New Horizons 2008 Volume 47-3 Fall

7/28/2019 New Horizons 2008 Volume 47-3 Fall

1/6

H RIZONSSOUTH CARO LINA VOCATIONAL REH ABILITATION DEPARTMENT

Fall 2008Volume 47, Number 3 N E W

Commissioner Bryant to retire Jan. 2Larry C. Bryant will retire as commissioner o the SouthCarolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department eective

Jan. 2, 2009.A native o Chesnee, Bryant has been with the

agency 35 years and its commissioner since January2002. During his tenure, the department has continuedto build upon its long history o national prominence inenabling South Carolinians with disabilities to prepareor, achieve and maintain competitive employment.

Looking back, hes proudest o getting people tothink about how to improve service delivery withinthe organization, he said. When you get people tothink in those terms, there is a lot o new innovativeopportunity.

As commissioner, Bryant implemented a leadershipmodel that empowers supervisors, work teams andindividual employees while providing clear guidelines

or agency accountability and personal responsibility.He has guided the agency through a period obudget reductions without compromising qualityservice delivery or clients and has emphasized thestrengthening o business partnerships and relationshipswith other agencies to maximize employmentopportunities or clients.

Derle A. Lowder Sr., chairman o the State Agency oVocational Rehabilitation, praised Bryants leadershipthrough times o signifcant changes in the program.

See Bryant, page 2

I N S I D E

Agency tightens its belt ......................................2

Lyman facility construction begins....................... 3

Graduate Internship Program..............................3

Disability Mentoring Day....................................4

Open houses spotlight SCVRD facilities .............. 5

37 celebrate state service anniversaries ............... 6

2009 Journalism Contest accepting entries ..........6

Commissioner Larry Bryant prepares or one o his post-retirement activities as he tries out a bulldozer during the

groundbreaking or the Lyman acility. See story, page 3.

Quality Award

SCVRD wins goldSCVRDs continuous improvement journey reached

another successul checkpoint as the departmentreceived a Gold Achiever award at the South CarolinaQuality Forums annual conerence in October.

The orum assesses public and private organizationsor their eectiveness using the Baldrige Criteria orPerormance Excellence and the resulting successes inkey areas o perormance.

Third District Congressman Gresham Barrett and Dr.Harry Hertz, director o the Baldrige National QualityProgram, made the presentation.

This marks the third time that SCVRD hasparticipated in the awards process, which requires a

See Gold, page 3

Visit our Web site at www.scvrd.net


2/6

N E WH RIZONS 2New Horizons is published by the South Carolina Agency tightens its beltVocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD),1410 Boston Ave., P.O. Box 15, West Columbia,SC 291710015.

The Public Inormation Ofce provides allnews and inormation. News materials may bereproduced with credit to New Horizons.

SCVRD distributes New Horizons ree bymail. Subscription requests or changes o addressmay be sent to the Public Inormation Ofce atthe above address, telephone (803) 8966833 oremail [email protected]

In accordance with ederal and state laws,SCVRD does not discriminate against any race,color, sex, national origin, age or disability inemployment or in provision o services.

Agency:Derle A. Lowder Sr., chairman, SumterLarry C. Bryant, secretary, Columbia

H. Lucius Laftte, M.D., atlarge, AllendaleDr. Roxzanne Breland, Greenville

Timothy W. Evatt, PendletonRhonda J. Presha, Elgin

Alease G. Samuels, WalterboroJoseph A. Thomas, Conway

SCVRD:CommissionerLarry C. Bryant

EditorSharon H. Kelly

SCVRD Ofces:(All numbers have TDD capability.)

