UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES

REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

WASHINGTON, DC 20202

> INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
>
> RSA-IM-05-06
>
> DATE: February 22, 2005

ADDRESSEES: STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCIES (GENERAL)

> STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCIES (BLIND)
>
> REGIONAL REHABILITATION CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
>
> RSA REHABILITATION COUNSELING LONG-TERM TRAINING PROJECTS
>
> STATE REHABILITATION COUNCILS
>
> CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
>
> PROTECTION & ADVOCACY OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS PROGRAMS
>
> AMERICAN INDIAN VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS
>
> CONSUMER ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS
>
> RSA SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

SUBJECT : Call for Topics -- Thirty-Second Institute on Rehabilitation
Issues (2005‑2006)

CONTENT : This Information Memorandum (IM) is to request your assistance
in identifying topics for the Thirty-Second Institute on Rehabilitation
Issues (IRI). The IRI originated as the Guidance, Training and Placement
(GTP) workshop in 1947 and since that time has evolved to be an activity
unique to the State-Federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) program, in
which rehabilitation professionals and others with special expertise on
the topics selected for study, come together to discuss the issues and
to develop innovative training materials to improve the skills of VR
professionals. In this manner, the VR program is able to develop timely
publications containing cutting-edge solutions to some of the most
pressing challenges facing the rehabilitation field.

The basic purposes of the IRI are to identify and discuss current issues
of importance to the State-Federal VR program, and to publish materials
that can be used by persons responsible for staff development in the
State VR agencies, Regional Rehabilitation Continuing Education Programs
(RRCEP), Rehabilitation Counselor Long-Term Training Programs, and by
others concerned about staff development in rehabilitation. For many
years, the IRI topics have been of great importance as a technical
assistance resource to the rehabilitation community. The publications
resulting from the IRI are widely distributed to the State VR agencies,
State Rehabilitation Councils, RRCEPs, university rehabilitation
counselor degree programs and consumer groups.

On May 1, 2005, members of the IRI Planning Committee will discuss the
topics considered to be most relevant for study. This meeting occurs
immediately prior to the National IRI Forum, which will be held on May
2-3, 2005, at the Doubletree Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.
The topics selected for study during the next IRI cycle will be
announced at the opening session of the Forum on Monday, May 2.

> The criteria used by the IRI Planning Committee to select the topics
> for study are:

1\. The topic is currently one of concern to a large number of State VR
agencies.

> 2\. It is a topic that can be completed within a year.

3\. There are recognized experts or a body of literature that will be
available to the primary study group.

Clearly, wide dissemination and utilization of the products resulting
from the IRI are the goals of all concerned. Approximately 3,500 copies
of each publication are printed, depending upon the level of interest
expressed. IRI publications are also placed on the university
coordinators' web sites, and are available from the National Clearing
House on Rehabilitation Training Materials. It is the goal of the IRI
Planning Committee to improve and enhance the use of the IRI
publications by VR practitioners in all rehabilitation settings, and to
ensure that the documents are meeting current training needs.

Attached is a list containing the IRI topics studied since 1999. Also
attached is the form that you may use when submitting topics. **Please
submit suggested topics no later than March 15, 2005, to Charles Sadler,
the RSA IRI Coordinator.**

When submitting topics, please be sure that you have included sufficient
information on the form so that appropriate decisions on the selection
of topics can be made. After selecting the topics for study, the
Commissioner will assign one to each of the two university coordinators.

Membership on an IRI study group is both a privilege and an honor, and
we appreciate your continued interest and support of the IRI process.

> Joanne Wilson
>
> Commissioner

Attachments

cc: Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation

**Titles of Recent IRI Topics**

[Twenty-Sixth IRI (1999)]{.underline}

1.  Using the Internet as a Resource to the Work of the VR Counselor --
    GW

2.  The Family as a Critical Partner in the Achievement of a Successful
    Employment Outcome -- AR

3.  Effective Strategies to Improve the Achievement of Employment for
    Individuals Who Are SSI/SSDI Participants -- UWS

[Twenty-Seventh IRI (2000)]{.underline}

4.  Succession Planning in a Customer-Focused VR Environment -- UWS

5.  Effective Strategies for Improving Employment Outcomes for Persons
    with Kidney Failure -- AR

6.  Providing VR Services in a Workforce Environment -- GW

[Twenty-Eighth IRI (2001)]{.underline}

7.  Investing in the Transition of Youth with Disabilities to Productive
    Careers -- AR

8.  TANF and Vocational Rehabilitation: Partnering for Employment
    Success - UWS

9.  Distance Education: Opportunities and Issues for the Public
    Vocational Rehabilitation Program -- GW

[Twenty-Ninth IRI (2002)]{.underline}

10. Teaching Orientation & Mobility Professionals: Non-Traditional
    Approaches to Meet Critical Staffing Shortages -- GWU

11. Promoting Consumer Empowerment through Professional Vocational
    Rehabilitation Counseling -- UAR

[Thirtieth IRI (2003)]{.underline}

12. Innovative Methods for Providing VR Services to Individuals with
    Psychiatric Disabilities -- GWU

13. A New Paradigm for Vocational Evaluation: Empowering the VR Consumer
    through Vocational Information -- UAR

**KEY**:

UAR University of Arkansas

> GWU The George Washington University

UWS University of Wisconsin-Stout

**Topic Suggestion Form**

### Thirty-Second Institute on Rehabilitation Issues (IRI) 2005-2006

**Note: Deadline for submission is March 15, 2005. We prefer electronic
submissions.** Please complete all items and include additional
attachments if necessary.

1.  Title of suggested topic:

2.  Briefly describe the issues to be addressed in publication:

> A.
>
> B.
>
> C.
>
> D.
>
> E.
>
> F.
>
> G.

3.  Intended audience:

4\. Describe the potential effects on improving services to individuals
with disabilities:

> A.
>
> B.
>
> C.
>
> D.
>
> E.

**Topic Suggestion Form for the Thirty-first IRI (continued)**

5\. Provide the names and addresses of persons with knowledge of this
topic:

> A.
>
> B.
>
> C.
>
> D.
>
> E.

6\. Topic submitted by:

> Name:
>
> Title:
>
> Employer:
>
> Address:
>
> Telephone/FAX:
>
> E-mail:
>
> **Please return no later than March 15, 2005 to:**
>
> Charles Sadler
>
> VR Program Specialist
>
> Rehabilitation Services Administration
>
> 550 12^th^ Street, SW, Room 5002
>
> Washington, DC 20204
>
> VOICE: (202) 245-7514
>
> FAX: (202) 245-7590
>
> FEDERAL RELAY: (800) 877-8339
>
> E-MAIL: <charles.sadler@ed.gov>