Donate NowAbout UsVocational Guidance Services (VGS) changes lives and communities with services that enhance personal abilities, break down barriers to employment and help individuals realize their potential. VGS has become a national leader in helping individuals realize brighter futures by providing a variety of services each year to over 5,000 individuals with physical or mental disabilities, economic disadvantages, and/or histories of incarceration. A comprehensive range of services including evaluation, work adjustment, training, and placement is available to community members receiving assistance from VGS. As a prudent financial steward, VGS leverages philanthropic dollars with its own revenue-generating endeavors built out of collaborative partnerships and public and private contract opportunities. These activities enable the agency, each day, to provide paid work experiences for nearly 1,000 individuals engaged in "learning while earning" activities. In 2008 Vocational Guidance Services provided 862,400 hours of paid work experience which represents $8.1 million in wages and benefits for people with disabilities. From 1890 to the present, VGS has 120 years of dedicated experience serving persons with disabilities. VGS has grown into one of the highly acclaimed and most successful private, not-for-profit vocational rehabilitation agencies in the State of Ohio. Extremely well respected, Vocational Guidance Services was one of the first organizations to receive accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, currently known as CARF International, the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission. VGS was the first agency ever to receive its fourteenth consecutive three year (maximum) CARF accreditation. VGS is also accredited as a postsecondary school by the North Central Association (NCA), the Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, and is also registered as a Proprietary School in the State of Ohio (State Board of Proprietary School Registration Certificate Number 79-10-0671T). VGS is proud to hold the distinction of placing more people into jobs then any other private, not-for-profit agency in Ohio. Each year the agency supports this exceptional track record by directly placing nearly 1,000 people in jobs. This work has a measurable impact on the economy. When wages earned, taxes paid and welfare dollars saved are considered, VGS has an economic impact on the community of more than $20 million dollars each year. Evaluation and Assessment services help participants explore options and identify immediate and long-term vocational goals. During the evaluation process vocational interests, aptitudes, strengths and limitations are identified, and then used to determine the steps necessary to reach career goals and achieve success. Customer service, pictured to the right, is just one of the possible career paths consumers receiving situational assessments can try out. For some individuals employment in the community is not an immediate goal. The Basic Life Skills program assists people with developmental disabilities optimize their personal social and vocational competency. Self care, socialization, communication, daily living skills, computer usage, sensory enrichment, academic skills, basic vocational activities, health, wellness and leisure/recreational activities are part of the focus of this supportive and goal oriented program. Our Personal Social and Employment program is also available to assist individuals with developmental disabilities that do not require as much support and would like to explore community employment. Pictured above is Jim Miller, an artist with Roots of American Music. Music is just one of the regular enrichment activities participants enjoy as part of both programs. Vocational Guidance Services pioneered the Work Adjustment technique that is used throughout the country. An earn-while-you-learn opportunity, Work Adjustment is a transitional employment program in which consumers earn a paycheck while learning appropriate workplace behaviors, such as work quality, punctuality, and productivity. Custodial, pictured to the left, is just one of the many career area's open to individuals participating in the Work Adjustment program. Vocational Guidance Services Skills Training programs give consumers the tools they need to gain employment. Hands-on work experience in computer, custodial, food service, building maintenance and textile services training, provides consumers with marketable skills to take with them into the work force. Pictured to the right is the Clerical/Computer Training program at our Painesville location. Once training is complete, the search for employment begins. Vocational Guidance Services' Employment Services programming guides consumers through the entire job-seeking process. Assistance identifying employer expectations, filling out applications, resume creation and interview preparation are all provided to consumers. A state-of-the-art job search resource room is available to participants and after a job has been secured, continued guidance is provided to help consumers achieve long-term success. The Job Search Resource is open to all employment services participants from 8:30-4:00 Monday through Friday and is equipped with computers, internet access, phones, job postings, fax/copy/print capabilities, public transportation information, etc. and is staffed by employment professionals. Vocational Guidance Services
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| Richard S. Ames | Victor Gelb | Patrick C. O'Brien III |
| Janet AuWerter | Alan M. Goldstine | James P. Orenga |
| Arthur D. Baldwin II | Robert D. Gries | Stephen P. Owendoff |
| Daniel E. Berry | Jeffery L. Kapp | Frank H. Porter, Jr. |
| Marjorie M. Biggar | Robert J. Kichler | Diane Roberto |
| E.J. Burke | Stephen F. Kirk | Jonathon Ruple |
| William G. Caster | Gregory Luscher | James A. Samuels |
| David S. Dickenson II | Dixon Morgan, Jr. | Barbara A. Tobias |
| William T. Eberhard | Warren L. Morris | Ralph S. Tyler |
| Diane Nowak | Joseph S. Usaj |
Honorary Life Directors
| Robert R. Broadbent | John H. Gherlein, Esq. | Bettyann S. Helms |
| Mrs. Henry G. Brownell | William D. Ginn | David W. Swetland |
| Jonathan L. Collens | James B. Griswold | Polly Bruch White |
| Sally Cutler | Joseph D. Harrnett |
Ex Officio Sunbeam Board President
- Hallie Stewart
On Leave of Absence
- Inajo Davis Chappell
- Christopher S. Jochum