Attachment 7.2

Summary of the Comprehensive, Statewide Needs Assessment of the Rehabilitation and Career Needs of Individuals With Severe Disabilities and the Need for Supported Employment Services

The comprehensive needs assessments, satisfaction surveys, and public meetings have indicated that the Department for the Visually Handicapped is meeting most of the need for supported employment services. Individuals who are deafblind is the population group for which it has been identified there is a need for additional supported employment services.

The following activities will be initiated to help address the need for additional supported employment services for deafblind persons.

1. Additional extended services will be made more available by permitting the two deafblind specialists to provide extended services for deafblind customers.
2. The Strategic plan will make available to deafblind individuals an opportunity to participate in a special workshop (job seeking skills) designed to help the deafblind population and their families identify more outcome options including supported employment.
3. The Strategic plan will fund a technology resource technician position to make information regarding adaptive technology for the blind more accessible to consumers, trainers, and employers.
   This will include adaptive technology for deafblind persons, which will also enhance opportunities for employment including supported employment.
4. The Strategic plan will fund a toll-free telephone line to ensure that customers throughout the Commonwealth have equal access to the agency's adaptive technology resources. The toll-free telephone line will be equipped with a TDD to allow deafblind customers, job coaches, and employers to utilize the adaptive technology that is available for deafblind persons to enhance employment.
5. During FY '98 the agency will expand the tutoring network to make training in adaptive software available in the home community. The tutoring network will include trainers to provide instructions in the use of special adaptive software for deafblind persons.
6. An effort will be initiated to increase the availability of job coaches who have the skills to work with deafblind persons.