Aiken: (803) 6417630

Anderson: (864) 2246391

Beauort: (843) 5221010

BerkeleyDorchester (Moncks Corner): (843) 7616036; (866) 2976808 (Toll ree)

Camden: (803) 4321068(866) 2065280 (Toll ree)

Charleston: (843) 7401600

Conway: (843) 2482235Florence: (843) 6628114

Ganey: (864) 4899954

Greenville: (864) 2973066

Greenwood: (864) 2295827

(866) 4430162 (Toll ree)

Hartsville: (843) 3832662

Lancaster: (803) 2856909

Laurens (Clinton): (864 ) 8334121(866) 4430103 (Toll ree)

Lexington (West Columbia): (803) 8966333

(866) 2065184 (Toll ree)

Marlboro (Bennettsville): (843) 4798318(800) 8494878 (Toll ree)

OconeePickens (Seneca): (864) 8826669

(866) 3130082 (Toll ree)

Orangeburg: (803) 5344939

Richland (Columbia): (803) 7824239

Rock Hill: (803) 3277106

Spartanburg: (864) 5853693

(866) 4511480 (Toll ree)

Sumter: (803) 4692960

Walterboro: (843) 5383116(888) 5773549 (Toll ree)

Williamsburg (Kingstree): (843) 3545252

Enabling eligible South Carolinians withDisabilities to prepare or, achieve and

maintain competitive employment.

The S.C. Vocational RehabilitationDepartment took a hety hit to itsstate unding in October that willresult in some adjustments in howthe agency does business.

The agency gets 80 percent o itsunding rom the U.S. Departmento Education and 20 percent romthe state. The state unding was cut14.2 percent, which amounts toapproximately $2 million.

This is a severe cut that willbring us close to our ederal matchlevel, said Commissioner Larry C.

Bryant. A urther cut o any sizewould cost us our ederal dollarsor each state dollar cut. As it is, westand to lose ederal unding in anamount equal to our current cuts.

He explained that SCVRDmust maintain a certain level ostate dollars in order to enjoy ullederal unding. Any reduction instate unding aects the amount oederal unding.

Under Bryants leadership, theagency initiated eorts to streamlinein anticipation o budget cuts.In addition, he has charged areasupervisors with ensuring thatlegislators have a clear view o the

Bryantcontinued from page 1

His passionate, clear ocus

on meeting the needs o SouthCarolinians with disabilities in anefcient, costeective mannerhas been impressive, Lowdersaid. He met the challenges osignifcant budget cuts and theimpact o losing seasoned sta dueto the TERI program with proactive,innovative strategies.

Ater he retires, Bryant plans toplay some gol and do some work

agencys eectiveness.Bryant stressed that current

cutbacks will be madeadministratively to minimize theimpact on direct service delivery.No layos o ulltime sta areplanned at this time.

Where the cutbacks will be elt:Outostate travel will be

suspended and instate travelwill see a 25 percent reduction

Some temporary and parttimeemployees will see a reductiono hours.

Van routes will be consolidated.

Major equipment purchaseswill be delayed.

Job vacancy postings will bedelayed 60 days unless there isan immediate critical need.

However, CommissionerelectBarbara G. Hollis is optimistic abouthe agencys ability to weather thestorm.

We are rich in talent, dedicationand passion or what we do, shesaid We need to be smart abouteverything we do, but thanks toMr. Bryants leadership, we arepositioned as well as we can be.

with his church, Union UnitedMethodist in Irmo. Hell also beinvolved with construction o thenew SCVRD location in Lyman.

Im looking orward toexpanding our services in theUpstate, he said.

Bryants parting advice to stamembers is to remember who weare and what our mission is. Weneed to keep thinking about howwe can best serve our clients and

the taxpayers.Barbara G. Hollis o Cayce will

serve as the new commissioner.

NEW HORIZONS
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


3/6

3

Construction begins on Lyman acilityConstruction on the new VocationalRehabilitation center in Lyman, S.C.,is under way.

State legislators, Lyman townofcials, architects and SCVRDofcials broke ground or the acilityon Sept. 30. Construction is expectedto be completed by late 2009.

The 25,000squareoot acilityhas been in the planning stages or10 years. Funding or the frst stagewas allocated last year.

It will house an area ofceand comprehensive services unit,

which will oer physical therapy,occupational therapy, a brain injuryprogram, a pain managementprogram and rehabilitationengineering on a day basis orpeople with signifcant disabilities.

