UNT WISE partners with universities, vocational rehabilitation agencies and other stakeholders to create, pilot, test and ultimately develop new training programs based on the needs of specific communities. Some recent collaborations include:

• A Leadership Project, piloted in Texas, designed to facilitate strong collaboration between CRPs and VR counselors, while enhancing knowledge and understanding of the VR process at national, state and local levels. This was accomplished through a variety of strategies, including shadowing, technical assistance, and a comprehensive educational tool. End goals included the successful design and implementation of an Employment project in the CRP/VR partners' local area that enhanced positive employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

• Providing technical assistance including facilitating the development of an Employment Services Plan for a model supported employment project and a two-day training program on Mental Health & Employment, conducted at the request of the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). This collaborative effort brought together numerous stakeholders, including consumers, VR, MH, clinicians and educators.

• A technical assistance and training program for Louisiana Rehabilitation Services and Office of Mental Health that furthered the understanding of Supported Employment as an evidence-based practice and conceptualized implementation at the local level. This effort articulated the importance of collaboration and the roles played by the MH clinician, VR, family, employment professional and other supports.

• Development of a Dual Customer Marketing approach that recognizes both business and the consumer as customers in the employment process, piloted as a two-day interactive training, conducted at the request of DARS, Division of Blind Services.

• A 3-year project in conjunction with The Rehabilitation Research Initiative housed at the University of Texas Pan-American in Edinburg, to study the underutilization by Hispanic-Americans of rehabilitation services. This collaboration resulted in the development of several products including an online Diversity Toolkit and a monograph, Increasing Capacity of CRPs to Serve Hispanic Individuals.