Attachment 5.5(b)

Need to Establish, Develop, or Improve Community Rehabilitation Programs

The Department for the Visually Handicapped (DVH) elects to provide services to groups of individuals with disabilities under the authority to establish, develop, or improve a Community Rehabilitation program.

DVH utilizes, on an as needed basis, the more than eighty Community Rehabilitation programs that have been approved by the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS). These Community Rehabilitation programs are primarily private non-profit operations. These programs provide services to persons with various disabilities and employment in these facilities is sheltered employment below competitive wages. In FY '98 DVH will continue to purchase services for customers from those programs on an individual basis. DVH will not utilize funds under the establishment authority to establish, develop, or improve these private non-profit Community Rehabilitation programs.

DVH will utilize funds under the authority to establish, develop, or improve a Community Rehabilitation program to expand training and/or employment opportunities in the public programs operated by the agency. Rehabilitation funds will only be used in these programs to provide vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to applicants for, or eligible recipients, of VR services.

DVH operates the Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB) with one facility location in Richmond; a facility location in Charlottesville; and satellite operations in other locations, which are contracts with State, Federal or private industries. The satellite operations provide competitive jobs in integrated settings at the agencies or company sites. DVH also operates the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind (VRCB) in Richmond. These programs operated by the agency provide assessments, training, and employment services for persons with severe visual disabilities.

VRCB provides vocational evaluations, adjustment training, and some vocational training for eligible VR customers. Services received at VRCB are essential in the rehabilitation process leading to the achievement of employment outcomes for persons who are blind or visually impaired. Rehabilitation funds utilized at VRCB are specifically for the purpose of improving or expanding services for applicants and recipients of VR services.

VRCB, in the annual facility survey, projected to serve 160 eligible VR customers in FY '98. They also plan to provide 250 consultations compared to 215 for FY '97. As of April 29, 1997, there were 38 customers on the waiting list to enter VRCB. The greatest need identified by VRCB was the upgrading of adaptive technology, and the purchase of new technology for evaluating and training VR customers. VRCB also identified the possible need for rehabilitation funds in FY '98 to fund a basic adult education instructor position.

The VIBs ( Richmond and Charlottesville locations) and the satellite operations provide employment services at or above minimum wage for Virginians who are blind. Persons who are employed in the satellite operations work in integrated work settings and receive wages at or above the Federal minimum wage.

Additional employment opportunities for persons who are blind is a need that has been identified in public meetings, needs assessments, and in findings resulting from State and National surveys. Statistics show that more than 70% of persons who are blind are unemployed. Rehabilitation funds spent at VIBs (Richmond or Charlottesville location) and the satellite operations will be for the sole purpose of expanding employment opportunities for eligible VR customers. VIB has projected to increase, by at least sixteen, the number of new jobs for eligible VR customers during FY '98. Most of these new jobs will be in the satellite operations.

Annually, VRCB and VIB identify the need for rehabilitation funds to assist in providing services to applicants for or recipients of VR services. If the need identified by VRCB and/or VIB is consistent with those needs identified by customers, rehabilitation funds may be provided under the establishment authority.

During FY '98 the VR program will emphasize additional services provided to groups of individuals. The VR program director will be responsible for initiating these services. The following VR services are identified as those services that will be provided to groups of individuals.

1. Mobility canes will be purchased and distributed to those blind and visually impaired individuals who demonstrate a need for such aids. The long cane is an essential tool for independent travel and should be readily available to be given to those customers who are in need of it for safe and independent travel while participating in the rehabilitation program. The orientation and mobility instructors will also use the canes for evaluation and training.
2. The VR program will continue to purchase adaptive equipment and other materials when they are needed for evaluation, training or employment, and when the purchase is not being made for an individual.
3. Rehabilitation technology is another service that may be charged to groups of individuals when such service is necessary, and it will benefit more than one individual in a training or employment situation.
4. Training activities will be charged to groups of individuals when they benefit a group and cannot be charged to an individual. Such activities may include job seeking skills and career seminars when a specific cost cannot be charged to an individual.
5. Equipment will be purchased during FY '98 for the purpose of evaluating and adapting job sites by the rehabilitation technology specialists.
6. During FY '98 loaner equipment will also be bought for regional offices that will be available on a short-term loan basis to different customers to ensure that training and/or employment opportunities are not interrupted due to the delay in purchase of the equipment or equipment breakdown. During FY '95 DVH decentralized its purchasing process for computer and other equipment which should also make equipment more available for customers who need it for vocational training and/or employment.
7. Services to groups of individuals will be used to provide printed materials in an alternative format during FY '98.
8. Services to groups of individuals will be used to provide transportation for customers when more than one individual is being transported and the cost cannot be charged to an individual.
9. DVH will utilize Section 110 funds to help establish the Newsline reading service. This service makes immediate access to newspapers for persons who are blind via telephone.
10. VR funds will be utilized at the VIB, when the expenditure of those funds will result in additional employment opportunities for blind persons.