Spilyay Tymoo
Warm Springs, Oregon
October 5, 2000 3
Vocation Rehabilitation Department holds open house
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;'' ' The Warm Springs Voca
': tional Rehabilitation program held
an Open House Wednesday,
' September 20 to share with the
'public what the program does and
1 the people they serve. Brief tours
' were conducted, and staff were
available to meet the public and
1 'answer questions,
f ' ' Successful clients who went
'"through the program were also on
hand throughout the day. Most
shared their success stories and
spoke of the assistance they
' received from the program that
helped them to achieve employ
ment. Successful clients spoke of
the places they worked and how
they enjoyed their jobs.
Two VR Board Members,
Emma Smith and Dr. Creelman,
were present showing their support
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; Walt Quinn, Private Janitorial
j Contractor
j Employed since 1997
j Disability: Addiction
How did VR Help? They
helped me to realize the difference
between an addictive path versus a
get-out-of-life-what-I-want path. I
enjoyed the talking more than
anything else because that's what I
needed most. There was a connection.
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- Lori Switzler, Senior Staff Accountant, Tribal Finance, pictured
with Dr. Creelman, '
' Second Term on VR Advisory Board'
'"Employed since 1197 "
''Disability: Rheumatoid Arthritis .'
How did VR Help? Computer training at COCC, vehicle repair,
on-the-job training contract, insurance, and professional office clothing.
' I also received support in dealing with my disability and how it effects
'tnyjob. I appreciate the support of the staff and the program intent. I
'am glad VR is here to help others like me. :
to people with Disabilities. Other
Board members include: Chaz
Mitchell, Carol Parra, Leo Wash
ington, Harold Blackwolf, Charlotte
Pitt, and Mitch Conley.
The Open House was well
attended. To commemorate the
occasion free T-Shirts, Magnets,
and Pens were given out, Food and
snacks were available, and informa
tion was displayed, including the
Mission Statement & Goals,
Eligibility Criteria, Examples of
Disabilities & Substantial Impedi
ments, Listing of Advisory Board
Members, Policy Manual, Annual ,
Budget, Year-To-Date Consumer
Statistics, Current Project Period
Consumer Statistics, Program
Costs, and a Client Case File
Example.
The VR program is 100
Successful Clients. These are individuals who over a minimum four-month period, had worked either part-time
90 consecutive days. This is the Federal standard that must be met in order to successfully close a person
John Finch, Warehouseman,
Food Commodities Warehouse
Employed since 2397 (with a
break)
Disability: Addiction
How did VR Help? Guidance
and putting me in touch with other
resources that were available to me.
I received an on-the-job training
contract, vehicle repair, CPR
training, and computer training.
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federally funded and operates on a
Fiscal Year (October to September).
No funds from the Warm Springs
Tribal Budget supports the opera
tion of the VR Program. VR has
been in operation in Warm Springs
since October 1992. At the end of
this month, VR is ending their first
year of a five-year Grant.
There are 55 Indian VR
programs in the United States.
Each must compete for funding.
There are only two Indian VR
programs in Oregon, they are Warm
Springs and Grand Ronde.
Because citizens all across the
United States pay Federal taxes, VR
cannot limit services to only Warm
Springs Tribal Members. They
must serve any Native American as
long as he or she meets all eligibil
ity criteria. '
If.
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Marena Florez, Registrar, Boys
& Girls Club.
Employed since 5800
Disability: Addiction
How VR Helped: increased
confidence and self-esteem,
obtained stability in my life,
supported me in getting my ODL
back, and helped me with transpor
tation problems, Marena enjoys .
working with the Boys & Girls . -Club.
Their mission is to provide a
positive, safe place for kids and
teens to inspire and enable all
young people to realize their full
potential as productive and respon
sible caring citizens. ,'
Marlon LeClaire, Press Operator,
Warm Springs Composite
Products
Employed since 398
Disability: Addiction
. How did VR Help? Helped
with GED, on-the-job training
contract, and getting the job I have
now. I am glad they were there to
support me and give me guidance.
They're really good People. 1
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(Staff Picture) left to right. Front row: Laurel Wheeler, secretary, George Aguilar Jr, counselor, Lucinda
Jim, secretary assistant. Back Row: Rhonda Atencio, intake coordinator and statistician, Cecil Ballou, counselor,
and Tricia Sahme, director. Not pictured is Corina Brunoe. Corina is on Maternity Leave until December.
