VABIR

VABIR and VocRehab client gives back to the community

rdavies — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:36:53 +0000

Mike Fairbanks (left), Melissa Mahoney-Carvey and Steve Mestyan pose behind a free food stand set up at the Asa Bloomer State Office Building in Rutland. The stand is part of The Garden Project — a collaborative effort between a variety of groups to bring free fresh food to people in the Rutland area. Fairbanks is with the community garden, Mahoney-Carvey is with the Vermont Association of Business, Industry and Rehabilitation (VABIR) while Mestyan works in the state’s economic service division. Beside the community garden, several area farms contribute produce to the project.

By Bruce Edwards
Rutland Herald STAFF WRITER – Published: July 26, 2010

Waterbury, TBI

rdavies — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:06:06 +0000

Joseph Nusbaum

You Can Make A Difference

jboughton — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:50:17 +0000

No Brain Injury Association event highlights our mission more vividly than the Walk for Thought. That’s because so many of our participants are people with a brain injury, their families, friends, caregivers, and co-workers. The Walk for Thought takes on a special significance for many and becomes a personal cause.
Why should you help?
In today’s fast-paced world, accidents happen. In an instant, you or a person you love could experience an unexpected trauma or illness that results in brain injury. Supporting the Walk for Thought means more funding for important preventative programs, plus support programs for those with a brain injury and their loved ones.

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2010
Time: 8:00am – 4:00pm
Location: Oaklede park Burlington

Download PDF of the Walk for Thought event

New Tool Helps Small Businesses Understand Disability Laws

rdavies — Wed, 26 May 2010 12:46:41 +0000

New Tool Helps Small Businesses Understand Disability Laws

When it comes to having a workplace welcoming of all qualified individuals, most business owners want to do the right thing. But understanding responsibilities under nondiscrimination laws and regulations can be daunting, especially for small businesses without dedicated human resource or legal functions.

Fortunately, a new tool makes understanding disability nondiscrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a lot easier. The online Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor helps employers of all sizes quickly determine which federal disability nondiscrimination laws apply to their business and their responsibilities under them.

To do this, the Advisor asks a few relevant questions, such as nature of business, size of staff and whether the business receives federal funds. Based on responses provided, it then generates a customized list of federal disability nondiscrimination laws that likely apply, along with easy-to-understand information about their requirements.

The Advisor can also help employees, job applicants, and people applying for or participating in federally funded programs learn more about their rights and responsibilities. In addition, it includes a Guide on Employing People with Disabilities that outlines resources available to help employers comply with disability nondiscrimination laws while also achieving their hiring and productivity goals.

The Disability Nondiscrimination Advisor is one of a series of elaws (Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses) Advisors developed by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to help employers and employees understand federal employment laws. To access it, visit the elaws Web site.

VABIR honors Poultney firm- article from the Rutland Herald

rdavies — Mon, 17 May 2010 16:49:32 +0000

POULTNEY – Ultravation Inc., specialists in indoor air quality improvement technology, was named Employer of the Year by the Vermont Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and The Vermont Association of Business, Industry and Rehabilitation at the annual Employer Recognition Breakfast.

The Employer of the Year award was presented to Ultravation for their exceptional support of the employment of Vermonters with disabilities. It was accepted for Ultravation, by Wayne Snow, production manager and Jim Russell, production supervisor.

Ultravation has been involved with VocRehab Vermont and VABIR for five years. The company is committed to diversity in the workplace and to promoting opportunities for those with disabilities to succeed in the community.

Regional Managers (2)

rdavies — Mon, 03 May 2010 22:15:04 +0000

Regional Managers

VABIR (The Vermont Association of Business, Industry & Rehabilitation) is seeking two regional managers to provide supervision and support to our 70+ staff throughout the State of Vermont.

The ideal candidate will possess excellent interpersonal skills, ability to deal effectively with a wide range of individuals and organizations, as well as good administrative, organizational, program planning, and personnel management skills.

Travel within the state required.

Positions start at $43K plus benefits.

Please follow the link to our Career Builder page to apply

http://www.careerbuilder.com/Jobs/Company/C8B7M55ZR6Y6DMH37MW/VABIR-Jobs/

Posting Closes 5/21/2010

“I Can” Public Service Annnouncment

rdavies — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:42:55 +0000

In support of the What Can YOU Do? outreach effort, the Campaign for Disability Employment is pleased to present the Campaign for Disability Employment’s “I Can” public service announcement (PSA). This flagship PSA was produced specifically for the What Can YOU Do? Campaign. It features seven real people – not actors – with hidden and obvious disabilities, demonstrating what they “can do” on the job when given the opportunity. Intended for television broadcast, we would like to see this PSA and its inspiring message distributed as widely as possible. We invite you to share it with others so we can all remember that at work, it’s what people can do that matters.

PSAAD2_I can *Please click on the link to play the video.

I can

NEK, 2010 Outstanding Employer and Community Partner Award Recipients

rdavies — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:57:38 +0000

March 18, 2010

Creative Workforce Solutions and the members of the Northeast Kingdom Job Coalition wish to formally thank the following businesses for supporting people with diverse abilities seeking employment and community inclusion.

