by: Orville Townsend
A true professional, and a master counselor, are just a few ways to describe Counselor Bonnie Love who will retire on January 5, 2007. Although she never voiced it, Bonnie’s efforts over the years have constantly generated achievements.
When talking to Bonnie recently, she shared that because she grew up in Des Moines with friends who survived polio, she was interested in the field of rehabilitation before she knew it was an employment possibility. She shared that in the 1950’s it seemed to her that women had three vocational choices: secretary, nurse or teacher. Bonnie got her bachelor’s degree in History with a secondary Social Studies endorsement from Drake in 1968. Finding that she disliked managing large groups of teenagers, she headed to graduate school in Iowa City for a master’s degree in European History.
In 1969, Bonnie began work for “Job Service” and for five years she worked in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City offices handling special programs and populations – MDTA, Veterans, minorities, and people with disabilities. She did an excellent job and her accomplishments were so noticeable, that she applied for and was offered a job with DRES (Division of Rehabilitation, Education and Services) in April 1975 – when most of the counselors were men.
Bonnie states that through all its incarnations -- RSB, DVRS, and IVRS – the job has always been interesting and mostly enjoyable. She especially enjoyed working individually with people with disabilities, seeing people grow and change. Bonnie shared that consumers have taught her many things that prove useful when working with other consumers. In order to stay sharp and learn new things, she took advantage of learning opportunities made available through RCEP, IRA conferences, and training opportunities made available by Iowa VR.
The IWRP (IEP) was implemented six months after Bonnie began employment with the agency. She mentioned that when monitoring reviews moved from 3 x 5 cards to computers, the pace and pressures increased. It seems that now we track much more data than we could in the past. The greatest change over the years was the move to presumed feasibility. Once supported employment and job coaching was created in the 1980’s, it was possible for more seriously disabled individuals to hold some type of employment. It should be mentioned that the disability population the agency serves has changed.. Before HIV, we saw clients with hemophilia; and learning disabilities were not recognized in 1975 when Bonnie began employment with the agency. Years ago we rarely saw significant brain injury, but modern medicine has created more survivors from many types of trauma.
Bonnie is quick to share that through it all she has had the good fortune to work with teams in the Iowa City Office, Johnson County and Iowa County. She feels that we have always supported one another to maintain morale and benefit our clients. Bonnie shares that as she moves on to IPERS, she will not miss the paperwork.
The above remarks are an effort to share Bonnie’s thoughts about her years of employment in rehabilitation. It seems fitting that these thoughts be shared with those she has served and worked with.. Describing Bonnie as a true professional and a master counselor is an excellent beginning. However, it is especially important that we mention that her knowledge of rehabilitation and rehabilitation issues have been beneficial to the agency, coworkers, client's and others that she has served and worked with. Over the years, she has mentored new counselors assigned to the Iowa City Area Office. Bonnie’s emphasis has always been providing quality services to our clients. Now the time has come to wish Bonnie the best of luck and hope that she will have a retirement filled with continued productivity and quality activities.
Yes, I realize that Steve Faulkner is not the Supervisor of the OAO but he is the recipient of the 2006 Chief’s Award. Steve was awarded this honor due to his outstanding dedication and ability to implement the vision of the Administrator to achieve success. Steve has been a vocal champion of the direction of the Rehabilitation Services Bureau and has proudly proclaimed the accomplishments of the staff in the Mason City Office. He has thoughtfully designed a system in Mason City that incorporates the initiatives to achieve quality services and direct placements, while at the same time utilizing the action planning to guide the direction of the office. His work has connected with the staff in MCAO and together they have developed relationships with business and industry that has moved that office beyond simple contact to one of partnership. He has exemplified the principles of the Chief’s Award by recognizing the staffs’ accomplishments and his humble appreciation for being honored to associated with an amazing professional staff.
