The TIP Brief: Beyond the Surface
February 2026 Newsletter

Launching the Training Innovation Project

A strong workforce depends on employers having skilled employees who meet the moment of achieving a business’ goals. An important part of this imperative is a talent pool that includes people with disabilities. There is a pressing need to implement innovative strategies for current and aspiring rehabilitation professionals that maximize the potential for success for vocational rehabilitation customers. Developing knowledge and skills through evidence-based and evidence-informed training across a wide variety of accessible learning modalities is essential for rehabilitation professionals. This requires a dual-customer focus where businesses are engaged in making employment opportunities and the workplace fully accessible. We are delighted to share that the Training Innovation Project (TIP), funded by the US Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration is underway to address these needs. Over the next five years, the TIP will work to support rehabilitation professionals in working together with businesses to improve competitive employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The TIP will learn from other RSA grantees and initiatives, including the VRTAC and NVRTAC. The TIP is also partnering with CSAVR and its National Employment Team to build on the good work that is being accomplished. 

TIP National Advisory Panel Holds Kickoff Meeting

The National Advisory Panel (NAP) met on December 2, 2025. This was the group’s first meeting, and was a time for everyone to learn about each other, as well as get an overview of the project. The meeting was led by TIP staff Johnny Collett. The NAP meeting included a review of the grant goals and objectives, committed partners, roles and responsibilities of the NAP members, and evaluation processes. Robust discussion was had around training topics, mechanisms for training and promising practices. This group is essential to carrying out the work of TIP, and we are grateful for their involvement!

TIP National Needs Assessment Now Available

TIP wants to learn how to best meet the needs and interests of rehabilitation professionals on employer engagement topics. The findings will be used to develop content that will be shared in many ways, including online modules, virtual reality experiences, short video clips, peer learning, symposia, and resources, all of which will be shared on the online TIP Training Hub. We want to help rehabilitation professionals do your important work, recognizing that you have dual customers – first and foremost, the people with disabilities whom you serve, and also businesses that are trying to find and keep employees. We are here to help strengthen those dual customer connections. If you are a rehabilitation professional, please take a few minutes to help!

Please complete the survey at https://uky.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9EyxULlQnSC1LXU 
or use the survey button.

Upcoming Events and Resources

Join us  February 24 from 1:00pm – 1:45pm ET online for An Introduction to the Training Innovation Project. Here, we will discuss how TIP supports vocational rehabilitation professionals with innovative training, practical tools, and skill building strategies.

Quarterly Discussions: On March 26^th,  the Kentucky Employment First Council, Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers (ISAW), and the Training Innovation Project (TIP) will host our first Autism Informed Employer conversation covering topics related to hiring. Employers, Employment Specialists, and others are invited to join for further information and a robust discussion of hiring practices. We hope you will join us in our efforts to remove barriers to employment for this group of people who are eager to work, yet most often unemployed or underemployed. 

The Kentucky Employment First Council, Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers (ISAW), and the Training Innovation Project (TIP) share Episode 2 of the 2026 Autism Informed Employers quick-hit video series. This is a monthly 2-minute video series along with quarterly topical conversations. Episode 2 offers insight into what you might expect in the interview process, including possible body language and communication differences. Episode 3, in March, will bring more tips about interviewing applicants.

The Story Behind Our Logo

The TIP logo is a blue image of an iceberg floating in water. Part of the iceberg appears above the water’s surface, but a larger part of it is below the water, so what one would expect to see is just the tip of the iceberg. We think this represents what a learner gets from TIP, when they take part in a training or access a resource. It’s just the tip of the iceberg, in terms of the array of training options and topics that will be available. Our intent is to build a national training hub and discover what is beyond the surface together. We hope that learners return again and again to find content that supports competitive employment outcomes for people with disabilities.