The National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) is your go-to resource for vocational rehabilitation information, technical assistance and training. The NCRTM is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). The following resources include a sampling from the NCRTM.

• New from NCRTM: Issue #19 Motivational Interviewing  In a recent research summary, the RSA-funded Targeted Communities Technical Assistance Center (E3TC) identified Motivational Interviewing (MI) as an evidence-based practice that addresses consumer motivation, reluctance, and barriers to change. In the May 2018 issue, we highlight MI training resources from Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation and other NCRTM Resources to support MI counseling practices in vocational rehabilitation (VR). Stay up-to-date with the latest from the NCRTM by subscribing or viewing previous issues.

• Mental Health and Secondary Transition: Annotated Bibliography. The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT) produced this annotated bibliography is to provide educators with sources that define the issues of mental health and offer suggestions for how to address mental health in the secondary transition planning process. The information is organized by four categories: (a) overview of the issue, (b) prevalence and comorbidity, (c) professional, family, and student perceptions, and (d) interventions and strategies.

• Assistive Technology for People with Mental Health Conditions. The Job-Driven Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center (JDVRTAC) conducted two webinars as part of an extensive collection of resources found in the toolkit on Employer Supports, one of the four toolkits developed by the JDVRTAC. These webinars feature staff from the Northwest ADA Center and the Center for Continuing Education in Rehabilitation, both of which are part of the University of Washington, one of the JDVRTAC strategic partners, The webinars help audiences to better understand mental health conditions and available assistive technologies to support employment. This webinar series covers the potential impact of some disabilities on employment and assistive technology accommodation strategies.

• SSDI and SSI Beneficiaries with Mental Illness Benefit from Evidence-Based Supported Employment. The Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Targeted Communities (E3TC) Project develops research briefs to translate research into practice. The goal of this study was to learn if Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries with mental illness benefited from evidence-based supported employment services as much as non-beneficiaries. Results show that beneficiaries who received this service had better employment outcomes than those who received other vocational services.

• Behavioral Health Interpreting: Specialty Training for Building New Competences for Sign Language Interpreters. This webinar from the CATIE Center, describes training and support available to produce more qualified American Sign Language-English interpreters available to work with deaf consumers in behavioral health settings. The CATIE Center is developing a series of short, on-demand webshops as well as four online courses focused on interpreting for mental health, addiction and recovery, individuals affected by domestic and sexual violence, and basics of psychopharmaceuticals. The training materials are to advance ASL interpreters. However, State VR Counselors, Directors and Rehabilitation Partners are encouraged to view the webinar and learn more about how to increase the number of available interpreters in behavioral health settings in their State. RID CEUs are available through July 15, 2018 after viewing the webinar and completing the survey.

• 30 Minute Lessons on Specific Disabilities. These short study packets were developed by Laurie Ford at the University of Washington. They can be used for self-study or in a group setting.
  • Asperger Syndrome
  • Autism
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • DD-ID
  • Epilepsy
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Mood Disorders
  • Personality Disorders
  • Schizophrenia
  • TBI

• Rehabilitation Counselor Training Modules. These training modules were developed by the University of Northern Colorado Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Region 8 (TACE 8) project that ended in 2014. They cover many of the basics for rehabilitation counselors including medical and psychosocial aspects of disability, counseling practices, client evaluation, conflict management, job development, and ethical practices.
• An Interview with Elena Avila R.N., MSN, Curandera: Compassionate Medicine of the People. This presentation from the National Multicultural Interpreter Project Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Series is an insight into the important relationship of work and cultural views with mental health and medical practices. The lecture models some Spanish vocabulary and code-switching in Spanish. This tape can also be obtained from El Paso Community College. For Mexican indigenous cultures, traditional medicine does not begin with a diagnosis, they consider “how can I be of service to you”.
• Coming Out Proud Program Manual. Coming Out Proud to Erase the Stigma of Mental Illness is training program designed to help those with mental health challenges learn about disclosing their experiences to others in the community. This program, facilitated by trained leaders with lived experience works to reduce self-stigma and build solidarity for those with mental illness.

About NCRTM

The National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) – ncrtm.ed.gov – is RSA’s gateway to technical assistance and training providing up-to-date reliable training materials. It is a venue for information sharing, learning, and professional growth for vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals, service providers, researchers, trainers, educators, individuals with disabilities and their support networks. These activities support RSA’s leadership role within the rehabilitation community to facilitate gains in competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities. Contact us at NCRTM@neweditions.net.