TVS Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Oct 7, 2020 | News

Brevard, NC (October 6, 2020) – TVS (Transylvania Vocational Services) today announced its participation in National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “Increasing Access and Opportunity.”

The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945 when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the word “physically” was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Click here to read the full PDF

A Glance at Disability History

Oct 7, 2020 | Helpful Resources

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and to help honor this important month, we invite you to learn more about Disability History. The PDF provides a quick history, educational sources, and resources to continue your own research.

We invite you to also read more about our celebration of NDEAM.

TVS Company Newsletters

Aug 31, 2020 | Helpful Resources

There is no better way to keep up with all the fantastic news at TVS than our quarterly newsletter! TVS newsletters are filled with news about our different Programs and Services such as Pre-ETS, Employment Specialists, INTERACT, and Life Skills. The newsletters also include updates from our Manufacturing operation, including our contracts the USDA, USAID and the military. And last but not least, we share stories, accomplishments and milestones enjoyed by our team as we work together to serve our mission. Stay informed by signing up for our e-newsletter here and enjoy reading past issues below.

Current Newsletters!

2023

Vol 5, Issue 1 – Expanding Federal Business, One Noodle at a Time!

Vol 5, Issue 2 – “No Recommendations” for TVS on CARF Audit

Vol 5, Issue 3 – Growing Commercial Business Partnerships
Vol 5, Issue 4 – coming soon!

Glancing Back at Past Issues

2022

Vol 4, Issue 1 – Blue Zones Approved Worksite

Vol 4, Issue 2 – TVS & Brevard Rotary Sponsor Community Cornhole

Vol 4, Issue 3 – Dover Acquisition Expanding our Mission
Vol 4, Issue 4 – Third Annual ‘Give Back, Get Back’ Donations

2021

Vol 3, Issue 1 – ‘No Limits’ Artists Show in Raleigh, Two Years in a Row

Vol 3, Issue 2 – New TVS Wellness Committee Kicked Off in May 2021

Vol 3, Issue 3 – Over 850 School Supplies Donated to Sharing House
Vol 3, Issue 4 – TVS Launches the Stricker-Alderman Fund

2020

Vol 2, Issue 1 – Upgrading and Investing in Speed and Performance

Vol 2, Issue 2 – Dry Milk Mooo-ves to More Food Pantries in U.S.

Vol 2, Issue 3 – ‘Tis the Season for Donations

2019

Vol 1, Issue 1 – Reflection Over the Year from CEO Jamie Brandenburg

Special Edition!

2018 – Our 50th Anniversary!

‘In The Loop’ – TVS Program’s Monthly Bulletin

Aug 11, 2020 | Helpful Resources

Every month, the TVS Support Services team or the TVS Employment Specialists create an informative bulletin for our participants, parents/guardians, and for TVS Programs & Services employees. These one-page bulletins offer a glimpse into the hard work and dedication of our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and also serves as a fun way to share important information. We hope you find this information useful.

Current In The Loops

2024

Issue 47, Jan – Lessons for Supporting Persons with Disabilities (2 of 4)

Glancing Back at Past Issues

2023

Issue 35, Jan – Importance of Inclusion in Schools & Education
Issue 36, Feb – Therapeutic Relationships & Boundaries
Issue 37, March – Commitment, Competency, Mission: The TVS Purpose
Issue 38, April – CARF Accreditation
Issue 39, May – Person Centered Planning
Issue 40, June – Understanding Boundaries & Relationships
Issue 41, July – Employment Rights & Responsibilities
Issue 42, Aug – How to Protect Yourself from Scams
Issue 43, Sept – The Benefits of Job Shadowing & Sampling
Issue 44, Oct – Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Appreciation Week
Issue 45, Nov – Lessons for Supporting Persons with Disabilities (1 of 4)
Issue 46, Dec – DSP Support Tips during the Holidays

2022

Issue 23, Jan – Understanding 2022 Disability Benefits
Issue 24, Feb – Pre-ETS Virtual Job Shadowing
Issue 25, March – Caring for the Caregivers
Issue 26, April – Disability Issue or Human Being Issue?
Issue 27, May – Mental Health Awareness Month
Issue 28, June – Accommodations
Issue 29, July – School’s Out!!
Issue 30, Aug – Supporting People with I/DD as they Age
Issue 31, Sept – Medicaid Managed Care
Issue 32, Oct – Friendship. The #1 Need
Issue 33, Nov – Holiday Stress
Issue 34, Dec – First Job ‘Need-to-Knows’

2021

Issue 11, Jan – A Quick Glance at Equality VS Equity
Issue 12, Feb – COVID-19 Can’t Stop our FUN!
Issue 13, March – The Basics about Able Accounts
Issue 14, April – TVS Employment Success Team(Pre-ETS)
Issue 15, May – Informed Decision Making
Issue 16, June – Anxiety, Transitions, & Expectations
Issue 17, July – Disability is as Natural as Being Human!
Issue 18, Aug – Looking Closer into Local Unemployment
Issue 19, Sept – Resiliency in Highschool Students
Issue 20, Oct – Our DSP Commitment Continued (part 3)
Issue 21, Nov – Quality in Person Centered Supports
Issue 22, Dec – Unwrapping the Holidays

2020

Issue 01, March – Understanding our DSP Commitment (part 1)
Issue 02, April – Tips to Talking about COVID-19
Issue 03, May – The Importance of Healthy Eating
Issue 04, June – Our DSP Commitment Continued (part 2)
Issue 05, July – Understanding Loneliness
Issue 06, Aug – Our Response to COVID-19
Issue 07, Sept – The Concept of Dignity of Risk
Issue 08, Oct – CARF International Accreditation
Issue 09, Nov – Workplace Etiquette during COVID-19
Issue 10, Dec – ‘No Limits’ Artists Express Creativity

New, Temporary Community Inclusion Services in Response to COVID-19

Aug 4, 2020 | News

Transylvania Vocational Services (TVS) has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (NCDVR) to offer a new service called Community Inclusion. This service was created by the NCDVR in May as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of the Community Inclusion Service is to provide current individuals whom are supported by Vocational Rehabilitation with a way to navigate new challenges within the community and local employment industry. Recipients are supported by a TVS Employment Specialist through individualized education that is customized to the needs of each individual.

“The biggest benefit of these services is that individuals are able to see how all aspects of life can and do affect employment,” said TVS Employment Specialist Megan Pilley.

The Community Inclusion Service focuses on four main categories, all designed to help an individual adapt to changes in their community or job. These categories include: 1) Job Preparation, 2) Disability Awareness, 3) Health, Safety and Wellness, and 4) Independent Living.

Individuals are able to choose from a wide variety of topics within each category, based on what is most useful to their personal lives. These subcategories cover topics highly relevant to issues surfaced by COVID-19 such as how to conduct a virtual or phone interview and how to access additional resources through telehealth services.

“By awareness being brought to these areas, we expect to see individuals becoming more involved in the community and have confidence regardless of the current lifestyle changes,” Pilley said.

To qualify for the service an individual must have an active case with NCDVR. A NCDVR counselor determines eligibility after a person applies for the service and approved individuals can receive up to 50 hours of inclusion service trainings.

This service is being offered for a limited time and is only expected to remain in effect until the end of the year.

For more information please call your local Vocational Rehabilitation office, Brevard: 828-883-2190 or Hendersonville 828-692-9184.