......................................................................................................................................... Join Skype Meeting Trouble Joining? Try Skype Web App Join by phone Toll number: +1 267-332-8737,,410638432# (Dial-in Number) English (United States) Find a local number Conference ID: 410638432 Forgot your dial-in PIN? |Help [!OC([1033])!] ......................................................................................................................................... Hello all, OVR is happy to announce the availability of 2 new summer statewide initiatives to provide students with disabilities work experience and career exploration. The Altoona District Office will be having an in-depth training from Central Office on April 29, 2021 from 1-3 pm. At 1:00 pm Central Office will focus on the “My Work” initiative and 2-3 pm the focus will be on the “Professional Connections Experience (PCE)”. You may attend both or either sessions based on your interest and availability. I will send a Skype invite with the PowerPoint information. Feel free to forward to others in your organizations as you see fit. 1. “My Work” The “My Work” Initiative began in Pittsburgh in 2016 as a collaborative program lead by OVR staff and assisted by provider agencies. It has a long history of successful collaboration between OVR, Local Education Agencies (LEAs), local government, and non-profits. The cornerstone of the program is providing students with disabilities work experience within their local communities. These experiences also benefit the community by providing extra help during summer months to accomplish projects like community beautification, children’s programming, and customer service. OVR is looking to replicate this program in other parts of Pennsylvania and is seeking provider partners to assist in its expansion. To replicate this program in other communities, District Office (DO) staff will collaborate with providers to develop a “MY Work” Initiative program that is tailored to individual students and DO needs. Providers will assist DO staff in placing students in work experiences and provide worksite trainers for onsite coordination and support. Typical positions are: Public Works: Mowing, Landscaping, Pruning, Weed-whacking, Painting, Placing/Stacking Bricks, Maintenance, Gardening, Pool Ticket Taker Indoor: Clerical Functions, Filing, Answering Phones, Customer Service, Digitizing/Scanning, Mapping, Data Entry, Cleaning, Maintenance, Painting, (Positions indoor were limited due to Covid-19) 1. “Professional Connections Experience (PCE)” A “Professional Connections Experience (PCE)” is defined as one (1) week of group presentations on workplace readiness and job exploration, and one (1) week of exploration of the world of work through job shadows, informational and mock interviews, or in-person workplace tours and acquisition of prerequisite work documents (e.g. photo ID, work permits, financial documentation). Virtual services may be utilized if needed, but are at the discretion of the DO. PCE will consist of a set schedule of sixty (60) hours within a two (2) week period. A PCE may have a max of 20 students with an instructor ratio of 4 students to 1 instructor. Because of COVID, I know this year has been a difficult one. Hopefully, you are excited about these initiatives and providing students new ways to learn. Altoona BVRS transition coordinators; Melissa Martin VRS, melissmart@pa.gov and Craig Schield ADA cschield@pa.gov will be the lead for these programs. Feel free to email them with any questions. Respectfully, Colleen Woodring District Administrator Altoona BVRS