Post-employment services are an essential yet often overlooked component of the tribal vocational rehabilitation (TVR) process. While placement is a significant milestone, long-term employment success depends on timely, responsive supports after a participant begins work. This session highlights how post-employment services help individuals maintain employment, regain employment if separation occurs, and advance along a meaningful career pathway.
Participants will explore how these services address unexpected challenges that may threaten job stability, including workplace adjustments, changes in functional capacity, or evolving employer expectations. Emphasis will be placed on proactive planning during development of the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), including identifying and documenting anticipated post-employment needs at the outset. Attendees will gain practical strategies to strengthen employment retention, promote career advancement, and improve long-term outcomes.
Learning Outcomes
- Present the criteria for the provision of post-employment services
- Discuss the rationale and distinction between PES and re-opening vs opening a new case
- Present and discuss the scope of services that are allowable under a PES Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)
In Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation (TVR), success is built on “Critical Connections”, strong, respectful partnerships between staff, participants, and their communities. Shifting from a Western “expert” model to an Indigenous empowerment framework, TVR rejects paternalism in favor of shared responsibility. Guided by the Native philosophy that no one succeeds alone, the participant acts as an equal partner and architect of their own journey.
This session explores how TVR counselors foster trust through clear, culturally responsive communication, often in Native languages, to support informed decision-making. By integrating community resources like housing, mental health, and State VR agencies, counselors address holistic barriers beyond employment. Attendees will learn to cultivate these essential relationships, ensuring participants have the autonomy and support necessary to achieve personal growth and lasting career success.
Learning Outcomes
- To provide participants with information about AIVRS service delivery model
- Discuss the importance of establishing an effective outreach and referral process
- Review steps required to developing and effective outreach plan.
The American Indian–Rural Youth Apprenticeship Development (AI-RYAD) Project is designed to support American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation (AIVR) programs and their workforce partners in building culturally grounded, community-driven pre-apprenticeship pathways that expand employment and economic opportunities for tribal youth with disabilities.
This sectional will introduce participants to how pre-apprenticeships provide an entry point into apprenticeships by providing youth and young adults an opportunity to explore the skills, expectations, and potential of a given occupation. This session provides strategies and a framework to use when considering how the pre-apprenticeship model can be used in your community, as well as the first steps to consider and implement for developing pre-apprenticeship opportunities.
Learning Outcomes
- Participants will be able to describe the components of a quality pre-apprenticeship as well as potential partners for developing these opportunities.
- Participants will have materials to begin exploring pre-apprenticeship opportunities in their community and consider what their first steps are in developing a pre-apprenticeship
- Participants will know how to access pre-apprenticeship tools and resources available to them on ExploreVR and other networks.
Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Personalized Approach to Traditional Holistics (TVR PATH) is a systems visualization tool designed to support Cultural Services provision within TVR programs. Developed through an inclusive, community-driven process involving TVR directors, counselors, and Tribal partners, TVR PATH maps 27 interconnected elements that shape whether participants can achieve their employment goals and fully engage in Cultural Services. It is presented with cultural imagery instead of conventional systems diagram schematics. This session 1) introduces TVR PATH, demonstrates how TVR and state VR professionals can apply it to their work, and shares how programs can personalize it to fit their unique culture and community.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe TVR PATH, how to access it, and how to navigate its main diagram and sub-diagrams.
- Identify applications of TVR PATH for TVR professionals and state VR professionals working across systems.
- Recognize when and how to personalize TVR PATH while honoring key principles.
Tribal and state Vocational Rehabilitation programs serve Indigenous communities with distinct approaches, but share a common purpose: supporting individuals with disabilities in achieving meaningful, competitive employment. In this session, presenters from the Navajo Nation TVR and Arizona’s Employment First team share real-world examples of collaboration that honors sovereignty, builds trust, and strengthens outcomes. Participants will explore how professionals can engage across systems through shared planning, team alignment, and culturally responsive communication. This session highlights what’s working, where challenges remain, and how respectful partnerships can lead to more inclusive and coordinated employment services for Tribal members with disabilities.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the roles and responsibilities of both Tribal and state Vocational Rehabilitation programs in supporting Indigenous job seekers with disabilities.
- Identify effective strategies for building respectful, coordinated partnerships between Tribal and state VR professionals.
- Apply culturally responsive practices to strengthen collaboration and shared planning across systems.
