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 Rehabilitation Council evaluates and reports on progress in achieving identified goals and priorities and use of Title I funds for innovation and expansion activities in the following manner:
- Review and monitor progress toward achieving the goals and priorities established in Attachment 4.12(c)(1) at each quarterly meeting. The progress will be reported annually in State plan Attachment 4.12(e).
- Monitor the strategies for innovation and expansion activities identified in Attachment 4.12(d), and report progress annually in State plan Attachment 4.12(e).
GOALS AND PRIORITIES
- Competitive employment outcomes is the number one priority for the VR program.
- A goal of 1,275 eligible individuals was projected to be served during FY 2001.
Report of progress: 1,333 individuals were served. - A goal of 230 successful rehabilitations was projected for FY 2001.
Report of progress: 223 individuals were successfully closed. - The average earnings for all closures were projected to be $310 per week.
Report of progress: Average earnings were $318 per week. - Wage earners projected to represent 88% of all closures for FY 2001.
Report of progress: Wage earners represented 91%. - 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 regional managers were appointed to local boards; they regularly attended board meetings, and DBVI staff were available to provide technical assistance regarding accessibility issues.
- A goal of 1,275 eligible individuals was projected to be served during FY 2001.
- Customer satisfaction regarding choice, needs, and good service delivery is a very high priority for the VR program.
- It is VR's goal to have at least 50% of all closed cases respond to its satisfaction survey.
Report of progress: During FY 2001, 52% responded. - 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 2001. The findings from the case reviews are shared with the counselor, supervisor, and program manager. They are used to help evaluate counselor performance, compliance with program policy and procedure, customer satisfaction, timeliness, and quality of service delivery. - A minimum of four public meetings will be conducted throughout the State in 2001. These meetings will provide another means by which the agency can evaluate customer satisfaction.
Report of progress: Five public meetings were conducted in FY 2001.
- It is VR's goal to have at least 50% of all closed cases respond to its satisfaction survey.
- Increasing the availability of adaptive technology services will continue to be a priority for the VR program.
- 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 regional office. A fifth rehabilitation technology specialist position was also established in FY 2000; it is located in the Norfolk regional office. A sixth full-time rehabilitation technology specialist position was established in FY 2001; that position is located at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired (VRCBVI). - 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: The Rehabilitation Council appointed a standing committee on technology to help address technology needs.
- One goal is to increase the number of full-time rehabilitation technology specialists.
- 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 referred to VR to be evaluated to help determine eligibility.
Report of progress: Implemented and on-going. - VR counselors and education coordinators will receive training in "transitioning."
Report of progress: Joint training was provided in December 2000. Funds were made available in FY 2001 for several staff to attend the statewide transition conference. - DBVI counselors and education coordinators will be given resource material on transitioning to be distributed to educators of blind students.
Report of progress: "Transition Calendars" published by Mississippi State University's Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision have been made available to DBVI staff for distribution.
- All 14-year-old students will be referred to VR to be evaluated to help determine eligibility.
- Public awareness activities focusing on employers, referral sources, and providers of services will continue to be emphasized.
- Rehabilitation counselors will distribute the new employer packet, which includes the 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. - 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. DBVI and DRS have partnered to conduct job fairs and disability awareness workshops. Some regional offices have joined local chambers of commerce to enhance agency visibility with local employers in order to promote the employment of blind individuals. Open houses have also been conducted by regional offices targeting employers and other service providers in the community.
- Rehabilitation counselors will distribute the new employer packet, which includes the employer brochure and the Fact Sheet on "Accommodating Blind Workers" to potential employers.
- Make personal computers more available for eligible VR customers receiving transitional services.
- 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 during FY 2001; those funds will also be available during FY 2002. Beginning in FY 2003, the purchase of adaptive personal computers for those students will continue but will be charged to regular case service funds. - 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 and supervisor consultation continue to emphasize the importance of addressing this important aspect of transition services for those students who are eligible and need the service to participate in vocational training and/or employment after graduation.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 it has been involved in those activities. - 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: Approximately $5,000 expended for DBVI technology training labs in regional offices; $6,200 was provided to make eight one-stops accessible for blind individuals. There were other inquiries regarding those funds, and it is anticipated there will be additional activity regarding the utilization of these funds during FY 2002. - A total of $5,000 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 2001 various service providers in the community were trained by DBVI rehabilitation technology specialists and VRCBVI staff. - 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 VRCBVI to loan to VR 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: Training tutorials were purchased for regional offices and VRCBVI during FY 2001. Approximately $2,000 was utilized to purchase those training tutorials. - 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: Available and on-going.
- 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.
- 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 2001 was canceled because the lack of referrals to the program. The program will be offered again in the summer of 2002; deafblind adults, as well as students, will have an opportunity to participate. It is anticipated the number of referrals will increase with the added adult population, and the program will be conducted in 2002. - 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. - 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: $4,066 was used to reimburse Council members for travel expenses to attend quarterly meetings. - All other expenses related to the operation of the Council.
- A total of $650 was budgeted to provide group lunches for Council members.
Report of progress: $630 was spent to provide working lunches for the Council. - 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 2001. - 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.
- A total of $650 was budgeted to provide group lunches for Council members.
This File Was Last Modified: Monday June 23 2008