Advocacy Committee

In our continuing effort to reach out to as many collaborators and publics as possible, VECAP is committed to advancing and increasing the visibility of our professions. The Advocacy Committee is designed to expand the pool of people who can benefit from our services as well as promote the general understanding of our services by the public.

The following committees fall under the organizational umbrella of the Advocacy Committee: 

-    Multi-cultural (Independent Living Initiative and Native American Rehabilitation Organizations) – VECAP Liaison:  Carri George
-    Governmental Affairs Committee:  Vacant—we need you!

Benefits of cross-organizational partnerships:

• Collaboration to identify and share common goals and information among VECAP and partnering groups.
• Working together to provide technical assistance/input to state and National policies regarding career and transition assessment.
• The future reinstatement of the Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE) credential.  This work is being spearheaded through a strong collaboration with VEWAA and the work of the ‘Vocational Evaluation Credentialing Task Force’.
• Making presentations across the nation at various conferences, including state and organizational forums.
• Collaboration on publications.
• Providing input into the National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center’s (http://www.nsttac.org) initiatives.  Recent work includes the ‘Guide to Transition Assessment’ and their fact sheet on ‘Age-appropriate Transition Assessment’.
• Adopting and sharing the IDEA Partnership (http://www.ideapartnership.org/) philosophy of ‘shared learning’ and ‘Community of Practice’.
• Providing input into the resources available on the shared work website (http://www.sharedwork.org).
• Promoting the professional services of VECAP and all partnering organizations.
• Expanding the membership of all organizations through collaboration and information sharing.
• Increasing the expansion of understanding of vocational, career and transition assessment.

Existing Partnerships:

Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Association (VEWAA) – (http://www.vewaa.com)

VEWAA represents the interests and needs of human service professionals who work with people in support of their endeavors in training, employment, and education to enhance successful attainment of career goals.  VEWAA is comprised of rehabilitation and education professionals who provide services to individuals who need assistance with vocational development and or career decision making. Individual members provide services within a variety of settings such as rehabilitation programs, schools, job training, and business/industry.

VECAP has had a long history with VEWAA and has been working together, through the development of the ‘Vocational Evaluation Credentialing Task Force’ to reestablish the Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE) credential. VEWAA was also a strong supporter of the 2010 VECAP Forum by sponsoring several feature sessions at the conference.

VECAP and VEWAA often collaborate to “speak with one voice” as we advocate for and educate others about our professions and services.

VECAP Liaison: VEWAA President or Designee

National Career Development Association (NCDA) - (http://www.ncda.org)

NCDA is the largest career development association in the world. Their conferences attract many international presenters and participants. The NCDA also publishes a Counselor’s Guide to Career Assessment that compiles descriptions and critiques of numerous paper and pencil, standardized instruments.  The VECAP liaison to NCDA currently participates in board meetings; NCDA has invited VECAP to be a part of the Governmental Affairs Committee.  Also, future plans include collaborating on our respective journals, NCDA’s on line magazine, and with newsletter articles and other publications.

VECAP Liaison: Lecester Johnson (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))

IDEA Partnership – (http://www.ideapartnership.org)

The IDEA Partnership reflects the collaborative work of more than 80 national organizations, technical assistance providers, and organizations and agencies at state and local level (including VECAP). Together with the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Partner Organizations form a community with the potential to transform the way we work and improve outcomes for students and youth with disabilities.  The IDEA Partnership promotes the philosophy of ‘Shared Learning’ and ‘Community of Practice’.  VECAP participates several times a year in various IDEA Partnership meetings and currently participates in the below Communities of Practice:

VECAP Liaison:  Ashley McFall and Pam Leconte

• National Community of Practice on Transition - The Advocacy Co-Chairs attend monthly conference calls (the second Wednesday of every month—if you are interested in joining any of the calls, please contact the Advocacy Co-Chairs¬¬ or email Mariola Rosser at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)). VECAP also has provided input in various documents/tools including ‘User Guides’ and ‘Dialogue Guides”.

VECAP Liaison:  Ashley McFall and Pam Leconte

• National Community of Practice on Transition and Career Assessment - VECAP and DCDT (Division on Career Development and Transition) have collaborated to create the “Transition and Career Assessment Practice Group”. Currently there are 190+ members who participate in the idea of shared learning.  Currently there are three workgroups within this Community of Practice: 1) Knowledge Management, 2) Shared Language and 3) Data Management.  If you are interested in participating in this Practice gourp which is part of the Community of Practice on Transition,, please contact Joan Kester at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

VECAP Liaisons:  Joan Kester, Ashley McFall (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) and Marsha Legg (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).

• National Community of Practice on Autism

This new community is still in its infancy but moving quickly to organize.  They have held numerous conference calls with over 60 people across the country in attendance. With 16 states represented so far, members have set up 11 practice groups around shared issues of concern.  VECAP has been and will continue to be involved in the growth of this Practice Group

VECAP Liaison:  Lindsay Harris (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))

• National Community of Practice on UDL – Is again the outgrowth of The IDEA Partnership. Through collaboration this Community of Practice has been developed to promote collaboration with interested organizations (including VECAP) and with State Education Agencies (SEAs) and national centers on the issue of Universal Design for Learning.

VECAP Liaison: Fran Smith (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))

Division of Career Development and Transition (DCDT) – (http://www.dcdt.org)

DCDT is a division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) (http://www.cec.sped.org), which works to improve the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. The mission of DCDT is to promote national and international efforts to improve the quality of and access to, career/vocational and transition services, increase the participation of education in career development and transition goals and to influence policies affecting career development and transition services for persons with disabilities.
Over the past year, VECAP has formed a strong partnership with DCDT to create and expand the National Community of Practice on Transition and Career Assessment (listed under the IDEA Partnership page). DCDT and VECAP have made collaborating with each other a priority.

VECAP Liaison:  Stacie Dojonovic (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))

Expanding Partnerships

We are currently seeking to work with other organizations, many of whom participated in the Interdisciplinary Council on Vocational Assessment and Evaluation several years ago. VECAP has been represented recently at the following association conferences, or has recently been in communication with key members of these organizations:

• International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP) - (http://www.rehabpro.org)
• National Council of Rehabilitation Educators (NCRE) - (http://www.rehabeducators.org)
• Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) – (http://www.rehabnetwork.org)
• Canadian Assessment, Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Society (CAVEWAS) – (http://www.cavewas.com)
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (NCWD) – (http://www.ncwd-youth.info)
• National Education Association (NEA) – (http://www.nea.org)
• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) – (http://www.aota.org)
• Department of Veterans Affairs – (http://www.va.gov)

If you have an association or organization with which you think we should be collaborating, please contact the Advocacy Co-Chairs (see list of Board Members).