Attachment 4.12(e)

Evaluation and Report of Progress in Achieving Identified Goals and Priorities and Use of Title I Funds for Innovation and Expansion Activities

The evaluation and report of progress in achieving identified goals and priorities and use of Title I funds for innovation and expansion activities will be conducted in the following manner: the progress toward achieving the goals and priorities established in Attachment 4.12(c)(1) will be monitored by the Rehabilitation Council during its quarterly meetings. The progress will be reported annually in State plan Attachment 4.12(e).

The Council will monitor the strategies for innovation and expansion activities identified in Attachment 4.12(d), and the progress will also be reported annually in State plan Attachment 4.12(e).

GOALS AND PRIORITIES

1. The achievement of competitive employment outcomes will continue to be the number one priority for the VR program.
   1. A goal of 1,275 eligible individuals was projected to be served during FY 2000.
      Report of progress: 1,268 individuals were served.
   2. A goal of 245 successful rehabilitations was projected for FY 2000.
      Report of progress: 237 individuals were successfully closed.
   3. The average earnings for all closures were projected to be $305 per week.
      Report of progress: Average earnings were $295 per week.
   4. Wage earners projected to represent 88% of all closures for FY 2000.
      Report of progress: Wage earners represented 91%.
   5. As a required partner, DBVI staff will actively participate in Workforce Investment Activities (WIA), including serving on local workforce boards. WIA is intended to create a seamless training and employment system while maintaining specialized services for individuals with disabilities that will enable them to acquire the necessary adaptive skills and services to participate in those training and employment programs.
      Report of progress: DBVI staff were appointed to local boards and were available to provide technical assistance regarding accessibility issues.
2. Customer satisfaction regarding choice, needs, and good service delivery is a very high priority for the VR program.
   1. It is VR's goal to have at least 45% of all closed cases respond to its satisfaction survey.
      Report of progress: During FY 2000, 49% responded.
   2. Each year case reviews will be conducted on 20% of all active VR cases by the central office staff.
      Report of progress: That percentage was accomplished during FY 2000.
3. Increasing the availability of adaptive technology services will continue to be a priority for the VR program.
   1. One goal is to increase the number of full-time rehabilitation technology specialists.
      Report of progress: A fourth full-time rehabilitation technology position was approved during FY 2000; this position is located in the Fairfax office. A fifth rehabilitation technology specialist position was also established; it is located in the Norfolk office.
   2. Emphasis will continue to be placed on increasing the number of qualified vendors on the tutor network in all six regions as one of the strategies to meet the growing need for adaptive technology training.
      Report of progress: Hourly fees were increased for tutors in an effort to attract more qualified tutors.
   3. The Rehabilitation Council will take an active role in helping to develop strategies to meet technology needs that have been identified in public meetings, satisfaction surveys, and needs assessments.
      Report of progress: Those strategies were developed. They include strategies to enhance training for customers and DBVI staff.
4. Transition services to help students transition to employment and/or post secondary training will continue to receive additional emphasis.
   1. All 14-year-old students will be referred to VR to be evaluated to help determine eligibility.
      Report of progress: This is being done.
   2. VR counselors and education coordinators will receive training in "transitioning."
      Report of progress: Joint training was provided in December 2000.
5. Public awareness activities will be increased focusing on employers, referral sources, and providers of services.
   1. Rehabilitation counselors will distribute the new employer packet, which includes the new employer brochure and the Fact Sheet on "Accommodating Blind Workers" to potential employers.
      Report of progress: Those materials have been distributed to regional offices and they are being utilized.
   2. Each regional office will be requested to participate in outreach activities (i.e., employer seminar, job fair, open house, etc.).
      Report of progress: These activities are occurring.
   USE OF TITLE I FUNDS FOR INNOVATION AND EXPANSION ACTIVITIES
6. Make personal computers more available for eligible VR customers receiving transitional services.
   1. A total of $40,000 will be budgeted in the first year to allow adaptive personal computers to be purchased for high schools students at the end of their junior year when it has been determined that a computer is needed for training and/or employment upon completion of school.
      Report of progress: All the budgeted funds were utilized for that purpose.
   2. Develop Individualized Plans for Employment (IPE) with high school students who can utilize a computer to pursue a vocational goal and arrange necessary training for those students to enable them to become proficient in using the computer during their senior year.
      Report of progress: Staff training was provided to implement and emphasize the importance of this strategy.
7. Enhance the agency's capability to quickly respond to the training needs of persons with visual disabilities, employers and/or service providers regarding rehabilitation technology services.
   1. A subcommittee of the Rehabilitation Council will work with DBVI to help coordinate and further identify strategies to address technology needs of vocational rehabilitation customers, which will include enhancing the competencies of staff relating to adaptive technology.
      Report of progress: The subcommittee was appointed and the strategies were developed.
   2. A total of $30,000 will be budgeted for regional offices to purchase adaptive equipment and/or software to help make training centers in the community more accessible.
      Report of progress: Except for approximately $5,000 expended for DBVI technology training labs in regional offices, these funds were not utilized. There were inquiries regarding those funds, and it is anticipated this activity will occur during FY 2001.
   3. A total of $10,000 will be budgeted for regional offices to arrange for adaptive technology training in the community for service providers to make training more accessible for individuals who are blind. Additional service providers will increase opportunities for customers to make choices.
      Report of progress: Those designated funds were not directly accessed; however, during FY 2000 various service providers in the community were trained by DBVI rehabilitation technology specialists and VRCBVI staff.
   4. A total of $2,500 will be budgeted each year to provide training materials such as tutorials to be available in each regional office and at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired (VRCBVI) to loan to vocational rehabilitation customers. It is recognized that this method of technology training might not be the method of choice for all individuals but is one of a number of strategies to enhance the availability of adaptive technology training.
      Report of progress: The training tutorials were not purchased during FY 2000; however, they will be purchased in FY 2001.
   5. DBVI staff will be available to provide technical assistance to one-stop centers and required partners of one-stop centers to help make their services and information accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
      Report of progress: This has occurred.
8. Make more services available, specifically for deafblind persons. A transitional week at the VRCBVI will provide special programming for deafblind persons.
   Report of progress: The transition week for deafblind students to be held at VRCBVI during the summer of 2000 was canceled due to the departure of the program director for deafblind services. The new program director is making plans for a transition week in 2001.
9. Provide clerical support for the Rehabilitation Council.
   A total of $1,000 was budgeted to provide clerical support for the Council.
   Report of progress: Clerical support was provided; the funds were utilized.
10. Compensate Council members for expenses required to attend meetings.
    A total of $4,000 was budgeted to reimburse Council members for travel expenses incurred in order to attend council meetings.
    Report of progress: $3,325 was used to reimburse Council members for travel expenses to attend quarterly meetings.
11. All other expenses related to the operation of the Council.
    1. A total of $600 was budgeted to provide group lunches for Council members.
       Report of progress: $620 was spent to provide working lunches for the Council.
    2. A total of $200 will be budgeted to provide interpreter services during the Council meetings.
       Report of progress: Interpreter services were not needed for Council meetings during FY 2000.
    3. A total of $2,000 will be budgeted for individual and/or group training activities to assist the Council in carrying out its responsibilities.
       Report of progress: One member from the Council attended the spring CSAVR meeting in Washington D.C.