Jason Caputo  0:04  
Hello and welcome. You're listening to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development podcast series where you'll hear all about how the department helps Alaskan workers, job seekers, businesses and communities. I'm Jason Caputo. And my guest today is Charlotte Weatherby. She is in Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation counselor here in the well, she is in the Fairbanks office. I'm over in judo. Charlotte, thank you so much for joining us today.

Charlotte Weatherby  0:29  
Thanks for inviting me.

Jason Caputo  0:31  
There's so many things we can talk about. But I want to focus on why someone who has a disability maybe they're having a little trouble or they sense they're gonna have some trouble getting getting and keeping a good job. Now why would they go through the effort of applying for state service with DVR what do we really have to offer? There's a lot of things there people often know we have resources of different kinds, maybe access to different types of funding sources. But one thing I think that is that is not known a lot, or talked a lot about is our planning process. It's a really amazing, effective planning process. And why is the planning process? You know, why is that so important? I've heard and maybe you can speak about this. When people start to try to work in they see there are some difficulties, that can be very, very complex and different things start going wrong. And maybe they're burning them bridges with employers, because their first step wasn't really the strong supported step with a good plan. But have you experienced that kind of thing where someone you know, who has tried to get work on their own, they have a disability? And they really learn? Oh, my gosh, this is more complex than I first thought. Oh, yes,

Charlotte Weatherby  1:42  
definitely. And I think one of the key points is point out the person's interests. And there are abilities and things that they want to do, of course, here at DVR, we really want to help the individual find the best job fit for them. And so part of that is looking at vocational assessment, looking at their strengths, looking at their interests, because we really want them to enjoy the job they're doing and not dread going to work. We want it to be a good fit.

Jason Caputo  2:06  
Right, right, those strengths and abilities. Have you ever had it happen where someone may be thinks they know their strengths, but you discover more strengths they didn't even know they had or new levels to the strengths? Yeah,

Charlotte Weatherby  2:22  
yes. Sometimes, you know, we're our own worst critic. And so we don't think about all of our strengths, it's hard for us to brag about ourselves. So bringing in a support person, like a family member, or a teacher, or something like that, that you're close to is sometimes a really good way to also show all the good things that we don't think about ourselves.

Jason Caputo  2:41  
So you actually might, yeah, you might bring in other people that the client identifies as being helpful to really understand what they are best at.

Charlotte Weatherby  2:50  
Yeah, if the client wants to involve someone else that's really close to them. I think that's a great idea. Because like I said, they sometimes help point out all those positive things that we forget about ourselves. Another way to identify those strengths is to do some vocational assessment, that can be on the computer, it can be paper pencil, a lot of times the community based ones are really a good way to find that out too. And that's where the counselor might set up a work experience or like an internship with an employer. So the individual can actually try out the job that they think they might like to do.

Jason Caputo  3:24  
Oh, wow. So they actually go in in a real, they're not just practicing this, sir. They're going into a real work environment, with support from DVR and kind of seeing what works, what doesn't work.

Charlotte Weatherby  3:35  
Yeah, and we can help by setting that up, we can help by providing a job coach, but I think the really great takeaway from that is the person gets to actually talk to people doing the job that they want to do, and get to try it out themselves and see is this a good fit. And for example, I worked with somebody who loves working with animals really wanted to do that line of work, wanting to work in a grooming setting, so I set them up with a salon and they found out they love working with animals but they didn't like being wet all day and part of the grooming is, you know, bathing the animal and so we just kind of refocused with animals but in a different setting and so she got to try out working at a veterinarian clinic instead and that was a much better fit. So she liked to do the tasks and she didn't have to do the tasks that she didn't like.

Jason Caputo  4:20  
Yeah, so she got it she got in there she did it she did a kind of a trial work at a dog grooming salon realized I'm wet all day ya know what is

Charlotte Weatherby  4:30  
part of it all? Yeah.

Jason Caputo  4:32  
And so then you're like, Okay, great. We use that information then we put them in a different place has has this stuff she likes not wet all day.

Charlotte Weatherby  4:39  
Right? Right. So just a little need for refocused the first job is the great fit and sometimes we need to just refocus and and look at what is it that you like what is it you just like and then realign.

Jason Caputo  4:52  
So I know that I know that DVR has, you know connections and partnerships with a lot of different businesses so that must be really helpful because you can say, oh, yeah, oh, this didn't work. Oh, we'll reach out to so and so because I know this business would work. Yes,

Charlotte Weatherby  5:07  
yeah, we have a business engagement team. And so they're doing a lot of that outreach. And then as a counselor, we also are doing that, reaching out to employers reaching out to committee members using some of those networking to help the client get into a field that they really want to try. And sometimes the client has those networks, and they just need a little help with identifying, you know, support that DVR can provide in that work experience. So we get to kind of sell our side of, of what we can help with and the services to them fired. And then that way, the client knows that they have us as a safety to they have us to help if they identify, hey, there's there's some struggle that I'm having, is there an accommodation, that would be helpful, and then the DVR counselor can come in and make sure that that's in place so that everything goes smoothly?

