VCU RRTC

09/01/2026

🏆 PROJECT SEARCH TEAM EARNS EXCELLENT OUTCOMES AWARD 🏆

Congratulations are in order for our Project SEARCH leader team, Nancy, Julie, and Cindy whose leadership has earned recognition from Project SEARCH at the national level for Excellent Employment Outcomes for the 2024-25 cohort of interns here at
St Francis. 70% or more of last year's interns achieved competitive, integrated employment, meeting all the Project SEARCH criteria.

Their achievement was announced at a special ceremony on July 14th at the 19th Annual Project SEARCH Conference in St. Louis, MO. While the team wasn't able to be present, they were applauded for the outstanding work that we're privileged to see unfold year after year. Way to go, Project SEARCH Team!

Thank you for all you do to help Project SEARCH Interns achieve success!

09/01/2026

📣 Building Productive Partnerships in the Vocational Rehabilitation Process

Communication, collaboration, and coordination are essential to successful partnerships.

Join Dawn Mosley, M.S., CRC, Pre-ETS Facilitator, VCU for a webcast exploring ways to enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration among stakeholders in the Vocational Rehabilitation process.

The webcast will identify common barriers and practical strategies to enhance service delivery and share tips for building strong, successful partnerships.

📅 September 3, 2026
🕑 2:00–2:45 p.m. Eastern

Registration is free but required.

🔗 Register Now: https://iraca.vcurrtc.org/training/webcasts/

08/28/2026

Many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) want to work, but families often need support navigating employment services and opportunities. The Employment Pathways Project tested whether parent-to-parent mentorship could help families support employment goals for their family member with IDD. Check out this Brand New Infograhic from RRTC-IDD Research Study 1.

Download the infographic: https://idd.vcurrtc.org/resources/content.cfm/2497

08/28/2026

Congratulations to one of our own, Dr. Carol Schall!

The 2026 NIRA and PEIA awardees elevate VCU’s reputation and the student learning experience.

08/26/2026

While transition specialists coordinate day-to-day services, school leaders hold the key to removing systemic barriers and creating real access for students with disabilities.

Join us for a free virtual webcast: "Strengthening Transition Outcomes: The Administrator's Role in Pre-ETS Implementation," presented by experts Dawn Mosley (VCU-RRTC), Diara Seruby (VCU-RRTC), and Patti Hodge (VA DARS). Drawing from a successful three-year partnership between VCU and the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), this session delivers practical strategies to bridge the gap between high school and competitive employment.

💡Learn:

How to embed Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) into school schedules without sacrificing core academics.

Actionable solutions for transportation, scheduling, and communication barriers.

Ways to leverage community events and family networks to expand service reach.

🗓️ Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026

⏰ Time: 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM ET

🎟️ Cost: FREE (Registration required)

👉 Regiser to join: https://preets.vcurrtc.org/resources/webcasts/details.cfm/1804

08/24/2026

‼️ 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞: Evidence-Based Practices to Teach Students with ASD

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒 - 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

This course is designed to provide educators with skills and knowledge to instruct students with ASD in the educational setting. The course provides an overview of the importance of good instruction, appropriate skill selection, and evidence-based practices. A focus of the course will surround the "foundational five" evidence-based practices. The "foundational five" include: antecedent-based interventions, visual supports, systematic instruction, and interventions to promote social and communications skills.

Learn more and register today!
https://vcuautismcenter.org/te/courses/effectiveInstruction.cfm

08/24/2026

Join RRTC-IDD on Thursday, August 27th at 2pm for a webcast from Research Study 5. Supported employment is an evidence-based practice, yet employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities remain highly variable. In this webcast, participants will learn how researchers and stakeholders collaborated to identify the core elements of high-quality supported employment, develop a new fidelity scale, and lay the foundation for improving implementation and outcomes across service systems.

Register today!
https://vcurrtc.org/training/webcasts/webcastDetails.cfm/1795

08/21/2026

Join VCU-RRTC-IDD Research Study 4 on Tuesday, August 25th at 2pm (EST) as Dr. Peter Temple details the background information and core concepts that define our research study. He will also review the qualitative results from focus groups conducted with community college students with disabilities, vocational rehabilitation professionals, and community college staff, and explain how that will inform the second phase of our study.

Register Here: https://idd.vcurrtc.org/training/webcasts/webcastDetails.cfm/1794

08/21/2026

Supported employment helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) find and keep jobs in the community. Research shows supported employment works, but the quality of services can vary widely. Some providers offer individualized, long-term supports, while others may provide limited or inconsistent support. These differences can affect whether people get jobs, keep jobs, and build meaningful careers. Here's what 19 employment specialists identified as keys to high quality Supported Employment.

Download the infographic: https://idd.vcurrtc.org/resources/content.cfm/2486

08/20/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Carol Schall! Dr. Schall at VCU-RRTC has been named a 2026 Pedagogical Excellence and Innovation Award (PEIA) honoree, recognizing her as one of VCU’s most accomplished and impactful faculty members. Established last year, the PEIA honors faculty whose teaching ignites curiosity, fosters deep learning, and transforms students' lives. This award recognizes those who inspire through creativity, clarity, and care in the classroom - setting a standard for excellence in pedagogy that resonates far beyond a single course or semester.

The recipients of this year’s National/International Recognition Awards (NIRA) and Pedagogical Excellence and Innovation Awards (PEIA) exemplify possibility in action. They push the boundaries of their disciplines, forge collaboration and catalyze new ways of thinking and learning.