Rhonda Atencio is filling in while she is on leave. Also, Jonathan Smith who is preparing to return to Mt, Hood
Community College. Jon worked with VR for the summer.
. Lamont Brown, Groundskeeper
& Custodian, Museum at Warm
Springs
Employed since 0300
Disability: Addiction
How VR Helped: I was jailed
- and a friend referred me to VR. VR
helped me get the charges dropped.
I have been sober and tree or
marijuana since May 1999. Each
day makes my sobriety get easier.
It took me 15 months to get my
ODL back. I also run a lawn
mowing business on the side called
MowMo. VR also helped me with
computer classes. I use the comput-
..' ers at work to change the room
' temperatures and control the heat
pumps.
Randy Scott, Realty Technician
Employed since 1996
How did VR Help? I got
back on my feet. I was incarcerated
and was able to get a Work Release.
VR helped me to get a chance to
prove myself at the job by offering
a "on-the-job" contract where they
reimbursed the employer my wages
at 100 the first month, 80 the
second, and 50 the third. By the
end of the reimbursement time, I
proved that I could do the job, show
up to work, and get it done. So I
was hired after that.
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or full-time in a job for more than
from the VR program.
Sandy Henry, Secretary
Purchasing Agent, Warm
Springs Police Department
Employed since 899 - n,
Disability: Addiction ! n
" How VR Helped: They "
Helped me with day-to-day
problems at work and in my
personal life. VR provided fuel,
clothing, transportation and
computer classes to help me
maintain my job.
Emma Smith, Secretary, Tribal
Relations, Second Term on VR
Advisory Board
Employed since 1997
Disability: Addiction
How did VR Help? Sup
ported me, I am more confident,
I've come to terms morally, I
received help with clothing, fuel,
vehicle repair, and have made new
friendships.
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VR Mission
The mission of the Vocational
Rehabilitation program is to help
Native Americans WITH DIS
ABILITIES obtain, maintain, or
become promoted in employment.
The eligibility criteria are: 1) Bean
enrolled member of a federally
recognized Indian tribe.
2) Reside on the WS Indian
Reservation or within a 65-mile
radius. 3) Have a physical or
mental disability that can be
confirmed by a professional. 4)
That disability must result in a
Thank you for success
The Vocational Rehabilitation program director, Tricia Sahme,
would like to thank the following people for making the day a success:
Jonathan Smith for working with the program during the summer and
getting the Policy Manual updated. Jon also designed and ordered the T
Shirts, Magnets, and Pens. Jon will be returning to college majoring in
computer sciences at Mt Hood Community College. Lucinda Jim for
greeting our customers and helping at the Reception Desk. Lucinda is on
assignment at VR until October and is supported by Work Force Develop
ment. Marcia Givens for answering the phones and recording messages.
Laurel Wheeler for conducting the Tours, helping our customers feel
welcomed, and keeping us all organized. Rhonda Atencio for distributing
the Give-A-Way items and managing the Reception Desk, especially since
she was not feeling well that day. Cecil Ballou for conducting the Orienta
tions and providing a Q&A session for the participants. George Aguilar Jr
for volunteering to answer questions and conducting Orientations. George
also prov ided support and entertainment with his wonderful sense of humor
and his ability to use "story telling" to demonstrate his points. George acts
as program director during Tricia's absence. KWSO Radio for the public
service announcements, Spilyay Tymoo for Publishing the event ahead of
time, and Food Commodities Warehouse for letting us borrow their
refrigerator to hold our food and refreshments. And lastly, all the people
who attended and were interested in the program. Without you and your
support, w e w ouldn"t be here! You give us job satisfaction.
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Jack Quinn, Bookkeeper, Unitel
Inc., Portland
Employed since 400
Disability: Addiction
' How did VR Help? Encour
aged the opportunity and interest in
office work and to pursue my
hobbies. VR supported continuing
education.
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substantial impediment to employ
ment. (Definition of a Substantial
Impediment: Disability which
impedes an individual's occupa
tional performance by preventing or
making very difficult his or her
obtaining, retaining, or preparing
for employment consistent with his
or her capabilities and abilities.)
If you are interested in the
program, VR holds weekly Orienta
tions on Monday at 3 p.m. Anyone
interested in learning more about
the program is invited to attend.
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