Jason Caputo  5:55  
Oh, that's fantastic. That's there's so many aspects of it that are very interesting. When you get into a Community Based Assessment. Like, like you said, you know, you may get in there. And when only when you're in the job, you realize, oh, this, the disability is causing an issue here. We didn't expect that. No one expected that, but we could see it happening. And then that tells you exactly or helps you figure out what the accommodation should be. You mentioned, you mentioned a job coach might go along with because I know some people might be like, Oh, you want to put me in a real business. I'm a little scared about that. And I know you also mentioned, well, we have computer testing, we have an assessment center, someone's not ready for that. Or there might be another reason why the Assessment Center is good. But then I think a job coach also helps with someone who might be

Charlotte Weatherby  6:43  
Oh, definitely, yeah, they do a lot of things they can help with the job search piece, going along with the interviews to kind of just provide that support. And then also helping somebody at the job initially to get started and just kind of be an advocate, and be there on site for when the counselor like I can check in, but I won't be able to be there, the entire shift. Whereas the job coach that we hired could be there, the entire chef, make sure things are going smoothly, give feedback as needed, and just kind of be that liaison that the client has kind of a cheerleader in their corner and someone they can go to if they are having a little bit of anxiety or a little bit of just nervousness trying out a new job.

Jason Caputo  7:24  
Well, you've already I know, we've just scratched the surface here. But you've already described the whole number one, a whole team that could come in as needed. You know, some people I know we work with, they don't want or need a whole lot. And that's fine, too. I know that you guys have always said, hey, it's customized on what our clients need. But if they need it, man, we've got we've you just described the whole support team. And I would like to sign up for the cheerleader who comes to work with me. That that part of it specifically, I really liked that idea.

Um, so. So also, you know, if you could talk to me a little bit about, you know, we talked about one part of the planning process, which is, which is I know, crucial, and evidenced by the fact that we started with that. identifying strengths and abilities. That's what you guys build your whole, you know, the core of the plan is about what someone can do, which is awesome. But also, I know that sometimes people get in a rut, they get stuck, because they're not sure what the next step really is. And, and I've heard that our plans that we develop with people really can help help make that super clear. Can you can you talk about that?

Charlotte Weatherby  8:38  
Yeah, so we can go through the process of like, so vocational assessment is one of the first things for sure, identifying services, accommodations, things like that, that would be helpful. And as the counselor and the client start working together, a lot of things will come to light on what might be helpful, because we do ask a lot of questions. We asked, you know, do you have rides to work? Or do you need, rides? So we identify, where is there a gap that we can help? We want to try to eliminate as many barriers as possible. And so we really want to make sure all the services that are needed are in that plan to help that person be successful, because we're, we're truly for them to you know, we're we're wanting to set them up for success. And so we want to put everything that they might need in the plan so that they feel supported and ready.

Jason Caputo  9:25  
Well, and that's so you the example you mentioned before they even get to work, how are they going to get to work? So it's really comprehensive looking at all these issues. And that's, that's fantastic. You know, what you mentioned, the BEST or the business engagement team, we call them BEST is our so but there are also and then there's the counselor, obviously that's working directly with the client. Are there any other team members that may or may get involved to help?

Charlotte Weatherby  9:56  
Sure. Yeah. So I mentioned the job coach, we also refer to them as I see CRP. And then there's also the voc rehab assistant. And each counselor has an assistant and they work together as a team. So if you can't reach your counselor, because they might be meaning with someone else you can call the assistant and then, and then hopefully, they would be able to assist in anything needed. And if they can't, right at that minute, then they would make sure that counselor calls the person back right away. And then there's the evaluator that does that vocational assessment. And so they might work together with the client, and the counselor in the beginning, they wouldn't be someone that's there long term, but they might be involved in the beginning of that plan development to right, okay. And then whoever the client identifies as wanting to be part of that team, like I mentioned earlier, support person, a family member, they are welcome to bring whomever they want to, to those meetings,

Jason Caputo  10:49  
right. And I've seen that too. I've seen that really help in a way. So that's one example. I wonder if you've seen this to where, you know, someone wanted to do a particular job, and they knew someone in the community, they're actually quite good friends with him that was in that profession, and quarterly helped them but they never thought about enlisting them in that, that input. And so then through the DVR costs, like well, let's get Glenn, his real name to come, you know, to come in and help. Have you seen that happen?

Charlotte Weatherby  11:18  
Yeah, I've seen that happen. For sure. A lot of times, too. It's just a way for them to get to know more about that job. And talk to the person about what what do they actually do from day to day and make sure yeah, and then they can also help with networking and all that good stuff, too.

