Priorities and changing practices: Vocational rehabilitation and
community colleges improving workforce development programs for people with
disabilities
Affiliations: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA | Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: K. Brigid Flannery, 1235 University
of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1235, USA. Tel.: +1 541 346 2496; Fax: +1 541 346
5517; E-mail: brigidf@uoregon.edu
Abstract: Short-term training programs are viable employment training options
for individuals with disabilities seeking family-wage jobs. The purpose of this
article is to describe (a) a community college short-term training program that
was adapted in partnership with vocational rehabilitation to meet the needs of
vocational rehabilitation consumers attending these programs, and (b) the
continuous improvement process, which includes a self-assessment tool and
action planning that was used to adapt the program to address the needs of
vocational rehabilitation consumers. After identifying a set of features and
indicators of successful short-term training programs, a
self-assessment/continuous improvement process was implemented. This
collaborative process provided a mechanism for the college programs and
stakeholders to make necessary adjustments to support students also served by
the vocational rehabilitation system. The self-assessment tool and
action-planning process were demonstrated to be efficient, flexible across
college and vocational rehabilitation regions, and important ingredients for
assisting stakeholders from a variety of agencies to work together to improve
outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
