Attachment 4.12(c)(1)

Identifies the Goals and Priorities of the State in Carrying out the Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment Programs

The following goals and priorities have been developed for the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program. The Rehabilitation Council provided input into the development of these goals and priorities.

1. The achievement of competitive employment outcomes will be the number one priority for the VR program.
   1. A goal of 234 successful rehabilitations is projected for FY 2002, of which 217 will be employed in integrated work settings; 17 will be independent homemakers or unpaid family workers. In FY 2003 245 successful rehabilitations are projected, of which 225 are projected to be employed in integrated work settings; 20 will be independent homemakers or unpaid family workers.
   2. The average earnings for all closures are projected to be $328 per week for FY 2002; average earnings for all closures for FY 2003 are projected to be $338 per week (part-time employment is included in the averages).
   3. In FY 2003 the agency will begin to produce a quarterly report showing progress toward achieving the standards and indicators.
   4. During FY 2003 we will emphasize staff and consumer education about the enhanced work incentives available through the "Ticket to Work" program for SSDI and/or SSI recipients who wish to return to work.
   5. As a required partner, staff of the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) will continue to actively participate in Workforce Investment Activities (WIA) in FY 2003. These activities will include serving on local workforce boards and addressing accessibility to the services provided by the one-stop centers for blind and vision impaired customers.
   6. During FY 2002 DBVI collaborated with the Department of Rehabilitative Services (lead agency), other state agencies, and organizations to develop a Work Incentive Grant submitted to the Department of Labor. If the Commonwealth of Virginia receives the grant, DBVI will be an active participant in its implementation during FY 2003.
2. Customer satisfaction regarding choice, needs, and good service delivery is a very high priority for the VR program.
   1. Our goal is to achieve at least a 50% response rate to our satisfaction survey from all cases closed to VR.
   2. In addition to conducting satisfaction surveys, 20% of all active VR cases will be reviewed annually by the central office staff to ensure timely services and quality control.
   3. A minimum of four public meetings will be conducted throughout the State in the fall of 2003. These meetings will provide another means by which the agency can evaluate customer satisfaction.
3. Increasing adaptive technology services will continue to be a priority for the VR Program.
   The Rehabilitation Council's technology subcommittee will continue to work with the agency to identify and implement new strategies to help meet the technology needs of blind and vision impaired individuals.
4. Transition services to help students transition to employment and/or post secondary training will continue to receive additional emphasis.
   All 14-year-old students will be evaluated by a DBVI qualified rehabilitation counselor, with input from the DBVI education coordinator, to determine VR eligibility.
5. We will increase public awareness activities focusing on employers, referral sources, and providers of services.
   1. Rehabilitation counselors will distribute the marketing materials developed by the Rehabilitation Council, which includes the employer brochure and the Fact Sheet on "Accommodating Blind Workers" to potential employers.
   2. Each regional office will be requested to participate in outreach activities (i.e., employer seminar, job fair, open house, etc.).
   3. DBVI, Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) and Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH) have collaborated to provide four disability awareness workshops for employers. Invitations will be extended to employers in each region to attend these workshops.
   4. DBVI services will also be promoted by updating the agency's web site to emphasize VR services to employers.