Vocational Assessments

These are conducted as a holistic, broad-based intensive process, which is grounded in the use of real or simulated work, individualized, uses a combination of all typical assessment methods with the possible (but not required) exception of a community-based assessment, and incorporates a career planning process for an individual who faces the most significant vocational barriers or challenges.

Cerrtified Vocational Evaluator - Elizabeth Jones       

 As a Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE) on staff, Elizabeth Jones provides Career Assessment Services (CAS) as established and funded by Maryland’s Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
http://www.dors.state.md.us/dors.

The purpose of these services is to help individual’s with disabilities determine their strengths, needs, interests, and preferences with respect to their vocational success and independence.As part of our ongoing commitment to ensure individuals are being placed in the most appropriate setting for them to learn and thrive, NHSSI is able to provide the following assessment options as defined by the DORS CAS system:

Itemized Assessment
An individual assessment tool/instrument or method used to answer a very specific referral question, for example:

• What is this person's typing speed?
• What are this person's vocational interests?
• What is this person's mechanical aptitude?
  

Focused Assessment
Assessment to determine the feasibility of a specific chosen career area as a career goal (can include real or simulated work). Examples of referral questions include:

• Can this person learn and perform the duties and tasks of a secretary?
• Can this person learn and perform the duties and tasks of a welder?

Exploratory Assessment
A process utilizing career exploration resources and/or methods designed to provide information on the next step in long range planning for the individual.  The process involves investigation and education in jobs and job clusters, taking into consideration the individual’s interests, needs, abilities and functional capacities.                                                                                             
Examples of referral questions include:

• Do this person’s interests aligned with projected labor market needs?                                                        
• Does this person's disability have an impact on his/her specified  career objective?
  
  • What is this person's mechanical aptitude?
    
    

Comprehensive Assessment
The Comprehensive Career Assessment is appropriate for individuals with the most significant disabilities who:

• would have difficulty handling the reading or motor activity required to independently perform the paper/pencil    
      assessment activities typically utilized as part of an Exploratory Career Assessment
  
• have sensory impairments which require significant accommodation to enable their participation
• have never worked or have a significant period of absence from the work forcedue to their disability, require an 
      extended period of observation to determine their work behaviors.
  
  

 

           To apply for services referral click here