Sara L. Shugars 17 Cobblestone Way, E Sandwich, MA sara.shugars@thesierragroup.com

Transcription

1 Sara L. Shugars 17 Cobblestone Way, E Sandwich, MA sara.shugars@thesierragroup.com EDUCATION 2012 Certificate in Life Care Planning (anticipated June 2012) University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 2007 University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Masters of Science, Rehabilitation Science & Technology, Rehabilitation Counseling 2004 Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI Bachelors of Arts, Psychology CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSURES/AFFILIATIONS May 2007 May 2007 August 2008 May 2009 December 2009 January 2010 April 2011 Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Rehabilitation Technology Certificate New Hampshire Vocational Rehabilitation Provider Washington State DOL Vocational Rehabilitation Provider Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor, State of Massachusetts (LRC) Certified Case Manager (CCM) Board of Directors Member, DM section, The International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals American Board of Vocational Experts, Associate National Rehabilitation Counseling Association, Member National Rehabilitation Association, Member Presentations & Publications Learning Disability Association of America Presenter 2007 National Association of Neuropsychology Poster Presenter 2008 IARP Disability Management Presenter, October 2012 Shugars, S. L., (2007). A Functional Assessment of Executive Functioning: The Hamburger Turning Task. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 23(2008) CONSULTING/CLINICAL EXPERIENCE Shugars Occupational & Disability Consulting CEO Conduct comprehensive vocational evaluations, expert testimony, counseling, employability assessments and work capacity evaluations, life-care planning and vocational rehabilitation planning services to those with physical and mental challenges Provide information and referral, training and assistive technology consultation services to individuals with disabilities. Evaluate clients to determine employability, job placement, wage earning capacity for plaintiff and defense counsel in civil litigation, including Social Security Disability, 1

2 . Worker s Compensation, Matrimonial, Personal Injury, Jones Act, Employment Discrimination and Longshoreman Cases. Special needs planning, trust allocation supervision, cases management and care supervision Evaluation of assistive technology and ergonomic needs on work sites and homes of individuals with disabilities. Career counseling, job seeking skills instruction, resume preparation, career-life planning and strategic/targeted job search planning to those with and without challenges. Employer or family disability education and training Education and Transition consultation and recommendations Care giver training, support and monitoring Negotiation of reasonable accommodations and resolving employment issues as related to injury or disability Onsite Job Analysis and return to work coordination Vocational testing and analysis of cognitive/functional limitations Crawford and Co to 2012 Vocational and Medical Case Manager/Rehabilitation Consultant/Rehabilitation Expert Medical and vocational Case management Project Manager, Special Needs Trust Care Management product for New England Marketing products to attorneys and trusts, cultivated relationships and initiated the acquisition of numerous files Develop and implement rehabilitation plans Provide vocational rehabilitation evaluation, job analysis, labor market survey and transferable skills analysis services to individuals receiving LTD and WC benefits. Elder Care, working with hospitals, families, treatment plans, coordination of in-home and placement services and end of life preparations Financial planning consulting with trust officers, families, medical facilities and state/federal agencies Long term disability, Workers compensation, Liability cases and Medical malpractice Vocational training and placement for those with physical and mental disabilities Coordination of all medical and vocational services Training and presentations Crisis Management Creation of Position papers and proposals Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission 2010 to 2011 Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor & Transition Coordinator Vocational Counseling and Guidance Transition Coordinator for all schools in the South East Region of MA Evaluate individuals with physical, emotional, or other impairments or multi-impairments to determine eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 Determine what assistive technology and on site job accommodations are cost effective and appropriate to improve the client s abilities and functional capacities. Administer residual functional capacities assessments, interest tests, aptitude tests, transferable skills analysis and other vocational assessment tests 2

3 Authorize the purchase of equipment and materials including Assistive Technology for program and/or service use Implement and maintain cost effective rehabilitation program as a vocational expert providing consultation and counseling services. Provide medical, vocational, financial and behavioral needs assessment and coordinate a wide range of services to return disability clients to gainful employment. Propose cost effective vocational rehabilitation plans and implements plans to successful completion. Complete initial case evaluation by assessing injury/disability severity, treatment plans, functional abilities and physical job requirements and then establishes case-specific target return-to-work (RTW) dates. Marketing and Employer Relations Specialist Life Development Institute, Glendale, AZ 2007 Advisor/Instructor/Cognitive Therapist Case management and Counseling Design and implementation of treatment plans for caseload of students with variety of learning disabilities (ADHD, Autism, Aspergers etc) and mental health diagnoses Curriculum design, program development Creation of improved tracking forms and data collection methods to expand statistical significance. Teaching, individual counseling, crisis management and cognitive therapy Development of a comprehensive Functional Assessment, assessment of ecological validity and preparation to market to other behavioral health programs. Vocational readiness training and placement Hiram G. Andrews Center, Johnstown, PA 2004 to 2007 Rehabilitation Specialist/Instructor Program development, educate faculty on disability Crisis management, Ran clinical case meetings, Evaluations and creation of therapeutic treatment plans Case management Group and one-on-one counseling Neuropsychological Testing and analysis Designed and taught a course on assistive technology Program design: provided ongoing improvements on data collection, program management, documentation and research that enhanced productivity. Formulation of strategies to aid students with cognitive and physical disabilities. Community College of Allegheny County, Oakmont, PA 2006 to 2007 Student Support/Rehabilitation Technology Specialist Assisted students in creating study skills and strategies to help them succeed in classes Introduced students to a variety of assistive technology devices: Kurzweil, palm pilots, Jaws, and Dragon Naturally Speaking. Coordinated student accommodations with instructors Designed and presented lectures and workshops on transition and study skills for students and educational workshops for the faculty. Individual counseling on a daily basis and maintained communication between, parents, student, faculty and counselors. 3

