IOI provides the actual work for people with disabilities to learn work skills and work habits.  Adults with disabilities placed in one of IOI's programs are generally referred by the North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation, Smokey Mountain Mental Health, Social Services, Cherokee, Clay or Graham County School System, or a private insurance company.

Admissions criteria includes being at least 16 years old, a resident of Cherokee, Clay or Graham Counties, vocationally disabled by physical, emotional or mental limitations and able to benefit from the programs.

IOI is like a large umbrella for a lot of different services going on under this umbrella.  The following programs are offered under the Vocational Rehabilitation program at IOI:

Vocational Evaluation:  assesses the vocational strengths and limitations of an individual, and to develop a vocational plan of action for employment.  Capabilities are assessed by academic and physical capacity testing, work experience and systematic behavior data from referring agencies.  Method of assessment includes paper/pencil testing, work samples and job try-out.

Work Adjustment:  prepares an individual for competitive employment.  Provided on an organized, systematic basis, work adjustment is a transitional, time-limited treatment/training service or program utilizing individual and group work or work-related activities to assist individuals in understanding the meaning, value and demands of work; to modify or develop attitudes personal characteristics, and work behavior; and to develop functional capacities, as required, in order to assist individuals towards their optimum level of vocational development.  Each client is assigned to a Program Manager who provides individual counseling, instruction and support.

Supported Employment:  provides job placement for persons who need intensive instruction and ongoing support in order to get and keep a job.  Clients in this program will be assigned to a Job Coach who will provide the on-the-job training and to a Long Term Job Coach who will provide long-term support as necessary for the client to maintain the job.

School Transition Program:  provides work experience for high school students from the Exceptional Children's Programs in the Cherokee, Graham and Clay County School Systems.

Extended Employment:  provides extended services beyond regular rehabilitative programs directed at obtaining community competitive employment.

Adult Developmental Vocational Program (ADVP):  maximizes a person's independence in the areas of socialization, communication, education and work attitudes.  Clients served in this program have substantial mental retardation and/or sever physical disabilities.

Job Development/Placement:  provides job developing skills, matches client to a job for placement, then provides on the job coaching when needed.

Private Insurance:  provides intensive vocational counseling, placement, and follow-up programs on individualized specific services.