Shade Central City School District
The MidAmerica Emmy award winning, “Just Like You - Autism” launches an exciting campaign that calls our communities, our kids and the world to learn, understand and accept those living with autism. JLY-Autism harnesses the power of film to connect and create empathy in others in an unprecedented way. The film's documentary techniques capture the real life stories of 3 children and their best friends/sibling. They explain their lives with autism in relatable everyday scenes. The kids and former NFL quarterback, Trent Green, explain sensitivities, behaviors and model how to be a good friend to someone living with autism. Those who see it will understand and accept people living with autism for who they are on the inside. JLY-Autism boldly seeks to foster a world of people who know about, understand and accept those living with autism by sharing the perspective of courageous individuals who are not defined or limited by their conditions. Instead, they are “just like you.”
The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, or OVR, provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. OVR provides services to eligible individuals with disabilities, both directly and through a network of approved vendors. Services are provided on an individualized basis. The OVR counselor, during face-to-face interviews, assists customers in selecting their choice of vocational goals, services and service providers. An Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) is developed, outlining a vocational objective, services, providers and responsibilities. Certain services are subject to a Financial Needs Test (FNT) and may require financial participation by the customer. Counseling and guidance, diagnostic services, assessments, information and referral, job development and placement, and personal services such as readers or sign language interpreters are provided at no cost to the individual. Also, by law OVR customers receiving Social Security benefits for their disability (SSI, SSDI) are exempt from OVR’s Financial Needs Test.
Statewide there are 21 District Offices staffed with trained, professional Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors which serve Pennsylvania in all 67 counties. The Hiram G. Andrews Center in Johnstown provides vocational training and comprehensive rehabilitation services to people from across the state. OVR’s Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services also provides specialized services to blind and visually impaired individuals. These services are designed to increase an individual’s independence and employability. OVR's central administrative offices in Harrisburg provide technical assistance to local district offices in order to improve service delivery.