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March 22 is rehabilitation counselor appreciation day
The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, together with disability organizations nationwide, will be recognizing and celebrating March 22 as National Rehabilitation Counselor Appreciation Day, an annually designated date by the U.S. Congress at the request of the National Rehabilitation Association.
According to the United States of America Congressional Record, March 22 is a day set aside to “commend all of the hard work and dedication that rehabilitation counselors provide to individuals in need and the numerous efforts that the multiple professional organizations have made to assisting those who require rehabilitation” (p. 7245).
However, here at OVR, counselors are not the only ones we wish to recognize. Rather, counselors Jane Tudela, Jiana Camacho, and Rose Ichiuo, along with counselor aides John Cabrera and Tomeko Olaitiman, and case service manager Bernice Ravell, are the frontline professionals and paraprofessionals working tirelessly to serve the vocational rehabilitation needs of our applicants and consumers on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian. Ongoing collaboration with community partners is also essential to meeting the complex individual needs of consumers. Employers are a major stakeholder in a position, like OVR, to promote and advocate for reasonable accommodations and barrier removal, so that employment and independence become achievable. As the saying (OVR motto) goes: “Together we can build a future.”
It is the mission of OVR to increase employment and promote independence among eligible individuals with disabilities throughout the CNMI.
As part of our celebration of this day and scheduled staff professional development activities, OVR will be closed on Friday, March 21, 2014. For urgent matters, however, please call 287-6538 or 287-6548. (OVR)
