The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation: The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) is a direct service program provided through 21 district offices located throughout Pennsylvania. OVR provides vocational rehabilitation services to assist individuals with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment. Services are provided on an individual basis. Counselors meet with individuals for face-to-face interviews and assist them in selecting their choice of vocational goals, services, and service providers. Other services that are provided at no cost to the individual include counseling and guidance, diagnostic services, assessments, information and referrals, job development and placement, and personal services such as readers or sign language interpreters.
Individuals are eligible for services based upon two important factors. These include: a physical or mental impairment that causes an impediment to employment; there exists an ability to benefit from services; and the need for services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful employment.
Pre-ETS Release Form for students 14+
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
3602 Kutztown Road, Suite 200
Reading, PA 19605
(610) 621-5800
Toll-Free (800) 442-0949
Service Access Management
Service Access Management (SAM) is a base service unit that determines eligibility for services in Schuylkill County. In order to receive services through SAM, individuals must have a mental health diagnosis. SAM offers case management services, mobility training, employment training and opportunities, adult day care, and help finding employment or housing. Two housing programs that SAM offers are the PATH program and Supported Living program. In the PATH program, individuals qualify if they do not make an income and are homeless or at risk for homelessness. These individuals are provided with financial assistance and support services. There is also a Supported Living program, in which individuals must have an income. Workers will help these individuals do things such as find apartments and teach them to pay their bills.
590 Terry Reiley Way
Pottsville, PA
(570) 621-2700
Toll-Free (877) 216-5035
Schuylkill CareerLink®
Schuylkill CareerLink® provides assistance with job training and placement. This includes: finding a job, looking for a better job, or improving job skills. This can be done through the Commonwealth Workforce Development System, which can help individuals to search for job openings, create a résumé, apply for jobs online, research career information, or request vocational rehabilitation services. Job seekers can search for events, training programs or providers, and create a profile to keep events and information up-to-date. There is also the PA Career Coach, which is a free online tool to help individuals find local job opportunities that match each individual’s skills and experience.
203 Arch Street
Pottsville, PA 17901
(570) 622-5253
Anthracite Region Center for Independent Living
Anthracite Region Center for Independent Living (ARCIL) provides a wide variety of services for individuals with disabilities. ARCIL serves individuals in Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties. ARCIL can help answer questions about support services, government benefits, adaptive equipment, accessibility, and other topics related to disabilities. They will assist as an advocate to help individuals with disabilities resolve issues such as inaccessibility or discrimination that are due to a disability. ARCIL can provide assistance in an individual’s home to help him/her acquire skills to become more independent, such as budgeting, preparing meals, shopping, using public transportation, or finding employment.
ARCIL also offers peer support. An ARCIL peer helper is a person with a disability who is living independently and is able to share their experiences and offer support to others. Peer helpers work one-on-one with individuals and help them to make adjustments to live with their disability, learn problem-solving skills, explore options, and use community services more effectively.
Markle Building
8 West Broad Street, Suite 228
Hazleton, PA 18201
(570) 455-9800
Toll-Free (800) 777-9906
Goodwill Employment Services
Goodwill Employment Services works to support individuals with disabilities and other barriers, such as those at an economic disadvantage or lacking education or work experience, to find independence in achieving their fullest potential as workers and members of the community. They do this by providing job skill training to youth and seniors. They introduce individuals to the “power of earning a paycheck” in order to help them overcome barriers such as welfare dependency, illiteracy, and disabilities.
Located at the Cressona Mall:
1544 Route 61 Hwy South, Suite 6133
Pottsville, PA 17901
(570) 628-9090
Avenues
Avenues provides services for individuals of all ages who have disabilities.
Services for children include: Early Intervention, Summer Camp, First Friends (childcare facility), Elks Nursing (provides nursing care to an individual of any age who has a developmental disability or physical or mental delays or a combination of both), and a Neurological Clinic.
Adult services include: an Adult Training Facility, Vocational Programs, Adventures with Avenues, and a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program.
In the Vocational Programs, individuals learn skills such as large and small assembly, packaging, bulk mailings, tooling, document shredding, janitorial services, kitchen skills, retail skills, horticulture, crafting, and sales.
There is also a School to Work Transition Program, which works with High School seniors who have a current IEP. These students are able to attend a sheltered workshop or supported employment opportunity. Adventures with Avenues includes monthly outings, including activities such as: bowling, movies, local fairs, dining out, and mini golf.
2 Park Street
Pottsville, PA 17901
(570) 622-7991
AHEDD:
AHEDD provides employment and training services for individuals with disabilities. AHEDD can help youth in transition or adults with disabilities that are looking to enter or improve their status in the work force learn or develop pre-employment skills, job seeking skills, on-site job coaching support, arrange transportation, provide follow-along services throughout the first year of employment, Community Based Work Assessments, Transition services, benefits counseling, self-employment, assist in reporting earnings to the Social Security Administration, and ensure that healthcare services are in place.
AHEDD Northeastern Region:
Phone (570) 622-9711
Fax (570) 227-0295
Toll Free (866) 902-4333
Abilities in Motion:
Since 1989, Abilities in Motion has been offering services, education, and advocacy for individuals with disabilities in Berks County and throughout Pennsylvania. AIM’s purpose is reflected in the Rehabilitation Act, which states that “disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to live independently, enjoy self-determination, make choices, contribute to society, pursue meaningful careers, and enjoy full inclusion and integration in the economic, political, social, cultural, and educational mainstream of American society.”
755 Hiesters Lane
Reading, PA 19605
PH: 610-376-0010
Toll Free: 1-888-376-0120 FAX: 610-376-0021
