Appendix G

                                                       PROJECT VIEW


Practice Notes: Strategies for Employing Older Workers with Visual Impairments


Background 

The National Aging and Vision Network established the National Agenda on Vision and Aging in 1998 and identified employment opportunities for older individuals with visual impairments as a major goal. A working group was formed to address this goal. One of its first tasks was to identify examples of strategies to increase the employment of older persons with visual impairments. Project VIEW was selected to epitomize a model program for the employment of older workers. 

Project VIEW

The Orlando District of the Florida Division of Blind Services (DBS) started Project VIEW: Visually Impaired Experienced Workers, a pilot program intended to expand vocational rehabilitation services provided to blind and severely visually impaired individuals age 55 and older, in 1992. A counselor was assigned to work specifically with Project VIEW. Funded under contract with a local community rehabilitation program, this counselor was chosen for her interest in working with older persons and her university training in aging and vision loss.

During the first project period, 111 older persons were screened. Of these, 56 persons ranging in age from 55 to 95 expressed interest in working and were determined eligible for services. By the end of the first project period, 24 cases had been closed as successfully rehabilitated. Of these, 18 were competitively placed in full time or part-time employment. These individuals ranged in age from 55 to 82. Occupations included food service worker, grocery store bagger, teacher, security guard, electronics technician, baker, senior day care worker, housekeeper, office cleaner, lawn care and ticket taker. Two were closed as unpaid family workers. Four were closed as homemakers. Three of these were working as volunteers in the community. 

The pilot project continued for three years with an average of 16 successful closures per year and an average caseload size of 40. Project VIEW addressed older consumers' social and psychological need to work, the need to feel productive and useful, and not just the economic need to work. Some individuals served were at risk of losing their jobs because of vision loss and they were able to retain employment. Most were placed into employment, often in occupations unrelated to their former careers. Some individuals had not worked in years. Options were explored based on their current interests and reasons for wanting to work. Self-employment was an appropriate option for some. Occupations such as medical transcription and tax preparation enabled consumers with transportation barriers and health limitations to work at home at their own pace. Although the emphasis was on competitive employment, some consumers wanted to do volunteer work and did not need the income. Project VIEW originated at a time when older individuals were often overlooked and underserved in the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program. Referrals of individuals age 65 and older were routinely directed into independent living programs. Even when these individuals wanted to work, VR counselors typically questioned their motivation and ability to perform to employer specifications.

After three years of funding as a special project, Project VIEW was integrated into a state VR caseload. A part-time placement specialist was retained under contract to assist the DBS counselor with job development. This model was not as successful in achieving placements. With changes in funding and staff turnover, the project then evolved into part of a regular VR caseload with the state counselor performing the job development and placement activities.

Observations about Project VIEW indicate that having a dedicated position to work with older consumers, if feasible, is preferable for several reasons. Counselors have been more successful when they are able to maintain a small caseload, actively recruit referrals, focus on resources and strategies for placing older clients and have time to work closely with the older consumers throughout the placement process. Recently, training in aging has been provided to some VR Counselors, but even those who have been trained and who work with older clients report that it is difficult to devote the time and energy necessary due to other caseload demands. 

Project VIEW has been successful by actively recruiting older consumers rather than ruling them out, by providing encouragement rather than questioning their motivation to work, and by utilizing the counselor's knowledge of the special needs and concerns of older visually impaired workers to make the right job match. The success of Project VIEW demonstrated that older workers were good candidates for successful rehabilitation and that, in a large metropolitan area, maintaining a separate caseload of older persons was feasible. 

Implications for Practice

Counselor Selection

The counselor should have enthusiasm, a belief in the ability of the older person, and knowledge about aging and vision loss. A nurturing counselor can help older blind and visually impaired adults overcome negative feelings and provide the encouragement they may need to become successfully employed. 

Counselor Training

The counselor should have adequate training in aging and vision loss to ensure that he/she has the knowledge needed to understand the special issues and needs of older consumers and the supports and accommodations they may need. Training should address the physiology and psychology of aging and vision loss, common eye diseases associated with aging, other physical changes associated with aging, and information about the aging network and resources available to the client. Including facts relating to the productivity and dependability of older workers and the cost benefits to the employer is also important to assist the counselor's marketing efforts to employers. 

The American Foundation for the Blind National Agenda workgroup has developed a comprehensive curriculum to prepare VR counselors and other professionals for working with the older consumers. This curriculum was used first to train the new Project VIEW counselor (Rogers, et al, 2002). This curriculum has also been piloted with counselors in Oklahoma and is being developed into an on-line curriculum by the workgroup and the Mississippi State Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision.

Caseload Size

The counselor should have a small enough caseload to allow sufficient involvement with the client in the placement process. Older clients may need more contacts and encouragement along the way. If possible, the caseload should consist only of individuals age 55 and older. In a mixed caseload, older clients can easily be neglected because they often do not demand attention from the counselor. Project VIEW results indicated that a relatively small caseload can result in a high percentage of successful outcomes. Forty three percent of the referrals accepted for services during the first project year were closed successfully.

Consumer Readiness

Project VIEW has demonstrated that consumers who "graduate" from the local independent living skills training program and who build up their self-esteem and self-confidence are more likely to indicate interest in employment and to be successful on the job. Some older consumers may need a trial work experience, project or volunteer opportunity to build self-confidence prior to achieving competitive placement.

