CCWAVES Situation: What Does This Mean?
By now most of you have probably heard that the
Commission on Certification of Work Adjustment and Vocational
Evaluation Specialists – CCWAVES - announced on September 9th, 2008
that they would have to dissolve the organization.
This has raised concerns and questions from current
practitioners in the field, rehabilitation and education agencies
and organizations, and students in rehabilitation education
programs.
If you are not familiar with CCWAVES, this is an
independent commission that was established in 1981 to develop and
administer a certification program for vocational evaluation
specialists. CCWAVES is
comprised of volunteer designees from seven appointing
organizations. VEWAA is
one of the appointing organizations.
Certification as a CVE has always been voluntary.
The CVE is not a requirement to practice as a vocational
evaluator, with the exception of two states and a few rehabilitation
organizations. The
primary purpose of certification in any field is to protect the
public, in our case consumers, by setting standards which ensures
some measure of quality and/or competence in those professionals
that are certified. For
the individuals that have their CVE certification, this reflects a
commitment to provide the highest quality of service possible.
While the loss the CVE certification is a serious concern,
the profession of vocational evaluation will continue to exist.
The situation with CCWAVES may be an indicator of other
problems and issues.
A practice used well into the 20th
century was for miners to take a caged canary into coal mines to
detect if there was any dangerous gas buildup.
Most of the early coal mines did not have adequate
ventilation systems, so as long as the canary kept singing, the
miners knew their air supply was safe.
A dead canary signaled need
for an immediate evacuation.
CCWAVES and the unlucky canaries may share something in
common.
Reference to use of canaries in early coal mining
lore is in no way intended to belittle or trivialize the apparent
loss of certification for vocational evaluation specialists, nor is
it intended to suggest that the field of vocational evaluation is
dead or dying. This
situation however does draw attention to some disturbing trends.
For the past 10 to 15 years the field of
vocational evaluation has not been moving in a positive direction.
This has been evidenced in a number of ways.
Since the early 1990s, membership in many professional
associations, including those that represent vocational evaluation
has declined. There are
only a handful of rehabilitation education programs that fully
prepare vocational evaluators today; down to five from a high of 18.
The number of new applicants for CVE certification, and for
renewals of existing certificants has experienced a continual,
gradual decline. At
this time there are only two states that require that vocational
evaluators have CVE certification.
Some state vocational rehabilitation programs have eliminated
positions for vocational evaluators.
There also has been fragmentation and divisiveness within the
field that has led to the creation of a greater number, but smaller
professional associations to represent the interests of vocational
rehabilitation, in particular vocational evaluation and work
adjustment services and also vocational rehabilitation counseling.
However, there are signs that the pendulum may be
swinging back toward more of an emphasis on vocational evaluation
and career assessment services.
Some states that had eliminated vocational evaluation
positions are now in the process of reestablishing positions.
In other states the role and function of vocational
evaluators has been expanded to include more involvement throughout
the rehabilitation process that includes direct involvement with
employment outcomes.
These developments, while being positive indicators, unfortunately
did not become a reality in time to have an impact on the situation
faced by CCWAVES.
The CCWAVES Commissioners came to the difficult
realization that they could not continue due to stark financial
realities. Operation of
the program has been based almost exclusively on revenue from
applicants taking the CVE examination and maintenance fees collected
from existing certificants.
According to their reports, despite their efforts to identify
additional sources of revenue the expenses to operate the Commission
“far exceeded revenues for more than a decade.”
In simple terms, there just
have not been sufficient numbers of new applicants and renewing
certificants for the organization to remain financially viable.
The decision by the CCWAVES Commission to begin
the dissolution process means that there will be no new applicants
for the CVE exam beyond those individuals that have already signed
up to take the exam on October 4th, 2008.
Existing Certified Vocational Evaluators will be able to
renew and maintain their current certification.
The details and procedures for this are being formulated.
The loss of the CVE certification is not an
isolated problem where blame should be directed to CCWAVES.
It is very apparent that, however well-intentioned, the
collective efforts of VEWAA, VECAP, NRA and the other associations
and organizations have not been successful to change the trend of
declining numbers or the devaluation of vocational evaluation
services in many settings. Vocational
evaluation is a valuable, unique service that has a long history of
increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of services provided by
programs and organizations by empowering persons with disabilities
to aspire to their full potential.
Fortunately, this realization drives dedicated professionals
to remain committed and continue to work to address our challenges.
Albert Einstein reportedly once said “The
definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again
and expecting different results”.
Leadership across the rehabilitation field must come together
and work to establish the vision necessary to move ahead in
positive, productive ways.
The loss of the CCWAVES certification is a wake-up that a
call to action is needed. With
a unified and collaborative effort, organizations and associations
that represent the practitioners and individuals served can place
themselves in a much better position to meet the immediate and new
challenges that lie ahead.
VEWAA’s Position
VEWAA is committed to work with CCWAVES, VECAP and
other groups and organizations in any way possible.
The decision to dissolve the
CCWAVES organization does not mean the end of vocational evaluation
as a profession. However,
the challenges that led to this are of such magnitude that a truly
collaborative effort is essential.
Professional associations such as VEWAA, VECAP and NRA, must
join together to be effective in representing practitioners in the
field and advocating for the profession as a whole.
Opportunities also must be created for rehabilitation
education programs to work with these professional associations and
organizations, such as CARF, the Commission on Accreditation of
Rehabilitation Facilities and federal and state agencies to find a
way forward.
Tony Langton
VEWAA President