4 ReMed, Pittsburgh, PA 2005 Clinical Practicum Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Trained on the McCarron-Dial Vocational Assessment One-on-one counseling sessions with clients Represented clients at meetings with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation counselors to discuss their case Employer education on head injury and the clients abilities Oversaw job coaching and made changes in treatment plans Origami Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center, Mason, MI 2003 to 2004 Counselor/Activities Coordinator Provided assistance to individuals suffering from a brain injury, and related neural impairment. Led group therapies and increased the resident s quality of life. Introduced a nutritional plan that that reduced the amount of sugar and processed food in the client s diets. Trained in assessment batteries designed for each resident and reported on results. Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI 2002 to 2003 Neuropsychology Intern One-on-one outpatient assessments and counseling in the areas of traumatic brain injury and other neuropsychological and cognitive post morbid conditions. Dealt extensively with inpatient testing for those in the rehab unit of the hospital addressing the specific effects of the injury as well as emotional trauma from personal situations and hospital care/environment. Training on Neuropsychological testing and conducting client interviews Organization and analysis of client data RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Masters Thesis, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA A Functional Assessment of Executive Functioning: The Hamburger Turning Task Designed and created a human subjects study to compare Neuropsychological tests data, the original functional assessment designed for this study s data and behavioral data. This pilot study looked at current issues surrounding the ecological validity of psychometric tests, and introduced a hands-on assessment using a simulated real-world vocational task Created scoring forms, consent forms, behavioral observation charts, and study protocol. Administered and delegated administration of all testing and data collection Ran all statistical analyses Presented findings at National Association of Neuropsychology conference in

5 ITTN OVR Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Research Associate Coordinated videoconferencing lectures for 4 OVR sites in Western Pennsylvania on variety rehabilitation topics such as transition, Autism Spectrum Disorders and learning disabilities. Designed training manuals and evaluations Provided technical assistance and maintained communication with all organizations involved. Tele-rehabilitation Portal, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Research Associate Aid in the design and implementation of a new remote tele-rehabilitation system that included: neuropsychological testing, the exchange of client data, and allows for behavioral observation Extensive research on computerized testing, organization and implementation of web based testing, coordination of services, administering neuropsychological tests, and to assist in writing the grant proposal. This pilot study is proposing a new less expensive alternative for individuals who are unable to travel to receive services and for consultation on difficult cases. University of Michigan & Michigan State University Family Health Study. Research Associate Neuropsychological assessments of parents and child study participants. Administered tests: Tower of Hanoi, PASAT, MicroCog, Controlled Oral Word Association, WRAVMA, Stopping Task, Trail Making, Stroop, Symbol Digit Modality, Eyes Test. Also, administered a set of questionnaires to children ages 9-19 in their homes. Attended neuropsychological meetings of scientific staff and proposal reviews weekly. Made use of opportunity to explore my personal interests in the study by researching the health data retrieved and finding correlations between declines in cognitive abilities for those of alcoholic families. Recruitment-canvassing, presentations, summary papers, created and newsletters to aid in sample retention. Interpretation and write up of statistical analyses to augment the study publication. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP Pittsburgh Cares, Pittsburgh, PA 2005 to 2006 Americorp Fellow/Special Events Coordinator Maintained relationships between agency partners and the community by creating volunteer projects, special events and fundraisers. Worked closely with the ALS foundations in creating a volunteer respite program Designed and marketed the Lawyers of Pittsburgh Day of Service and other corporate volunteer opportunities. 5

6 Marketing, conducted meetings with the Board of Directors, agency visits, agency recruitment, and volunteer recognition events. Ran and created volunteer projects throughout the Greater Pittsburgh Area Recruited new agencies and partnerships for Pittsburgh Cares Enable America Town Hall Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA 2006 Co-Coordinator Enable America is a federal organization that has funded town hall formatted meetings in numerous states to gather information about disabilities and where the biggest issues are in relation to gaining employment. Required organization of the Pittsburgh conference Preparing and facilitating meetings with community stakeholders, this group was comprised of individuals that are very powerful in employment, government and as rehabilitation professionals. Determine the venue, political speakers, media coverage, budget, location, and registration. Created evaluation form which was used in the post-meeting paper and data analysis. Over 250 people attended, three very affluent political speakers, and many highly respected individuals from the University of Pittsburgh and other organizations attended. Phoenix Country Day High School, Paradise Valley, AZ Varsity Track Coach Lansing Catholic Central High School, Lansing, MI Varsity Track Coach. Lansing Catholic Central High School, MI Cross Country Coach Lansing Catholic Central Junior Varsity Volleyball Coach Junior Varsity Volleyball Head Coach 6