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Many Nations, United Voice
10.01.07: Public Service Announcement by the Department of Rehabilitation
Services and the Oklahoma Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Council.
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“Many Nations, United Voices” video transcript:
(Music)
Announcer: American Indians with disabilities who seek employment often
walk alone on a frightening path, where their own skills and abilities are not
easily recognized. Assisting tribal members with disabilities in preparing for
and obtaining employment based on each individual’s abilities and interest is
the mission of the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation program located across the
state of Oklahoma.
Many Nations, United Voices
Presented by Oklahoma Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Council and Oklahoma
Department of Rehabilitation Services.
Announcer: Oklahoma Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Programs provide
culturally appropriate services to any eligible American Indian. In order to
receive services you must be a member of a federally recognized tribe and live
within the tribal vocational rehabilitation service area. You must be able and
willing to gain employment after receiving rehabilitation services. Once you’re
determined eligible, you and your VR counselor will develop a written plan based
on your specific needs.
Types of services may include guidance and counseling, physical and mental
restoration, training services, rehabilitation technology, job placement and
other goods or services that determined necessary to help you go to work. Each
Oklahoma Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation program has a working partnership with
the state of Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. As a consumer you
have the option to work with both programs during the rehabilitation process.
Michael Jackson, Consumer: “It was not just a working relationship
between them, but it was a team effort. They kept each other appraised of my
support system, which was a large number of agencies.”
Announcer: The VR process unfolds into seven steps. They are Application,
Evaluation, Determination of Eligibility, Planning, Receiving VR services,
Employment, and Post-Employment Services.
Step 1: Application
When you meet with your counselor for the time, the counselor will explain the
rehabilitation process and gather information such as medical history, work
history, education, training, abilities, interests, needs, and employment goals.
Charles Sleeper, Counselor: “I ask what their interests are? What type of
work experience they had before and what they will be interested in.”
Anita Selvidge, Counselor: “We just sit and discuss your goals. How your
impediment effects your ability to work. What you feel your needs are to be
employable.”
Announcer: You’ll also be informed of your rights and responsibilities
including confidentiality of your personal information. Step required to fill
counselor decisions and access to the client assistance program, which act as a
client advocate.
Debby Wilson, Consumer: “I liked the idea that he was sensitive to
privacy and was respectful of how I felt and he respectful of my needs. I didn’t
have to worry about put downs. I didn’t have to worry about judgments. I could
be real free in how I spoke to him. He seemed to understand what I was going
through.”
Announcer: You can speed up the application process by bringing
information that is able to you such as medical, psychological and education
records to your first meeting. The counselor will need the names of your doctors
or therapists and any medications you are taking. If this information is not
available you may be asked to sign release forms that permit your physician to
provide medial records to the VR Office.
Step 2 – Evaluation
The tribal VR program will evaluate your disability to decide if you are
eligible for services. If additional test are needed, the counselor may arrange
an appointment with a physician, psychologist or other health care
professionals.
Step 3 – Eligibility
There are many disabilities ranging from depression to chemical dependency to
disabilities resulting from accident or illness. Just having a disability
doesn’t necessarily mean that you are eligible for VR services. The disability
must make it very difficult for you to get or keep a job.
Step 4 – Plan for employment
If you are determined eligible for a tribal VR program, the next step will
include you and your VR counselor developing a written individualize plan for
employment or IPE. At this point, your tribal counselor and state Department of
Rehabilitation counselor may work with you together if you are receiving
services from both programs.
Anita Selvidge, Counselor: “And we’re going to sit down and we’re going to
determine what you’re going to need to be successful. If it’s a two year
college degree, if it’s day care, or if it’s transportation. We’re going to plan
out these services together. Once we agree on these services, and this is how
you’re going to reach your goal and we’ll both sign this agreement and start you
on your path to employment.”
Announcer: Your VR counselor will provide information about choices you
have in developing the plan. The IPE is a written record of services that will
help you prepare for , find, keep or return to employment goal based on your
abilities, interests, resources and informed choice.
Pamela Bobelu, Counselor: “I am just showing you or laying out different
options for you – it’s your choice to pick whichever direction you go.”
Announcer: It is very important that you are involved in the planning and
following through with the IPE for you to succeed in reaching your employment
goal.
Marilyn Nuttle, Consumer: “Since I was asking them for help I thought
well, their going to tell me what to do but it was me telling them what I wanted
to do. They were just there to help me, to make it clear how I could accomplish
that cause they wanted to me succeed at what I was going to do.”
Announcer: After you and your counselor sign the IPE you will get a copy.
If your needs change while you are in the Vocational Rehabilitation program your
plan may be changed. You may ask for a review of your plan at any time.
