In Their Own Words: Participant Feedback on StaffUp ASAP

You spend your days helping people with disabilities find and keep meaningful work. StaffUp ASAP was built to support that work. After the first training pilot cohort wrapped up, we asked participants what they found most valuable and how the training affected their work.

Their responses were clear: the vocational rehabilitation training was practical, engaging, and something they could use right away.

Learning That Makes a Difference

Participants came into the program looking to strengthen their skills, improve services for the people they support, and grow professionally. Many also wanted resources they could pass along to new staff and colleagues.

By the end, several described the vocational rehabilitation training as something that helped things click. Asked how it shaped their confidence, one participant said it helped "connect the dots." Another put it simply:

"A good comprehensive overview that will center training participants well."

Training Designed for Real Work

Participants consistently pointed out how closely the material matched the realities of VR practice. Lessons on counseling, labor market information, case management, and self-care weren't abstract. They were tools people picked up and used the same week.

One participant shared:

"I used your questions as a framework today, while working on an IPE and identifying most important information to pinpoint while coming up with an employment goal with the customer."

Another noted:

"The information provided will be helpful when interacting with customers."

Who Gets the Most Out of It

Not every participant experienced the training the same way, and that feedback matters too. A handful said they'd recommend it with a caveat: it's most valuable for people new to VR or without a background working with individuals with disabilities. One participant put it directly, saying they wouldn't recommend it to someone with a lot of field experience already.

That lines up with how most participants actually described the training's impact. Several said they wished they'd had it earlier in their careers.

"I would have been better at my job if I had this class early on as a VR counselor."

"This is a great resource for new VR staff."

"I think that it should be mandatory for all new VR counselors."

For newer counselors and staff without a formal VR background, participants described the training as filling in real gaps. For those already deep into the field, it read more as a refresher, useful, but not groundbreaking.

An Engaging Learning Experience

The delivery got its own round of praise. Rather than long lectures, the training mixes short modules, video, podcasts, discussion, and practical assignments.

"Love the podcasts, videos and content! I wish my M.A. in counseling was this engaging and interesting!"

"The modules are very informative, brief, and easy to use."

Podcasts came up again and again as a favorite, described as conversational and easy to follow. One participant did note that a podcast in Domain 1 moved quickly, making it harder to take notes in real time, feedback that's already informing pacing adjustments for future cohorts.

Looking Ahead

This kind of feedback, including where the training landed and where it didn't, is shaping specific decisions for upcoming cohorts. That means paying closer attention to pacing in the audio content, and continuing to build out the training as a strong foundation for people early in their VR careers or transitioning into the field.

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