H RIZONSH RIZONSSOUTH CAROLINA VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION DEPARTMENT

Fall 2004Volume 43, Number 4 N E W

Visit our Web site at www.scvrd.net

I N S I D E

Disability Mentoring Day .............................................. 2

DDS PRIDE awards ...................................................... 3

SCVRD named Gold AchieverThe South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation

Department’s “Baldrige journey” reached a new level in October. SCVRD became the first state agency to be recognized as a Gold Achiever in the Governor’s Quality Awards program, sponsored by the South Carolina Quality Forum.

The awards represent the state-level version of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards, recognizing organizations that achieve excellent performance in developing, implementing and deploying a quality management system based on the Baldrige Criteria. They are typically won by private businesses and industries.

The department was honored at the forum’s annual conference in Columbia. Larry Bryant, SCVRD commissioner, accepted the award from Dr. Harry S. Hertz, director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which administers the national Baldrige awards. Governor Mark Sanford later recognized SCVRD and made an official presentation of the award in his office.

The Gold Achiever award is the second highest level in the program. The top award, the Governor’s Quality Award, was won by Wackenhut Services for its security operation at Savannah River Site. GlaxoSmithKline, a worldwide pharmaceutical company, was recognized as a Bronze Achiever for its Aiken location.

It was the second time SCVRD had received recognition from the forum. The department earned

Silver Achiever status in 2001. Only four state agencies have been recognized since the awards’ inception in 1995 and SCVRD is the first two-time honoree among state agencies.

The department has utilized the Baldrige Criteria for several years to measure performance and foster continuous improvement. The criteria focus on the categories of leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; human resources focus; process management; and business results.

SCVRD’s Program Integrity management philosophy and measurement system was the centerpiece of the comprehensive award application filed in March. The department was selected for a site visit, during which a team of examiners spent two days at the

See Gold, page 4

Gov. Mark Sanford, left, presents the Gold Achiever Award to Derle Lowder Sr., chairman of the S.C. State Agency of Vocational Rehabilitation, seated, and Larry Bryant, SCVRD commissioner.

New Horizons is published by the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD), 1410 Boston Ave., P.O. Box 15, West Columbia, SC 29171-0015.

The Public Information Office provides all news and information. News materials may be reproduced with credit to New Horizons.

SCVRD distributes New Horizons free by mail. Subscription requests or changes of address may be sent to the Public Information Office at the above address, telephone (803) 896-6833 or e-mail info@scvrd.state.sc.us

In accordance with federal and state laws, SCVRD does not discriminate against any race, color, sex, national origin, age or disability in employment or in provision of services.

Agency:Derle A. Lowder Sr., chairman, SumterLarry C. Bryant, secretary, Columbia

H. Lucius Laffitte, M.D., at-large, AllendaleDr. Roxzanne Breland, Greenville

Timothy W. Evatt, PendletonRhonda J. Presha, Elgin

Alease G. Samuels, WalterboroJoseph A. Thomas, Conway

SCVRD:Commissioner—Larry C. Bryant

Editor—Sharon H. Kelly

Area Offices:Aiken: 855 York St. N.E.

(803) 641-7630 (Voice/TDD)Anderson: 3001 Mall Road

(864) 224-6391 (Voice/TDD)Beaufort: 747 Robert Smalls Parkway

(843) 522-1010 (Voice/TDD)Berkeley-Dorchester: 2954 S. Live Oak Drive

Moncks Corner(843) 761-6036 (Voice/TDD)

Charleston: 4360 Dorchester Road, North Charleston(843) 740-1600 (Voice/TDD)Conway: 3009 Fourth Avenue(843) 248-2235 (Voice/TDD)

Florence: 1947 West Darlington Street(843) 662-8114 (Voice/TDD)

Greenville: 105 Parkins Mill Road(864) 297-3066 (Voice/TDD)

Laurens-Greenwood: 22861 Highway 76 East, Clinton(864) 833-4121 (Voice/TDD)

Lexington: 1330 Boston Ave., West Columbia(803) 896-6333 (Voice/TDD)

Marlboro: 1029 Highway 9 W., Bennettsville(843) 479-8318 (Voice/TDD)

Oconee-Pickens: 1951 Wells Highway, Seneca(864) 882-6669 (Voice/TDD)

Orangeburg: 1661 Joe S. Jeffords Hwy S.E.(803) 534-4939 (Voice/TDD)

Richland: 516 Percival Road, Columbia(803) 782-4239 (Voice/TDD)Rock Hill: 1020 Heckle Blvd.(803) 327-7106 (Voice/TDD)

Spartanburg: 353 S. Church St.(864) 585-3693 (Voice/TDD)

Sumter: 1760 N. Main St.(803) 469-2960 (Voice/TDD)

Walterboro: 919 Thunderbolt Drive(843) 538-3116 (Voice/TDD)

Enabling eligible South Carolinians with Disabilities to prepare for, achieve and

maintain competitive employment.

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NEW HORIZONS

Seventeen people with disabilities got an opportunity to peek into the “real” world of work Oct. 13 as they participated in Disability Mentoring Day.

Disability Mentoring Day is sponsored nationally by the American Association of People with Disabilities and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. The S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Department was a local coordinator for the event in the Columbia area.

It was an opportunity for the mentees to experience a work environment in their area of interest through job shadowing and hands-on career exploration.

Mentees included high school students, college students and job seekers.