The Lyman center also willoer counseling and guidance andvocational assessment.

Graduate students sought GoldContinued from page 1

or counselor intern program 50page application outlining theorganizations practices. All state

The S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Winthrop University and Clemson agencies in South Carolina use theDepartment has launched a new University. criteria as a ramework or annual

program designed to create a pool Exposure to the Vocational accountability reports.The our examiners met witho qualifed potential employees. Rehabilitation program provides

State Ofce and Evaluation CenterThe Graduate Internship Program the student with an opportunity tosta as well as local sta at the

provides paid internships to apply skills and techniques acquiredRichland, Lexington, Sumter and

graduate students who are enrolled through coursework to a work Aiken ofces.

in counseling programs that meet experience. Interns participate in This recognition is indicative othe Comprehensive System o counselor orientation and inservice our stas dedication in providingPersonnel Development (CSPD) training and attend team meetings, services that enable peoplestandards. workshops and other training with disabilities to successully

establish themselves in our statesSouth Carolina institutions sessions.workorce, said Commissionerwith eligible counseling programs For more inormation, contactLarry Bryant. A detailed eedbackinclude S.C. State University, the Kimberly Jones in the SCVRDreport rom the examiner team will

University o South Carolina, Human Resources Department,be used to address opportunities

Francis Marion University, Webster (803) 8966557 or kjones@scvrd. or improvement in uture strategicUniversity, South University, state.sc.us. planning.

On hand to do the groundbreaking honors were, rom let, Dr. Roxzanne

Breland, a member o the S.C. State Agency o Vocational Rehabilitation, who

represents the Fourth Congressional district; SCVRD Commissioner Larry C.

Bryant; Sen.elect Lee Bright o Roebuck; Rep. Joe Mahaey, RSpartanburg;

ormer Lyman Mayor Robert N. Fogel; and Lyman Mayor Rodney Turner.

Fall 2008


4/6

4

Disability Mentoring Day

Students get chance to explore careersMore than 150 students withdisabilities rom around the stategot a chance to explore careersthey might like to pursue as theyparticipated in Disability MentoringDay on Oct. 15.

The S.C. Vocational Rehabilita-tion Department coordinated theevent in South Carolina as part oNational Disability EmploymentAwareness Month.

Disability Mentoring Day is a

worthwhile experience or bothstudents and employers, saidLucerne Iseman, project manageror the event.

The students think theyknow the particulars about theircareer choices, but the frsthandexploration that DMD provides isalways an eyeopener or them,she said.

The employers, too, beneftrom interacting with an individual

with a disability on a lowcommitment level, while possiblyconsidering a potential employee,she added. The experience mayalso diuse any misunderstandingsregarding people with disabilities inthe workorce.

In the Midlands, 33 students romSwansea High School, RichlandNortheast High School andSCVRDs Inormation Technology

Training Center looked at careers infelds such as veterinary medicine,tattooing, heavy equipment,dentistry, radiology, the military,engineering, business and socialservices.

Feedback rom the students waspositive. One liked the opportunityto experience frsthand an actual

job atmosphere. Another learnedso many new things about my

Nicole Reynolds o SwanseaHigh School helps Dr. Nicholas

Chambers examine Max the ShizTzu at Van Crest Animal Hospital.

Jason Holt oSwansea High Schooloperates a bulldozer

at Linder IndustrialMachinery.

career o choice. And a thirdappreciated getting to learn moreabout the job and getting to help.

Most o the recommendationsinvolved allowing more time withthe mentors.

Mentors in the Midlands included:Dr. Jimmy Duensing, DMD; LinderIndustrial Machinery; LexingtonMedical Center; Lexington

Lillie Bracero o AllianceConsulting Engineers Inc.answers a question rom MingKwong Kenny Lau, let. Lauand Leonard Windom, center,are both students at SCVRDsInormation TechnologyTraining Center.

