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Center a social, economic powerhouse
Finding and keeping a good job can be a challenge for anyone in this economy. Imagine the extra difficulties for someone with a serious disability.
The Center on Rehabilitation Synergy, a new center at UB, has done just that—and more. In a few short years, the center, headed by David Burganowski, research professor and director of the Graduate School of Education’s Rehabilitation Counseling Program, has become a leader in showing state agencies, schools, families and businesses how to help people with disabilities become independent by becoming successfully employed.
“One of the most difficult periods in a student’s life, with or without a disability, is the transition from high school to adult life,” says Burganowski. “There exists no cohesive process to support students with disabilities throughout their transition from school to adult life.”
This is where the Center on Rehabilitation Synergy, or CRS, can help. Students with disabilities need guidance to move from high school to a job or more education, and the CRS has programs and training to address those specific needs. But the support and expertise available through the CRS only begin there. The CRS also helps aging workers retiring later than expected or taking on another job to earn more money. CRS has a strong commitment to vocational rehabilitation—helping individuals with disabilities get jobs through state agencies.
“This is a need that extends across the lifespan,” says Burganowski.
CRS currently employs approximately 30 staff members, and holds $15.5 million in federal and state grants. The center has pursued state, federal, local and private grant contracts.
CRS’s most recent grant (Region 2 TACE Center) is a five-year, $4 million award from the U.S. Department of Education in federal region 2, made up of New York State, New Jersey, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The goal is to provide technical assistance and continuing education to state rehabilitation agencies, which in turn result in greater success in client outcomes.
The TACE 2 grant covers a variety of rehabilitation services, including job placement, job development, traumatic brain injuries, counseling techniques and a host of other services designed to help people with disabilities find employment, either for the first time or returning to a job after a trauma, illness or injury.
The Model Transition Program (MTP) is a grant funded by the New York State Department of Education’s Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) that began in July 2007. MTP is unique because it bridges the gaps among parents, schools and students with disabilities by providing education and information on navigating life, employment and/or education after high school.
The New York State Supported Employment Training Initiative (SETI) was established in 2007 and funded by VESID to provide training, technical assistance and staff development to the 178 Supported Employment provider agencies in New York State. SETI provides supported employment workshops, certificate series, staff development resources and technical assistance with customized training.
“CRS enables us to consolidate and strengthen our efforts to educate staff throughout the region and UB graduate students so that ultimately, individuals with disabilities, their advocates, families and employers will have improved services,” says Burganowski.
Another RSA-funded federal grant is the long-term training grant, which provides tuition assistance for up to 18 full-time students enrolled in the rehabilitation counseling master’s degree program. The benefits of this grant again are returned to the community: For each year of tuition assistance, the recipient is required to remain employed for two years in a state agency.
CRS also has the ability to offer consultation/training services for a fee to non-constituents. Affiliated with CRS and the Graduate School of Education is a master’s program in rehabilitation counseling, as well as a doctoral program in special education in partnership with Buffalo State College. In the future, CRS hopes to collaborate with other rehabilitation centers on campus.
“A team is only as good as its members,” says Burganowski, who often praises the “synergy” key to CRS’ success. “In this center, we have the capacity to attract talented people in the rehabilitation, special education and vocational counseling field.”
CRS also addresses one of UB’s eight strategic strengths— health and wellness across the lifespan—as identified in UB’s 2020 strategic plan.
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