The following business’s has demonstrated a commitment to diversity in the workplace and to providing opportunities for individuals to succeed in our community. In honor of that commitment, we recognize the following organizations as leaders in the Northeast Kingdom business community.

2010 Outstanding Employer and Community Partner Award Recipients

Greg’s Auto

Giroux Trucking Mike Giroux

Kingdom Imports

Kingdom Cleaners

Cleanway Services

Matthew Burak

Riverside Boarding & Grooming

Mike Mathers

LASA

North Danville Pet Hotel

Burke Mountain Academy

Weidmann Electrical

Wildflower Inn

AmeriCorps

Genfoot, Inc

Yankee Builders

Tim’s Deli

Play and Learn Play Care

Green Mountain United Way

Timbuktu’s

Mike’s Auto

NVRH

Justice Center

KATV

Passumpic Saving Bank

Barnie’s Market

Shaw’s Littleton

Shaw’s Woodsville

Wal-Mart Littleton

Wal-Mart- Woodsville

Price Chopper

Second Chance Farm

Fed Ex

JC Penny

Valley View Family Restaurant

House of Pizza

Bagel Depot

Willey’s Restaurant

2010 Outstanding Employer and Community Partner Award Recipients

Caledonia School

Lyndon Furniture

NSA

Northeast Ag

Sodexho

Moo-FM

Freighthouse

St. Jay Hardware

P&S Furniture

St. Jay Food Coop

Kinship Farm

Lyndonville Agway

Allen Lumber

AquaRealm & Aquarium

Aldrich Fabrication

Green Mountain Book Store

Emerson Fall’s Day Care

Rural Community Transport

HOPE

Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium

Area Agency on Aging

Kingdom Recovery

St. Johnsbury Nutritional Center

Poulos Insurance

Mc Donald’s

Caledonia Kiln

Vermont Packaging

Mobile Medical International Corp

Northeast Kingdom Job Coalition Members include:

Vermont Department of Labor
Northeast Kingdom Human Services
Voc Rehab Vermont
Green Mountain United Way
Vermont Associates
Vermont Association of Business, Industry and Rehabilitation (VABIR)
Economic Services
Northeast Kingdom Youth Services
Rural and Agricultural Voc Rehab

Employment Oportunities with VABIR

rdavies — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:02:24 +0000

Waterbury Job Developer -working in partnership with the Traumatic Brain Injury Association of Vermont

Business Account manager (6 positions around the state)

Regional Manager (2)

please go to the link below to apply

http://www.careerbuilder.com/Jobs/Company/C8B7M55ZR6Y6DMH37MW/VABIR/?IPath=QHKCV&sc_cmp1=13_JobRes_ComDet&APath=2.21.21.0.0&ff=21

Bristol Woman Wins State Award And Rediscovers Her Love Of Music

rdavies — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:23:27 +0000

Bristol Woman Wins State Award And Rediscovers Her Love Of Music In The Process photo provided Helen Zamojski, stage name, Portia, belts out a torch song at Living Well’s Bee a Honey Fun-Raisin’ Dinner at Mary’s Restaurant in Bristol, last November. Tuesday March 23, 2010 It wasn’t long ago that Helen Zamojski thought she would never have fun again, much less earn a living. This was a tough pill to swallow for someone who had once been lucky enough to work as a classically-trained musician. Helen spent years playing the viola in the Washington, D.C area with various orchestras, even performing in the National Cathedral. It was her dream job, but that dream turned into something of a nightmare when Helen developed a debilitating arthritic condition in her spine that made it impossible to hold a viola under her chin. After several risky surgeries and almost being paralyzed, Helen was forced to give up her dream. Helen then moved to Vermont to get away from the stresses of city life that only aggravated her health problems, but found there wasn’t much call for an ex-violist, no matter how talented they were. But Helen wasn’t about to let her disability sideline her for long. With the help of Vermont’s own Department of Vocational and Rehabilitation, Helen was able to build on other skills and find another way to support herself. VocRehab Vermont has been very successful in helping Vermonters with disabilities find employment. Their job placement rate is higher than the national average and has experienced a 142% increase over the last 12 years; moving more than 1200 Vermonters off public assistance and into gainful employment. VocRehab works with the Vermont Association of Business, Industry and Rehabilitation (VABIR) to place people like Helen with employers that are progressive enough to see the advantage of hiring people with disabilities. Living Well Residential Care Home in Bristol is one of those organizations. The holistic and nurturing environment at Living Well Residential Care Home was the perfect place for Helen to begin her new career where she is now serves as their Operations Manager. In fact, Helen’s return to the work world has been so successful she was recently honored with the Director’s Award from Diane Dalmasse, Director of VocRehab and from Chris McCarthy, Executive Director of VABIR. They also honored Living Well Residential Care Home their Director’s Employer Award for their work with Helen. Finding a new way to earn a living inspired Helen to find a new way to bring music back into her life, as well. She may not be able to hold a viola anymore, but she can still hold a microphone and, brother, can she sing!