Wendell Schurzs, Counselor: “If there is a situation with the consumers
as far as wanting to do something different then an append is made to the IPE.”
Announcer: Step 5 – VR Services
Many different services are available to help you reach your employment goal.
Your VR services will probably be different from those received by others
because the services outlined in your IPE are based on your individual needs and
goals. Your VR counselor will discuss with you the different services that are
available to reach your employment goal.
Jessie Ply, Counselor: “We are here to serve you. So, we what to know
what you want to do. We want to make that possible for you. We have all these
different ways to make that happen.”
Zoie Stumblingbear, Counselor: “Whatever it is that we can do to help you
succeed that’s what we are going to do for you.”
Announcer: Services may include training, resource information, assistive
technology, employment placement and traditional healing. Throughout the VR
process, counseling and guidance will be provided to you by your VR counselor.
Training includes vocational, on-the-job, personal and vocational adjustment
training, job search skill development and job coaching.
Assistive technology such as telecommunication, sensory and other rehabilitation
equipment may be provided to help you function more effectively in the
workplace. Information and referrals also are provided to help you get
appropriate services from other agencies. Employment services including job
search, placement and follow-up services may help you find and keep suitable
employment in your chosen career.
The uniqueness of the tribal VR programs is the alternative to provide
traditional healing services such as the medicine man or woman, or participating
in the ceremonial sweat lodge and other cultural services. A limited number of
traditional medicine men and women are still living today. Healing practices are
gifts and these gifts are passed down only to those who will continue to help
others. At the request of the consumer, a medicine man or woman may be called
upon to provide services that may be used in the treatment of substance abuse,
chronic pain and physical illness. The specifics of these treatments are very
private in nature.
Step 6 – Employment
The goal of vocational rehabilitation is to help people with disabilities find
suitable employment. Although you must take responsibility as a consumer, your
VR counselor will assist you every step of the way, including your search for a
job.
Mary Ross, Counselor: “I will help you with interviewing skills, a resume
preparation and if there is any other additional referrals that I can make to
other agencies or other individuals I will also do that.”
Announcer: It is important to let your counselor know when you start work
at a new job. Once you go to work, your counselor will continue to help you and
provide additional services needed for three months. Generally, your VR case
will be closed after you have worked successfully for 90 days.
Step 7 - Post-Employment Services
If your situation changes and you loose or have trouble keeping your job, you
may go back to the VR office for more help. Post-employment services may be
available to help you keep your job or get your job back, move ahead on your job
or move to a better job.
Michael Jackson, Consumer: “They will put that light inside to where
you start directing your life again. You start making the choices that you feel
you’ve lost. So that gives you that independence, it gives you that empowerment
that you have control of your life again.”
Donna Shockley, Consumer: “It’s made me a better person, more confident.
I am a better mother, grandmother.”
Dail Allen, Consumer: “It has totally changed my life around. I am very
grateful for what they’ve done for me.”
Harvey Monetathchi, Consumer: “I had almost given up pursuing a higher
education when they came to my rescue. I am ever grateful to them.”
Tammera Bearbow, Consumer: “They brought me up, made me feel better about
life and having a job and I can do it. I know I am strong enough to do it.”
Announcer: Delivering culturally appropriate VR services to any tribal
members living in Oklahoma is a very important part of the VR process. It gives
American Indians the confidence needed to better share their talents and
abilities with the entire community
Oklahoma Tribal VR Programs are here to serve you. For more information, call
the nearest Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation office or the state Department of
Rehabilitation Services.
The Apache Tribal VR Program in Anadarko, 405-247-7494
The Cherokee Tribal VR Program in Tahlequah, 918-453-5004
The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal VR Program in El Reno, 405-422-7617
The Chickasaw Tribal VR Program in Ada, 580-436-0553
The Choctaw Tribal VR Program in Hugo, 877-285-6893
The Delaware Tribal VR Program in Oklahoma City, 405-632-3749.
The Iowa Tribal VR Program in Perkins, 888-336-4692.
The Muscogee (Creek) Tribal VR Program in Okemah, 888-367-2332.
The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services statewide call 800-845-8476.
This video is presented by Oklahoma Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation and the
Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.
Credits:
Narrated by Enoch Kelly Haney.
Principal Chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
Native American flute music from “Prairie Rain” 2003
Written and Performed by Terry Tsotigh
Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma
Terry_straightdancer@yahoo.com
Thanks to Jim Anquee and the Redstone Singers of Oklahoma
www.myspace.com/redstoneoklahoma
Dedicated to the Memory of Robert Washington 1955-2007
©OTVR Council 2007