Meeting to Reopen Juan's Case
Name of Client: Juan Martinez
Address: Essex Towers, MO
Contact made: [_] Home [_] Office [X] Phone [_] Other
Date: 5/19/98
Contact with: Juan
Juan called and said he has been reduced to part-time at the Independent Living Center and would like to re-open his case and think about going to school again.
Meet with client on 6/12/98
Signed: Jack Greene
Juan - Good.
Jack - It's been.... almost a year, hasn't it? I think I saw you once over on Pearl Street going somewhere in your wheelchair, about four months ago, but you didn't see me.
Juan - On Pearl? Oh yeah, one of the people I'm working with was living over there for a while. That must have been it. She was living in an apartment over there, but we got her a modified van so she could drive, and she decided to move farther out from downtown. She's doing very well now.
Jack - So, from your message, I gather you are part-time at the Independent Living Center now?
Juan - Yeah. They had some budget cut-backs and moved several of us back to part time. It's because of all these cut-backs that the Legislature caused. So they didn't have any choice, really.
Jack - Yeah, those cut-backs have been causing a lot of changes all over. So you are thinking about re-opening your case now?
Juan - Yes. Because I got to thinking about what you said last summer about waiting until the timing was better. And I thought this might be a good time to try that... try re-opening it.
Jack - It does sound like a good time for that. We will need to review and update some of your eligibility forms to see if anything has changed, but we should be able to do that today without any problem. We will explain that you've been reduced to part-time and can't re-enter the competitive job market without further training.
Now, if I remember right, you will need to take the GED again, right?
Juan - Yes. I pretty sure I can do a lot better, especially if I can get an accommodation on filling in the answer forms. Then I know I can do better.
Jack - Well, we'll need to get that started right away. That's going to be important because we will need to demonstrate academic potential for school. Otherwise there could be some question - it's been about 15 years since you were last in high school. Plus you've had your accident since then, which could have involved a slight head injury - probably didn't, but we have to address that. None of this is a serious problem, but we need to document that you can handle school. We could do that with a neuropsych exam, but that's a very elaborate procedure and there's just no call for that, given how well you've been doing so far. It's a lot simpler if we can show that you studied for and took the GED with no trouble. After that, it's reasonable to suggest sending you to school.
Juan - OK.
Jack - Good. Let me look over some of these other forms here...Let's see, we had decided on social worker as a career for you. No, we decided on caseworker as an intermediate goal, and then you could change to social worker if you wanted to, later on. Right?
Juan - Yes. That's sounds right.
Jack - OK. First we'll need to get you eligible again, but we should be able to do that today using these old forms. In a few minutes I'll have you look over these old forms and make any changes or updates. Has your medical condition changed? Any complications come up in the last year?
Juan - No. Everything is fine.
Jack - Did you have to go to the hospital for anything, or change medication at all?
Juan - Nope.
Jack - Good. I'm only asking because we might need to get additional medical documents from the hospital if anything new was happening. Are you still seeing Dr. Atkins?
Juan - Yes. I check in with him about every two months. He's a good doctor. He's also handling several of my clients from the Independent Living Center.
Jack - Yeah, he manages medical teams of a lot of people we see here. Well, I'll need to write up some new versions of these forms, but since everything is still the same, we can use the previous ones for the information. Now, let's go back over the client and agency responsibilities, just to review.
Juan - OK.
Jack - What we had laid out was that VR would assist you in exploring your vocational options when needed; share appropriate information with the school, if needed for your application; give you advice and guidance on getting accommodations at the University.
Juan - Sure.
Jack - Now, on your part, you are going to pass the GED before fall, apply for a Pell Grant and other student aid, apply for admission to the University, meet with Hank Baker at the Disability Access Office, meet with a caseworker for an informational interview about what the job is like, and meet with an academic advisor, and keep me advised of what is going on. Does that sound right?
Juan - That seems right... who do I talk to about that grant - what was it called?
Jack - The Pell Grant. It's a Federal grant based on financial need, and what you do is go over to the Financial Aid Office at the University and pick up a form that applies you for the Pell and any other possible aid. Then they let you know what turns up.
Juan - Neat.
Jack - Yes, it's pretty convenient. We need you to do to prove that there isn't any other money available to you, so you really need VR's help.
Juan - OK. I can handle that. What else do I need to do?
Jack - Actually, I think that's it. We have already done some of the exploratory things to focus in on what career might be most interesting to you, and the informational interview will finish that up. And we've talked before about a lot of the other details. If you can look over these old forms and let me know if there are any changes, we can get things underway.
Juan - And that will re-open the case and everything?
Jack - Yep.
Juan - Great. That really is pretty easy. I thought it would be a lot longer than that. You know, more steps and things.
Jack - Well, there are some steps, some different status codes that we have to move the case through officially, but we are doing all of that today. It's a lot easier because everything is already on the old forms, and we still have your medical documentation and all. So, all in all, it really isn't that hard.
Juan - So I just need to look over the forms and sign things?
Jack - Yes. While you are looking everything over, I'll just type these new forms up on the computer and you can sign them. And then you can start setting up your meetings.
Jack - This is great. Thanks for doing all of this.
Name of Client: Juan Martinez
Address: Essex Towers, MO
Contact made: [_] Home [X] Office [_] Phone [_] Other
Date: 6/12/96
Contact with: Juan
Client came in to re-open case from last year. He has been reduced to part-time at the ILC and is not able to enter the competitive job market without further training. He reported no change in his medical condition or functional limitations. Using information on the old forms, we re-opened the case and created new no-cost IWRP. Client responsibilities are the same as last year - interview at Access Office, interview with academic advisor, informational interview with social worker, take and pass GED, apply for Pell Grant, apply to University. VRC (Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor) responsibilities the same as well - provide guidance as needed, provide records to University as needed, monitor progress.
None. Client will contact.
Signed: Jack Greene
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