Saint Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Roderic Haworth to the State Rehabilitation Council.

Roderic Haworth, of Apple Valley, has been a servicing representative for the United Auto Workers International Union (UAW) since 1998.  From 1993 to 1998, he served as president of the UAW Local 879 at the St. Paul Ford Plant.  From 1990 to 1993, Haworth served as vice president of Local 879.  He worked as an auto assembler at the St. Paul Ford plant from 1973 to 1990. 

Haworth has also been active in government service.  He has been a member of the Governor's Workforce Development Council (GWDC) since 1999, serving as a representative of labor.  Haworth currently serves as chairperson of the GWDC Creating Connections committee.  He has also been a member of the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind (RCB) since 2000.  Haworth served as chair of the RCB from 2003 to 2005, the first sighted person ever to serve as chair. 

Haworth received a B.A. in Organizational Management and Communications from Concordia College.  He served on active duty with the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1972.  Haworth served in the Minnesota National Guard from 1973 to 1996, retiring as a Colonel. 

Haworth is appointed to the Council position for a representative from the Governor's Workforce Development Council.  He will serve a three-year term which ends January 7, 2008.  Haworth replaces Robert Niemiec 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 19 members, including 18 appointed by the Governor.