Outreach/Development of Referrals

Project VIEW has actively recruited older consumers by contacting graduates of independent living skills training programs. Originally, articles about the project were published in neighborhood and senior citizen publications. A one-page flyer was developed for distribution with cover letters to ophthalmologists, employers, and targeted organizations such as senior citizen groups. A news release was sent to local newspapers and to local Chambers of Commerce. 

Counselor Role

It is easy for VR counselors to close older consumers' cases as "declined services" with reasons such as "they really do not want to work." In fact, older individuals frequently begin the process with uncertainty and questions about their employability. It is critical that the counselor provide the necessary support and encouragement to keep older consumers from giving up and abandoning pursuit of an employment outcome. Fear and uncertainty can easily be mistaken for lack of motivation to work. The counselor’s role includes providing high levels of supportive and motivational counseling, more home visits, more telephone contacts and more direct involvement in the placement process than they would normally provide for younger consumers.

For example, Albert, a Project VIEW client, felt that he was old and blind and that no one was going to hire him. The counselor contacted the potential employer first to sell Albert’s work skills. She then set up a conference call with Albert and the employer. Together they talked Albert through his fears. He got the job and several months later was named employee of the month. This was an unusual placement approach, but the counselor had established a good working relationship with the employer and had placed others with that company. Through the support and coaching provided by the counselor, Albert was able to overcome his initial fears about his ability to do the job. 

Another Project View consumer, age 74, had not worked in years. He was afraid to attempt employment and gave up easily. Even after he was offered a job, he was overwhelmed with self-doubt. The counselor had to make frequent telephone contacts providing reassurance and reinforcement to keep him from giving up. The extra effort helped him to overcome his fears and start the job. 

Job Development

Many of the initial Project VIEW clients benefited from the counselor’s active job development work. Although not every older client needs a high level of support, those who lack self-confidence accept and retain employment because the counselor locates job leads, screens the job for suitability, addresses transportation needs and the impact of secondary disabilities, makes initial contact with potential employers, and markets the consumer. Project VIEW has demonstrated that the number of successful employment outcomes is directly related to the amount of job development conducted by the counselor. 

Employers

The counselor can market older clients to the employer by emphasizing their dependability, experience, work skills and strong work ethic. Often older clients are easy to promote because they have long careers and a wealth of experience behind them. The counselor emphasizes the benefits to the employer in terms of training time and recruitment costs saved, low turnover rates and support services offered by the agency, including trial work periods. These marketing strategies have worked and some employers are now actively recruiting older workers.

Resources

Project VIEW originally utilized community resources for transportation and other support services. Staff at that time networked with the Area Agency on Aging and used the Elder Helplines for information and referral. Local organizations for volunteers helped to develop opportunities. Local Senior Community Service Employment programs were a resource, although income eligibility requirements for these programs presented somewhat of a barrier. Senior job fairs were also helpful in identifying employment opportunities.

Although networking with other agencies involved in placement of seniors is useful, at the end of the pilot period, the Project VIEW counselor reported that the most successful strategy proved to be direct job development and placement services by the counselor. The rehabilitation specialist was better qualified to provide the specialized placement services necessary for those with severe visual impairment.

The current Project VIEW counselor has networked with the local Senior Resource Alliance and with local Senior Community Service Employment Programs. The Orlando district attempted to partner with the local Green Thumb (now Experience Works) agency. For the most part, these efforts have not resulted in successful placements. However, counselors are encouraged to pursue these resources in their respective areas. The One Stop Service 

Centers are a potential resource to consider, but they may not be equipped to meet the training and adaptive equipment needs of older consumers with severe visual impairments. Partnership with Workforce Development agencies to meet these needs may be an option in some areas.


Summary

Project VIEW has shown that successful placement of older consumers into part or full time jobs is an achievable goal. VR agencies must be willing to make a commitment to work with older consumers. Florida DBS, for example, now routinely screens all adult referrals for the VR program regardless of age. The VR agency must insure counselors have the training, interest, incentive, and time to work with older persons. Providing a course such as that developed by the National Agenda work group on employment will address needed training concerns for counselors. Although the most successful model has been a dedicated position to work with older consumers, training for all VR counselors in Florida is planned. Having trained counselors, in combination with a strong, focused agency emphasis on successful employment outcomes for older consumers, and setting established goals for employment outcomes could result in similar success. 

In turn, consumers must also be committed and ready for employment. Older consumers who have already retired and who have lost their vision later in life will first need to build their self-esteem and skills by completing an independent living skills training program. Finally, employers must be able to understand the value of hiring older persons and what they bring to the work place.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Lee Van Eepoel, the first Project VIEW counselor, for her insights and valuable input into the article.


Reference

Rogers, P., Anderson, P., Beck, M., Berry, P., Brock, J., Gallagher, K., Houston, R., Jeppson, D.,Miller, Z., Orr, A., Simpson, M., Synoground, F., Thomas, H. (2002). Successful Placement of the Older Consumer with Visual Impairment: A Training Curriculum. (Available from American Foundation for the Blind, Aging Team, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001) 

(Simpson, M and Rogers, P., in press).

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End of Appendix G