Vocational Rehabilitation
DECI’s programs are designed to help individuals overcome barriers to employment, enabling them to move towards employment in the community. Encouraging individuals to become self-reliant through employment is a key component of our programs.
Our Board of Directors and Staff believe that through meaningful, satisfying work and training programs, people are able to live more independently, successfully, and productively. While an individual is in training, he or she may try out various tasks that are a part of the production services we perform. The variety of work contracted to DECI by customers offers the opportunity to try a broad array of job activities.
Our Board of Directors and Staff believe that through meaningful, satisfying work and training programs, people are able to live more independently, successfully, and productively. While an individual is in training, he or she may try out various tasks that are a part of the production services we perform. The variety of work contracted to DECI by customers offers the opportunity to try a broad array of job activities.
Vocational trainees receive support from service coordinators who help them determine goals and connect with other needed services. When a person has learned new work habits and skills and expresses interest in a job in the community that person can be referred to DECI's Job Placement Services.
If you would like to get information about vocational training at DECI, please contact us directly or call the Durham Unit Office of the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (984-243-4350).
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Type of work performed at DECI
Packaging, Sorting, Assembly, Disassembly Inspection, Stocking and Material Handling Food Services Janitorial Patient Escort Switch Board/Receptionist |
Programs
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Vocational Evaluation
Evaluation provides an assessment of a person’s current skills, vocational needs and assistance with developing vocational goals. An evaluation can consist of standardized testing as well as observation/assessment in different work settings; both at DECI as well as community settings. The length of time for an evaluation is determined by individual needs. 
Job Placement Services
DECI’s Supported Employment and Work Adjustment Job Training and Job Placement Services provide training and emphasize the development of work habits and skills to prepare individuals for the competitive job market with the assistance of DECI's skilled Job Placement Service Coordinators. Individuals who are referred to DECI from the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Durham Unit Office may receive job-maintenance skills classes as well as assistance with finding a job, intensive on-the-job training, job coaching, and short and long-term job maintenance and support. Part of DECI’s Job Placement Services may include employment at the Durham VA Medical Center through a Federal contract DECI has to provide Patient Escort Services at the Durham VA Medical Center. This contract was negotiated through an organization known as SourceAmerica under the AbilityOne Act which sets aside government contract work to be performed by individuals with disabilities. This employment opportunity provides integrated competitive employment. 
Long Term Vocation Support Services (LTVS)
This program provides intervention and assistance for individuals working in the community with extensive support and follow-up services. DECI staff visit work sites to assess the progress of the individual who is working and provide assistance to enhance current job skills through prompting and modeling, observing work performance and job tasks, engaging in discussions about effective communication with co-workers-supervisors, providing feedback and eliciting collaboration, monitoring effectiveness of accommodations and work schedule, teaching skills for dealing with work related problems, and communicating with the employer and supervisors. DECI will make and or give proper recommendations for community resources, if needed by individual or family of the individual. The main focus of LTVS is help the individual maintain their employment. |
Innovations Day Supports
These services are partially funded by the Medicaid Innovations Waiver. The purpose of the Waiver is to help individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) live a more independent lifestyle. The Waiver was designed with specific goals: To help participants to be fully functioning members of their community, to offer service options that will facilitate each participant’s ability to have employment or engage in purposeful day activity of their choice and achieve their life goals. Innovations Day Supports provides pre-vocational services or enrichment services either in a group setting or as individualized one-on one services. These services are partially funded by the Medicaid Innovations Waiver. Individuals can advance to a less restrictive setting, more work based setting, as skills improve. 
Enrichment Day Activities Services
This pre-vocational program is appropriate for those needing instruction and experience in self-care, socialization, daily living, pre-vocational skills, and community inclusion skills. 
Adult Development Vocational Program (ADVP)
ADVP is a work activity program partially funded by the NC Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services through State dollars. ADVP is designed to teach adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities skills that will maximize each person’s individual potential by providing marketable job skills, appropriate work habits, communication skills and social competencies. Individuals in this programs can be referred to the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for job placement services. Extended Employment
Extended employment is a program for individuals who are not funded through any sources. Individuals or their family members may pay directly for these services. DECI provides paid training that emphasizes the development of work habits and work-related skills, along with support services from qualified service staff. DECI supervisors provide work-training experience and service coordinators provide support services as needed. The goal is to provide individuals with a job while they continue to gain experience with the future goal of attempting competitive employment. |
Additional Services
These additional services may be available to individuals receiving services at DECI based on availability as well as eligibility criteria.
- Compensatory Educational Classes
- Weekly Job Club
- Workers Compensation Case Evaluation
- Disability Assessments
- Community Based Assessment
- Day Vocational Supports are available to individuals for a privately paid fee if funding is unavailable
DECI's Services Partnerships
- NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS)
- Durham Vocational Rehabilitation Unit Office
- Alliance Behavioral Healthcare
- Cardinal Innovations Healthcare
- The NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (NC MHDDSAS)
- NC Division of Medical Assistance (DMA)
- Access Para-transit Services, Durham County
- TTA (Triangle Transit Authority) Para-transit Services
- Durham County Community Living Program (DCCLP)
- SourceAmerica
- Durham Technical Community College
- Private Rehabilitation
- Workers Compensation Insurance
DECI’s job placement and Innovations vocational training programs are accredited by CARF. CARF is an independent, nonprofit organization that has established internationally accepted standards of quality for organizations to use as guidelines. CARF standards are written to promote quality practices and positive results – for the persons receiving services, the organization using the standards, and the communities in which services are provided.