Mentors included an elementary school teacher, an engineer, computer specialists, an executive with the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, a hairdresser, a massage therapist and representatives from a tool and die manufacturing firm, a legal practice, and a sign company.

Keith Parrish, a student at Swansea

High School, spent the morning at American Tool & Die in Swansea.

He said the thing he liked most was “I got to go and work where I want to work after I finish school.” He and several others lamented that they did not have more time at the job site.

Keighley Skelton, a student at the University of South Carolina,

spent some time with Christy Burton, a teacher at Springdale Elementary School, and her fifth graders.

“I really enjoyed Ms. Burton’s class,” Skelton said. “She really was a great example of a holistic teacher.”

Lucerne Iseman, SCVRD assistant commissioner, coordinated the event for

Participants rate DisabilityMentoring Day a success

Keighley Skelton, left, looks over students’ work with Springdale Elementary teacher Christy Burton.

SCVRD client Charles Cullom, left, chats with Craig Burgess at B.P. Barber. See DMD, page 4

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Fall 2004

Ten South Carolina Disability Determination Services employees were recognized Oct. 20 at the South Carolina PRIDE banquet in Columbia. Six of them will receive regional awards Dec. 9 in Birmingham, Ala.

Implemented in 1985 by the Social Security Administration, the PRIDE program recognizes the positive contributions made by DDS employees.

The Atlanta Region includes South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. S.C. DDS employees to be honored at the regional level are:

Dr. Charles Jones of Columbia will be recognized as Regional Medical Consultant of the Year. He came to DDS after a 30-year Army career and “quickly gained a thorough understanding of SSA policies, impressing all with his extensive medical knowledge, professionalism, superb teaching skills and dedication to serving DDS and the public,” according to the nomination. Jones also was cited Oct. 20 as the state Medical Consultant of the Year.

Rhonda Hamilton, assistant to the state training coordinator in Columbia, is the Regional Staff Person of the Year. She will be recognized for her willingness to master new software skills and computer graphics to develop training materials and desk aids. She also was named state Staff Person of the Year.

Melisa Goeringer will be honored as Regional Rookie Examiner of the Year. Goeringer, who works in Greenville, is recognized for her performance

and case management skills. She was honored Oct. 20 as the state Rookie Examiner of the Year.

Don Cromer, winner of the Robert R. Hinrich Humanitarian Award. The award honors an employee who has dedicated his life to helping others. Cromer, a disability examiner in Greenville, “has continued to demonstrate an excellent work ethic, a sincere concern for claimants, and compassion and support for his family and coworkers,” the nomination says.

Cromer also received the Carl Fullbright Exemplary Service Award at the Columbia banquet.

Debbie Galik, a disability examiner in Charleston, and Dr. Ted Keller, a medical consultant in Charleston, will be cited for their Special Act of Service. They came to the rescue of a claimant who suffered a sudden medical

emergency in the waiting area. They also received the Special Acts of Service Award at the state level.

Others honored at the Oct. 20 banquet were:

Caroline Edmonds, Greenville, Support Person of the Year; Blake Monson, Greenville, Examiner of the Year; Bert Weathers, Greenville, Case Processing Supervisor of the Year; and Janet Holliday, Greenville, Staff Supervisor of the Year.

PRIDE program honors DDS employees

Edmonds Galik Goeringer

Hamilton Holliday Jones Keller

Monson Weathers

Cromer

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The South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department reports that it printed 5,000 copies of this newsletter at a cost of $292, or about $.06 a copy.

H RIZONSH RIZONSN E W

South Carolina VocationalRehabilitation Department1410 Boston AvenuePost Office Box 15West Collumbia, SC 29271-0015

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Non-profitUS Postage

PAIDWest Columbia, SC

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“As a state agency, the achievement of this award is particularly gratifying since it reflects our commitment to accountability and continuous improvement—sound business practices that have long been called for by taxpayers and legislators.”

—Larry C. Bryant, Commissioner

DMDContinued from page 2

the agency.“DMD was obviously a

confidence booster for the students and hopefully will continue to be a guiding force for them as they make choices and plan their future,” she said.

She said she also was pleased that many of the mentors have indicated an interest in being involved next year.

“We are very pleased with the new or stronger relationships we developed with these employers as a result of this event,” Iseman said.

Other participating employers were: B.P. Barber & Associates; Richland County; the University of South Carolina; Sign It Quick; Nexsen, Pruet, Jacobs & Pollard LLC; The Print Machine; Palmetto Utilities Protection Services; Salon 2000; Abella’s Spa; The State newspaper and SCVRD.

State Office and one day at the Aiken and Florence offices. Their findings were forwarded to a panel of judges, who made the final determinations on winners.

SCVRD made a presentation during the conference, sharing its practices with attendees from the private sector and public agencies.

“As a state agency, the achievement of this award is particularly gratifying since it reflects our commitment to accountability and continuous improvement—sound business practices that have long been called for by taxpayers and legislators,” Bryant said.

“This is such a tribute to our staff who, despite facing budget cuts, constantly strive to provide exceptional services to South Carolinians with disabilities who want to work,” he added.

While the recognition is

welcomed, the most valuable aspect of the award process is the very detailed feedback report that applicants receive after the competition. The report lists strengths and opportunities for improvement in all seven Baldrige categories. SCVRD has Key Result Area (KRA) committees for all categories and will use the feedback report to strengthen its operations.

“Even the top award winners nationally have scores far from perfect. We look forward to the challenges of continuous improvement,” Bryant said.

Gold Continued from page 1