Lynnae Ruttledge New RSA Commissioner

President Barack Obama has appointed Lynnae Ruttledge as the new RSA Commissioner. She previously served as the Executive Director of the Washington Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Ms. Ruttledge has also worked in the public and non-profit sectors in Michigan, Oregon and Washington, working in critical areas including policy development, program management, independent living, workforce development, and business leadership networks.

RELATED:
http://www.theolympian.com/483
http://www.ssa.gov/oidap/bios/ruttledge.htm
http://www.bff.org/aapdnow-lr.html

VR Highlighted in US News World Report

Today’s Health section of US News & World Report online features VR Counselors and the State-Federal Rehabilitation system as key players in post-secondary employment for people with Autism. “Teenagers with Autism: Want a Job?” reports on the "supportive and customized employment" approach, which involves collaboration between school systems and VR facilitates to assist young people with Autism transition into the workforce through high school. The author notes, “Counselors work with employers to figure out how to make aspects of a disability an asset”. In addition, the article notes, “The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention at Virginia Commonwealth University has pioneered research on creative ways to employ people with disabilities...” For the full article, please visit: http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/brain-and-behavior/2009/04/02/teenagers-with-autism-want-a-job.html?PageNr=1

Pennsylvania VR Hiring

While many state VR agencies are currently under a hiring freeze, Pennsylvania is hiring Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors to meet the agency's staffing needs. The Executive Director has issued a directive to fill all vacant VR Counselor positions by June to prevent these positions from being swept up as part of future state budget negotiations.

Eligible candidates are needed for VR counselor openings available in Erie, Norristown, Philadelphia, and York district offices. Starting salary statewide for VR Counselor is $41,017 per year with benefits. Counselors hired to work in Norristown and Philadelphia District Offices receive higher starting salaries, $44,773 per year with benefits, to adjust for higher cost of living. There is immediate need for a bilingual Spanish-speaking counselor to work in the Reading district office, and a Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf to work in the Dubois district office. Please alert rehabilitation counseling students graduating in May 2009, along with alumni and students seeking internship for the summer semester about these opportunities.

Interested candidates must apply now! Contact Cindy Mundis at (717) 787-2521 or by email at: cmundis@state.pa.us with any questions.

NRA Urging Calls to Congress to Retain VR and IL Dollars

The National Rehabilitation Association is urging its membership and other interested individuals and groups to contact their Congressional Representatives to urge support for Ovcational Rehabilitation and Independent Living money currently in the Stimulus package. The NRA's Washington Wire reports, "The Senate Conferees are: Senators Harry Reid (D.NV.); Senator Chuck Grassley (R.IA.); Senator Daniel Inouye (D.HI.); Senator Thad Cochran (R.MS.) and Senator Max Baucus (D.MT.) House Conferees include: Congressman Dave Obey (D.WI.); Congressman Henry Waxman (D.CA.); Congressman Charles Rangel (D.N.Y.); Congressman Jim Oberstar (D.MN.); Congressman JERRY Lewis (R.CA.) and Congressman David Camp (R.MN.)".
NRA further urges, "Call your Senators and Congresspersons, as well as the Senators and Congresspersons immediately listed above, who comprise the Conference Committee, and advise them that the additional funding for VR is critical to the continuation of securing and retaining employment and community living for individuals with disabilities who want to work."

To find the contact information for your representatives, visit:

• Senators: www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
• Represenatives: http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/mcapdir.html