o l u t i o n s , E n s u r i n g F u t u r e s .

Staff News

W ill Etzbach attended Southern Illinois University where he received a M.S. with an emphasis in Rehabilitation Counseling. He has worked

with a wide variety of disabilities and preformed several roles over the years. Most recently, he has been preforming the role of a Vocational Rehabilita-tion Counselor for the past 15 years. He is very happy to be a part of the

SVRI team and a part of the Eligibility and OOS unit.

M isty Berg graduated from Chippewa Valley Technical College with an Administrative Assistant Associates Degree. After she graduated,

she worked at an insurance company in Eau Claire for about 10 years in Claims and Customer Service. She worked as an LTE for a short time at UW-Eau Claire and then accepted a position at Pepin County Department

of Human Services, where she worked for about 14 ½ years. She is married and has three children ages 20, 17, and 12.

SVRI Welcomes 7 New Staff Members to the

Eligibility and Order of Selection Assessment Unit

L yndsey Ebling has been an Employment and Work Incentive Benefits Spe-cialist with SVRI since January 2013. Before her employment with SVRI,

Lyndsey graduated from Stout with a degree in Vocational Rehabilita-tion. This spring, Lyndsey joined the Eligibility and Order of Selection unit within SVRI. In her spare time, Lyndsey enjoys spending time outside, play-

ing board games with friends and family, and spending time with her dog Rylie.

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New Staff Members

S V R I N E W S L E T T E R S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

J eff Lund is excited to be starting as a Case Facilitator with SVRI on the Eligibility and OOS Team. For the past 13 years he has worked as an Em-

ployment Counselor with Workforce Resource and worked in several of the area counties of West Central WI. He moved to Menomonie this past fall with his wife and two boys after living in the Boyceville area since 1999. He earned

his MS in Vocational Rehabilitation from Stout. He enjoys spending time with his family, trying to keep up with his boys, and working on updating his new home in Menomonie. He looks forward to getting to know everyone here at SVRI.

M ichael Manning is a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist at SVRI. He attended Creighton University, majoring in Psychology and Political

Science. He received his J.D. from Hamline University School of Law where he specialized in Health Law and chaired the Minnesota Justice Foundation student organization, which focused on placing law students into Legal Aid

and volunteer positions. He enjoys playing with dogs, sports, fishing, read-ing, cooking, and “being a nerd in his free time”.

S kyler Gerland graduated from Stout this spring with a degree in Voca-tional Rehabilitation with a concentration in Independent Living. She

recently completed an internship at the Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin. She looks forward to working with SVRI in the Eligibil-ity and Order of Selection unit as a Case Facilitator. She is happy to be able

to continue to call UW-Stout and Menomonie her home!

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New Staff MembersNew Staff Members

A mber Schoneick graduated from UW-Stout with a degree in Graphic

Communications Management, and she is working towards a Master of

Science degree in Training and Development. Her background consists of sup-

portive roles in business and industry, as well as human resources and train-

ing. These roles have utilized her desire to work with and help people of all

backgrounds. She is married, and has two young children in elementary

school. In her free time, she enjoys gardening with her family on a one-quarter

acre plot, scrapbooking and card making, sewing, and playing games with her

family. Any given Saturday afternoon each summer, you may also find her

fishing in the area’s many lakes, rivers, and streams.

F i n d i n g A n s w e r s , C r e a t i n g S o l u t i o n s , E n s u r i n g F u t u r e s .

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I vy Schofield is the Program Manager for the new Eligibility and OOS Unit

pilot program at Stout’s Vocational Rehabilitation Institute. She is responsi-

ble for program management and staff supervision within the unit. She has a

Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice/Victim and Offender Services and has en-

joyed focusing on community rehabilitation.

From 2011 to 2012, she worked as a Criminogenic Needs Specialist within Dunn

County’s Diversion Court and Deferred Plea Agreement. She also conducted an

evaluation of local treatment providers and their services and in consultation

with the Dunn County Criminal Justice Collaboration Council and Julienne Gi-

ard, M.S.W., Co-Occurring Disorders and Evidence-based Practices Consultant,

authored “A Roadmap to Improve Services and Outcomes for Individuals with

Co-Occurring Disorders.” This report was the first of its kind in Dunn County and provided recommenda-

tions for an evidence-based/best practices treatment protocol for criminal justice participants with co-

occurring mental health and substance use disorders. It also discussed supported employment and recom-

mendations for the Employer/Community Service Sites’ Needs/Criminal Justice Participants’ Skills Match

Database Project. The recommendations are now being implemented within Dunn County’s treatment

courts.

She has also worked as an employment consultant, a domestic violence treatment provider, a business owner

and co-director of a local wellness/rehabilitation center, a volunteer ALS advocate and board member, and

group facilitator within the local jail and prison system. She is a member of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin

and a Wisconsin Certified Batterer Treatment Provider, focusing on domestic abuse prevention and educa-

tion. She was recently asked to join the Wisconsin Batterer Treatment Providers Association’s education

committee to help develop standards for those interested in becoming certified providers. She also enjoys

providing community re-entry services for those individuals recently released from jail or prison. In her free

time, she enjoys writing, biking, running, kayaking, working in the yard, decorating, candle-making, photog-

raphy, focusing on health and wellness, and spending time with her husband and son.

STOUT VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION INSTITUTE 221 10TH Avenue E. Menomonie, WI 54751 715/232-2571 Fax 715/232-5008 Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at www.uwstou.edu/svri

If you would like more information about training opportunities and/or upcoming events, please visit www.uwstout.edu/svri.

Professional Development

Opportunities

Upcoming Events

CRC Exam Preparation Workshop

August 6–October 1, 2015

Rehabilitation Ethics

August 27-October 1, 2015

New Dual Sensory Course

October 12-December 7, 2015

Wheelchair Clinics

June 9, 2015

July 14, 2015

August 11, 2015

ADA 25th Anniversary

July 26th, 2015

Dr. Cayte Anderson, the Executive Director of SVRI, was se-lected as the Senior Outstanding Researcher for 2015-16. The Senior Outstanding Researcher Award recognizes a highly noteworthy individual for their leadership and signifi-cant contributions to research and scholarly activities at UW

-Stout and who has been at UW-Stout for 7 or more years. The process for selecting the Senior Outstanding Researcher requires former recipients of the award to evaluate the nom-ination papers of those who were nominated or self-nominated. The evaluations are discussed with the Provost who makes the decision. The UW-Stout Research Day Award Ceremony was held on Tuesday, April 28. Congratulations Cayte!

Congratulations, Cayte Anderson!

Left to right: Chancellor Bob Meyer, Cayte An-derson, Interim Provost Jackie Weissenberger