Department o Social Services; VanCrest Animal Hospital; Fort Jacksonthe Purple Lotus tattoo parlor;Alliance Consulting Engineeers Inc.;B.P. Barber & Associates; City oColumbia; Richland County; VAHospital; S.C. Retirement Systems;Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital;Colonial Lie; Blue Cross/BlueShield; and SCVRD.

NEW HORIZONS


5/6

5

Open houses spotlight SCVRD acilitiesSCVRD ofces around the state held open houses during October in

conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness month. Hereare pictures rom some o them.

Tom Jackman, let, SCVRD rehabilitation technology manager,

explains the types o assistive devices available to Kim Killian o Valley Forge Flag Company while counselor Lacie Thompson chats

with area case service manager Patricia Gilliard at the Berkeley

Dorchester area open house.

Aiken area supervisor Alethea Harry,let, poses with Rep. Bill Clyburn,DAiken, and Rhonda Pitts, SCVRDarea development director, at the

Aiken area open house.

Rhonda Pitts, let, SCVRD area development director, andSteve Heape, a Camden area counselor, show Rep. LaurieSlade Funderburk, DKershaw, around during the Camdenarea open house.

Neal Getsinger, let, SCVRD assistant commissioneror feld operations; Carol Anderson, Florence areasupervisor; and Derle A. Lowder Sr., chairman o theS.C. State Agency o Vocational Rehabilitation; pose withRalph C. Fennell Jr., superintendent o the WilliamsburgCounty schools, at the Williamsburg Work TrainingCenter open house.

Fall 2008


6/6

6

37 celebratestate serviceanniversariesThirtyseven SCVRD employeesrecently celebrated landmark stateservice anniversaries.

Celebrating 30 years were: PennyBethea, Elizabeth Cale, Sally Daniel,Pat Green, Lana Grifn, JanetHolliday, Philip McNeil, RachaelRichardson and Carol Teal.

Marking 20 years were: KarenAdkins, Kay Asbill, Vicki Belk,Mary Burnett, Teresa Butler, ClaraCooper, Teri Eakins, David Faile,

Rashidi Fawcett, Patricia Gilliard,Diane Hare, and Andy Harrell.

Also, Barbara Hollis, Anne Iriel,Barbara Kinard, Michael Laney,Margaret Mack, Shirley Mains,Vickie Manning, Nancy Mitchum,Anita Monts, Perry Pitts, DonnaQuigley, Elaine Singleton, JamesSmith, Deborah Triplett, MarkWade and Brenda Winter.

2009 Governors CommitteeJournalism Contest openThe 2009 Journalism Contest isaccepting entries until Jan. 20, 2009.

The theme or the contest,

sponsored by the S.C. Governors

Committee on Employment

o People with Disabilities, is

Americas People, Americas

TalentAmericas Strength!

It is open to South Carolinians

16 to 19 years old who have not

entered a postsecondary school

beore March 1, 2009. Entrantsmust be high school juniors or

seniors or otherwise qualifed to

begin postsecondary education

no later than the 20102011 school

year. They do not have to have a

disability to enter.

The contest is administered by

the S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation

Department. Entries are judged by a

panel o proessional journalists.

The winner receives a ouryear

scholarship to the South Carolina

statesupported institution o his or

her choice, provided he or she is

otherwise qualifed.

The scholarship pays or

undergraduate tuition and ees, which

may or may not include room and

board. It may be canceled i the

recipient does not maintain general

scholastic and conduct standards

established by the institution.

Entries must be postmarked no

later than Jan. 20, 2009. For more

inormation, contact the SCVRD

Public Inormation Ofce, (803)

8966833 or go to scvrd.net/g_

whatsnew.html#eventsitem1.

The South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department reports that it printed 5,300 copies o this newsletter at a cost o$1,047, or about $.20 a copy.

N E W

H RIZONSSouth Carolina VocationalRehabilitation Department1410 Boston AvenuePost Ofce Box 15West Columbia, SC 291710015

Return Service Requested

NonproftUS Postage

PAIDWest Columbia, SC

Permit No. 255

New Horizons 2008 Volume 47-3 Fall

Documents

Transcript of New Horizons 2008 Volume 47-3 Fall