Discovery Training

Our Discovery training is designed for providers of Customized Employment and Advanced Supported Employment, school staff, counselors, and families.

The Arc of Pennsylvania has partnered with Marc Gold and Associates (MG&A) to offer the Discovery training. Discovery training is one of three different, but related, training programs (Note: the other trainings are Customized Job Development Training & Systematic Instruction Training.) 

The main emphasis of the Discovery Training is to teach attendees a process used as an alternative to traditional vocational assessment. The Discovery process is used to support customized employment goals of individuals with significant disabilities that are typically not given consideration for competitive community employment.

Our Discovery Training meets the PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (OVR) and the PA Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) provider qualification requirements to deliver customized employment services.

As a result of Discovery training, participants seeking certification will be able to:

• Define the Essential Elements of Discovery and Customized Employment
• Understand and conduct the activities of Discovery
• Write a comprehensive Discovery profile
• Facilitate a Customized Plan for Employment Plan Meeting and Write a Plan
• Develop a visual resume for a job seeker with a disability

• 3-day, virtual online training.
• Those pursuing certification will then complete a minimum of 20 hours of fieldwork with a learning partner under the guidance of a mentor.
• Program managers, counselors, school staff, families, and anyone else interested in learning about the service can also register to audit the course.  Auditors attend the 3-day training, but will not be required to complete any additional fieldwork. Auditors will not receive certification.

Certification Requirements:

• Attend all three days of virtual live training
• Identify a ‘learning partner’ with a disability who is interested in employment with whom the activities of Discovery will be completed under the guidance of a mentor
• Complete a Discovery profile for learning partner
• Facilitate a Customized Plan for Employment for learning partner
• Create a Visual Resume for learning partner
• Complete Discovery Activity Log
• Pass Final Test with score of 70% or better

• $200 per person to audit (sit in on) the course
• $1200 per person for Certification

To register for a training, click on the dates listed in the Session Dates section above.

**Note: School staff and families of children with disabilities enrolled in K-12 can qualify for a scholarship to audit our training.

The Arc of Pennsylvania can fulfill requests for reasonable accommodations if they are made 30 days prior to the training. Requests made after 30 days cannot be guaranteed. To make a request please contact Anthony Chan at achan@includemepa.org.

For more information, please email Program Manager Jen Hipps at jhipps@includemepa.org.

Who should get certified?

Providers of employment support services who want to be qualified to deliver customized employment services through OVR and/or Advanced Supported Employment Services through ODP. It is important for providers to understand that it is the specific staff who will actually be delivering the services that OVR and ODP require be certified, not the supervisors.

Can I be paid for the work I do while I am getting certified?

OVR permits an employment specialist to work with an OVR customer as their ‘learning partner’ while they are becoming certified – IF – the employment specialist is supported through the process by an OVR approved mentor. All of The Arc of PA’s mentors are MG&A certified and trained as mentors and are approved mentors with OVR. If one is interested in working with an OVR referral as their learning partner for certification, they should reach out to their local OVR office to determine is there may be any customized employment referrals available. The certification candidate and the mentor must complete an OVR mentor verification form and submit the form to the local OVR office prior to beginning work with the OVR referral.