FAGAALU, American Samoa - To continue the advancement of the Pula and Pulu Administration’s commitment to its human resources capacity building priority, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation conducted a one day (April 14) intensive training for its staff. This training initiative was facilitated by technical assistance provided by the Innovative Partnership for Advancing Rehabilitation Research and Training (IPARRT) of the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON. Two of its technical staff, Jessica Holton and Karin traveled to American Samoa to provide onsite instruction.

 

Jessica Holton serves as the Project Manager for Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation’s (DVR) Career Pathways Advancement Initiative grant and as a State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Liaison for the Vocational Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment. She is a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor; a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with an M.S. in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also completed San Diego State University’s National Rehabilitation Leadership Institute.

 

Karin Grandon previously worked for the Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) as deputy administrator and governed the programs related to individuals with low vision and those who are blind, deaf-blind, and deaf and hard of hearing. Karin also served as a certified rehabilitation counselor, supervisor, regional program manager and statewide coordinator for independent living services. Karin has a B.A. in Education from Prescott College, an M.A. in Special Education and Rehabilitation from the University of Arizona (UofA), with completed coursework toward a doctoral degree in Rehabilitation Counseling through the UofA, and a certificate in Rehabilitation Administration from San Diego State University

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Special skills development emphasized in this training enterprise included Intake Interviews, Writing Individual Plan of Employment (IPE), Counseling Guidance Services, Job Development, Job Placement, Job Coaching, Job Analysis and Task-Market Analysis. The attainment of these distinct skills empowers the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation’s staff to more effectively guide its clients achieve their rehabilitation goals. This training endeavor is most opportune as the challenges being perpetually confronted by the residents of American Samoa, living with disabilities, continue to escalate, proportional to the growing economic and social constraints triggered by deteriorating worldwide economic conditions. The finite number of available employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities necessitates the availability of a well-trained vocational rehabilitation staff to implant skills enabling individuals with disabilities to secure employment.

 

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation’s staff expressed gratitude for this opportunity to receive training from off-island experts which strengthened their skills repertoire thus empowering them to render quality services to our people living with disabilities. The staff deemed the training engaging, productive, and empowering as it engendered new perspectives, expanded exposure to problem-solving practices, along with attaining special techniques to build strong relationships with the clients.

 

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Director Adrian Vasai extended her gratitude and appreciation to Jessica Holton and Karin Grandon for making the long trip to American Samoa to share their vocational rehabilitation skills with our staff.

 

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