Jason Caputo  11:33  
That's awesome. Now, what happens if someone is out there? And they they're like, Oh, I'm not ready to go to DVR because I don't know what what job I want to do. Yeah. Is what? Why is

Charlotte Weatherby  11:44  
DVR? I work with people like that all the time. Yeah. Because a lot of times, you know, we don't know what all jobs are available. And sometimes we can't identify what we'd be good at. And so that vocational assessment, I think, is just huge, because we have some very comprehensive ones. One is the career scope. I really liked that one. But wow, we and so it goes through your interests and your aptitudes to see like, where are your strengths? And then at the end of the assessment, it actually gives you a list of recommendations of jobs that match how you answered the question. So I always tell people be as honest as you can on those tests. Don't say you like something if you don't, because it's gauging your interest. And then it's matching you with a job that aligns with those interests. And so that's where I use the starting point is to go through those jobs with the person and then have them highlight this one sounds really interesting. And then I help them research a little bit more about the job or talk to somebody in the field, who does that line of work, just kind of get to know more information about it.

Jason Caputo  12:43  
Gotcha. Interesting. So that that's an interesting point, because I've taken some of those tests and things. And they, like you said, I think, you know, maybe someone will find their end result from taking those tests. But for many of us, I remember kind of thinking when I took them like, Hmm, this is not the end result for me. And you're saying that those tests really are you set a starting point already? Yeah. And so then you can work with a counselor to help and other tools to help,

Charlotte Weatherby  13:11  
right? Because you might talk to people that are doing that kind of work. Or you might do a work experience or internship in that field and see if that is a good fit or not. Yeah, and sometimes you can even kind of weed things out by just doing a little research on it to say like, oh, that's not really what I want to do. So yeah, it's wet all day already. Yeah.

Jason Caputo  13:32  
That's great. Yeah, so So I guess, you know, there, there are a lot more parts, a lot more aspects to a plan that we don't have time to cover now. But I'd love to have you back to talk more about it. But I think you've really, we really talked about and you've explained how, you know, the planning process is is really not something that people can can totally do on their own the DVR planning process, because it brings in this whole team, and it brings in outside experts. And it brings in a broad network of even businesses where people can can actually try jobs out different jobs out and also get all this feedback. Is there anything else? We have time for like one more thing? Is there anything else that you want to add about why? You know why the DVR process is really special and different than any other kind of technique that people would use with disabilities to get and keep a good job?

Charlotte Weatherby  14:31  
Sure. I think kind of going off of what you mentioned just a minute ago about getting experts involved. We can hire people who who are experts like assistive technology. We can do assessments with someone who is an expert in that field. Just today I met with one of my clients who's having a struggle at her job. She is hearing impaired and one of the parts of her job is she does communicate with people walking in asking questions, people calling, asking questions, and she's missing some of those pieces and so getting her assistive technology that's going to help her do her job better to be able to maintain her job, make her feel good at work. And instead of feeling like she's struggling, and so just even things like that, we can hire somebody to come in, do an assessment on what assistive technology might be helpful. And then sometimes DVR can help with with getting that for the workspace, or talk to the employer about getting that for the workspace. So that person can feel like they're doing the best job that they can. So we work with people who not only are coming into us not sure what they want to do, but we also have people coming to us and saying, Hey, I'm really struggling in my job. Can you help me keep it? And so we do a lot of that too.

Jason Caputo  15:39  
Right? Right. Right. That's, that's fantastic. And so so someone who has a good job, disability has changed, maybe got a little worse, or even just changed in a way that they're like, oh, I don't know how to how to deal with that. And so they can they even if you have a job, you can still get your you may lose. Right call PVR. That's fantastic. Yeah. And that's important. I think that's another thing that's not talked about as much people don't know, so so. So we're talking to people with disabilities out there. But also employers, employers, if you have a great employee who's struggling, all of a sudden, their, their productivity goes down, or you know, their attention to detail is going down what's going on. Maybe it's a disability. And maybe you know, if that if that person, divulges it, you can help them get connected with DVR so we can come in and help you save that great employee, maybe even a lot of time and that's fantastic. So, so that's fantastic. This has been super great. I need to have you back because you're like a font.

Charlotte Weatherby  16:37  
Yeah. Yeah,

Jason Caputo  16:39  
this is awesome. So for folks listening, if you are interested in learning more about DVR, you want to sign up for services, the link to our website, online application. And also our telephone number will be in the description of this video. Just give us a call either to start moving forward on services, or visit the website or to learn more and talk with someone who is going to be as wonderful as Charlotte has been, and and just answer all your questions and give you support. So thanks, Charlotte for joining me. This has been great. Thanks, Jason. This has been the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development podcast series. Thank you, Charlotte for talking about DVRs planning process and great services for Alaskans with disabilities today and thank you, listeners for joining us. We hope you found the show informative, and that you'll join us for our next podcast.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai