Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Ardis Sandstrom to the State Rehabilitation Council.

Sandstrom, of Motley, currently serves as associate director of the Brian Injury Association of Minnesota.  She has held this position since 1999, and works out of the Minneapolis office three days per week.  From 1996 to 1999, she served as director of TBI (traumatic brain injury) and senior programs for Mary T, Inc., in Coon Rapids.  From 1994 to 1996, Sandstrom served as program supervisor at the Courage Center in Golden Valley.  From 1992 to 1994, she served as program coordinator for the Direct Connections TBI Program. 

Sandstrom received a B.S. in applied psychology and a M.S. in rehabilitation counseling from St. Cloud State University.  She is a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) and a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW). 

Sandstrom has served as a mentor and member of the research team for the Midwest Regional Head Injury Center for Rehabilitation and Prevention.  She has also served on two advisory committees for the Minnesota Department of Human Services: the traumatic injury advisory committee and the personal care assistant advisory committee.  Sandstrom is a past member of the Stearns-Benton Private Industry Council and the Stearns-Benton Employment and Training Council. 

Sandstrom is appointed to the Council position for a representative of current or former recipient of vocational rehabilitation services.  She will serve a three-year term which ends January 7, 2008.  Sandstrom replaces Jerry Roberts on the Council. 

The State Rehabilitation Council advises state government on the performance of Minnesota's vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs.  The Council prepares an annual report for the Governor and the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. 

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) services are available for persons who have a disability that makes it difficult to obtain employment.  Some services provided through VR include:  career counseling, job training, job search assistance, and job retention skills.  There is no charge for counseling or job placement services.  Other VR services require payment by those clients who do not meet financial eligibility criteria.  The VR program receives significant funding from federal and state government. 

According to the Council's 2004 annual report, Minnesota's vocational rehabilitation program served 19,139 Minnesotans.  This included 9,309 new applicants.  By 2004, 85% of VR's caseload has three or more serious functional limitations.  This is up from 75% in 2002.  Additionally, 30% of the VR caseload is for school transition-age persons, classified as people between 16 and 21 years of age.  The U.S. Census Bureau indicates that there are over 267,000 Minnesotans aged 18-64 with an employment disability. 

The State Rehabilitation Council consists of nineteen members appointed by the Governor.