Great appreciation also is extended to the Ottumwa Area Office for being this year’s recipient of the IVRS Leader’s Award. This award is given each year to the area office that achieved the highest number of rehabilitations in the fiscal year, and the office whose counseling staff achieved the highest number of rehabilitations per counselor. OAO received this honor for their work in making a difference in the lives of Iowan’s with disabilities to achieve employment. Their work significantly impacted the quality of life for those individuals served. This agency is very grateful for their work and help in IVRS achieving our goals for placements in FY 06.
Next year the IVRS Leader’s Award will be given to the area office whose staff provided the most direct placements. In order for the award to be given the total number of placements will be calculated, and then the number of placements done by a CRP or other vendor will be subtracted out, and the office that achieved the highest number of direct placements will be honored. We have so many talented staff in our organization that do an amazing job in placement and counseling services that it will no doubt be a competitive award!
Congratulations to the Ottumwa Area Office and thank you for a job well done!
The holidays are here and Santa told me that IVRS staff has impressed him so…..
Santa’s Top Ten List for IVRS Staff
1. Santa gives staff outcomes! Staff will continue to realize
the achievements of placing individuals with disabilities into employment and
achieve quality 26s that changes lives.
2. Santa gives the gift of teamwork! Staff will enjoy their
colleagues this holiday as they recognize that we accomplish more together than
individually.
3. Santa gives the gift of purpose! Staff will celebrate the
joy of working for a mission that makes a difference in everyone’s life.
4. Santa gives the gift of fun! Staff will have fun together,
which certainly makes the day go by quickly.
5. Santa gives the gift of service! Staff will continue to
appreciate the opportunity they have to serve their clients, colleagues, and
partners to make a difference in this world.
6. Santa gives the gift of gratitude! Staffs appreciate the
fact that they have a good paying job that allows them to live the lives they
have chosen.
7. Santa gives the gift of dialogue! Staff will enter into
dialogue on initiatives and actions to transform their offices and the agency
into high performing organizations dedicated to service.
8. Santa gives the gift of customer service! Staff will continue
to serve clients in a timely manner, respond to their concerns with compassion
and discuss decisions so clients understand IVRS and employment opportunities.
9. Santa gives the gift of flexibility! Staff will continue
to work in a manner that is flexible to the needs of the client and creatively
design plans to achieve informed client choice.
10. Santa gives the gift of thanks! Santa thanks the staff
for all that they do, how they do it, and the dedication they demonstrate to
serve Iowan’s with disabilities so that those individuals can transform
their lives.
by: Connie Ehlers
Be sure to check out MyTransitionIowa.org,
a Web site developed specifically for youth with disabilities and family members.
You may have heard about MyTransitionIowa.org
through radio spots that ran from December 2005 through June 2006.
The website was designed to help youth prepare for the transition from high school to adulthood through existing, well-respected resources. You can link to web-based transition, college and employment prep resources, explore peer groups, read or listen to Success Stories from Iowa youth and parents, and more!
The MP3 radio spot files on MyTransitionIowa.org are downloadable and you are invited to share them with family, friends, teachers, and your local radio station. A color brochure featuring the peer groups and Success Stories can be downloaded at MyTransitionIowa.org. Business cards promoting MyTransitionIowa.org are also available. Contact Connie Ehlers with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services at 515-281-0275 or toll-free at 1-800-532-1486 or via e-mail at connie.ehlers@iowa.gov for the business cards.
MyTransitionIowa.org is a product of Improving Transition Outcomes (ITO) with
Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS). ITO, operating under the State
of Iowa Department of Education, began October 1, 2003 with funding from the
U. S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy. A partnership
of seven state agencies committed to improving employment opportunities for
persons with disabilities oversees ITO. These seven partner agencies are: Department
for the Blind; Department of Education; Department of Human Rights, Division
of Persons with Disabilities; Department of Human Services; Iowa Vocational
Rehabilitation Services; Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council
and Iowa Workforce Development.