Topics
San Diego State University’s Interwork Institute with co-sponsorship from CSAVR, NCSAB and VRTAC-QM presents the National Rehabilitation Leadership Institute’s
27th Executive Leadership Seminar in Rehabilitation Administration
Session 1: Leadership and Organizational Issues in a Changing Environment
Date: February 2 - 6, 2026
Session 1 examines leadership development, creating a high-performance culture, and applying transformational coaching models to empower and engage staff. The session introduces core concepts and facilitates discussion about person-centric leadership and systems for each consumer and their family. The session will also introduce important perspectives and practices for leaders in state vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs and examine national challenges and opportunities facing the VR program. Participants will hear from state VR directors about their perspectives and lessons learned.
Session 2: Effective Program Administration and Quality Performance in State VR Agencies
Date: May 4 - 8, 2026
Session 2 examines VR public policies, including programmatic and legal factors that shape state VR programs, including development and implementation of public policies, audits and audit findings, RSA monitoring and evidence-based practices. The session will overview VR organizational requirements, WIOA required performance measures and the importance of quality assurance and internal controls for the achievement of quality outcomes. Participants will learn about federal VR fiscal and grant management requirements, including reporting, allowability, fiscal forecasting, and pre-employment transition services.
Session 3: Integration and Transformation of Strategic Systems
Date: August 17 - 21, 2026
Session 3 applies the knowledge gained through the first two sessions, analyzing current organizational and leadership practices and learning to transform VR systems into empowering VR practices. Participants will learn foundational principles and practices for leading change, including values, beliefs, and agency culture, and how those shape policies and organizations. Participants will learn how to solve problems at their source by using root cause analysis tools and will learn the importance of implementing policies and processes that support rapid and meaningful engagement of VR consumers. Participants will discuss how to apply these principles and strategies to their current organizational issues, including partnerships, service delivery, organizational culture, and development of staff.
Session 4: Public Policy and Constituency-Building in Rehabilitation
Date: December 7 - 11, 2026
Session 4 examines national issues relevant to the public VR program. Participants visit Congress, attend selected Congressional meetings, and visit with relevant federal partners and consumer and constituency representatives. There is extensive discussion of the political processes and legislative and advocacy practices essential for the growth and viability of the VR program. With the leadership and public policy developments through the Administration and Congress, the content and experiences for this session are dynamic and insightful.
26th Executive Leadership Seminar in Rehabilitation Administration
Session 4: Public Policy and Constituency-Building in Rehabilitation
Date: December 1-5, 2025
Session 4 examines national issues relevant to the public VR program. Participants visit Congress, attend selected Congressional meetings, and visit with relevant federal partners and consumer and constituency representatives. There is extensive discussion of the political processes and legislative and advocacy practices essential for the growth and viability of the VR program. With the leadership and public policy developments through the Administration and Congress, the content and experiences for this session are dynamic and insightful.