Veterans Return to Integrated Competitive Employment (Veterans RICE) is an initiative of the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) to increase competitive integrated employment for Veterans with significant disabilities, including those in Veterans Health Administration Compensated Work Therapy programs. One strategy for accomplishing this goal is through the use of Discovery and Customized Employment (CE). CE is a process through which jobs are customized for individuals based on their interests, skills, talents and other information gathered during a process called Discovery. This in-depth information guides the job search, and ultimately a position is negotiated with a business that can benefit from the contributions that the individual brings to the business. This resulting job is a win-win situation -- both for the veteran and also for the business.

ODEP Senior Policy Advisor Richard Davis and Subject Matter Expert Debbie Ball will give a brief overview of Customized Employment and ODEP’s work in this area, provide information about ongoing trainings to the VHA compensated work therapy program staff, and provide examples of real-life success stories of veterans who have secured competitive, integrated employment or self-employment using Discovery and Customized Employment

Moderator: Christopher Tafoya*, Deputy Administrator, Arizona Department of Economic Security

Presenters: Richard Davis, Senior Policy Advisor, USDOL Office of Disability Employment Policy

Debbie Ball, Subject Matter Expert, EasterSeals