Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Programs
The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) has programs that match people who need jobs with agencies that need people. We encourage all supervisors to consider these programs to address your hourly staffing needs. We give DVR a list of duties and responsibilities, and they find matches with people who have been out of work, have a disability, or need to learn a new skillset.
The process has a quick turnaround and can include an application or interview process or both if you need assistance from DVR in identifying an appropriate candidate. With either program, DVR makes the process and paperwork very easy to implement. Supporting agencies and HR would be involved throughout the entire process. The City of Madison has a long history of partnering with community agencies to support the hiring and retention of individuals with disabilities. Contact Tory Larson, the Occupational Accommodations Specialist, if you have any questions or are interested in these programs.
Temporary Work Training
This program is an internship that lasts for up to 12 weeks. The intern can work up to 40 hours per week at your site and they are paid by a third-party. At the end of the 12 weeks, or at any time prior, you can hire the candidate. However, you are under no obligation to do so. Most interns are hired by their employers because they are so pleased with their performance. It takes three weeks to process the paperwork before the employee can start working.
On-the-Job Training
In this program, you hire the candidate and DVR advances to you 50% of their wages for the first 90 days of employment. This gives your agency a financial incentive for hiring and training an individual with a disability. The employee is a City of Madison employee and treated like any other employee.
If a supervisor is not pleased with the individual’s performance, their employment should be ended within those first 90 days. The unused portion of the DVR funds contributed for the employee’s wages would need to be returned to DVR.