Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Blind)

PY2019 Measures, Targets, Goals and Priorities and PY2018 updates as outlined in the State Plan:

Goal 1. DBVI will align services to support consumers in achieving the WIOA Common Performance Outcome Measures.

Program 2018 Measures

• • Employment retention six months post closure
  • Employment retention twelve months post closure
  • Median earnings six months post closure
  • Credential attainment rate
  • Measurable skills gains
  • Employer engagement

DBVI is a strong supporter of the WIOA Common Performance Measures. The new measures support consumers in their career goals and promote higher wages and more sustainable employment. The WIOA measures are extremely lagging, meaning most of the desired outcomes occur well after services end. For example, the measure of median earnings occurs two full quarters after case closure. As a result, the measures are not very useful in guiding the work of DBVI staff on a day-to-day basis. DBVI decided to establish the following leading measures:

• Leading Measure One: The use of career assessment tools to support exploration of higher wage and higher skill options.
• Leading Measure Two: The use of blindness adaptive skill evaluation and training.
• Leading Measure Three: The use of blindness assistive technology evaluation and training.

Targets for the Lead Indicators:

• 50% of cases will include use of career assessment tools to support exploration of higher wage and higher skill options.
• 50% of cases will include blindness adaptive skill evaluation and training.
• 50% of cases will include blindness assistive technology evaluation and training.

Program Year 2018 Update:

• Measurable skills gains for DBVI= 71.7%
• National average for blind agencies in PY2018 was 28.5%
• 71% of case closures (48 of 68) had blindness adaptive skills training from Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• 71% of case closures who received Adaptive Technology Evaluation and Training.

Goal 2. DBVI will increase the percentage of consumers earning more than minimum wage at closure.

Program Year 2019 Measures:

• The percentage of DBVI consumers with earnings greater than 110% of minimum wage at employment closure.
• The percentage of DBVI consumers with earnings greater than 150% of minimum wage at employment closure.

Program Year 2019 Targets:

• 50% of DBVI consumers will earn 110% or greater of minimum wage at closure.
• 50% of DBVI consumers will earn 150% or greater of minimum wage at closure.

Program Year 2018 Update:

• 20% had wage rates at or below 110% of the minimum wage at closure
• 80% had wage rates at or above 110% of minimum wage at closure (44.4% had wage rates at or above 150% of the minimum wage).

Goal 3. DBVI will increase consumer opportunities to participate in post-secondary education and training and gain industry recognized credentials.

Program Year 2019 Measure: Number of individuals achieving credential attainment.

• Program Year 2019 Target: DBVI will be collecting baseline data during this period.

Program Year 2018 Update:

30 participants were enrolled in programs potentially leading to a credential, and 9 participants completed a post-secondary degree or industry-recognized credential. 

Goal 4. In partnership with VDOL and Community Partners, DBVI will create more opportunities for DBVI consumers to participate in these programs. 

DOL programs can offer DBVI consumers the opportunity to earn money while receiving necessary training to achieve a credential and higher wage employment.

Targets:

• Program Year 2018: 4 DBVI consumers will enroll in a DOL program.
• Program Year 2019: 6 DBVI consumers will enroll in a DOL program.

Program Year 2018 Update:

• 12 DBVI consumers had DOL involvement.
• 44% of case closures had services from the Vermont Association of Business, Industry and Rehabilitation.

Strategies that contributed to the achievement of this goal included:

• Progressive employment continues to be a very effective strategy in many ways. It is a great way for consumers to learn new job skills and build confidence. It is also a great way to educate employers about how a blind person can use simple accommodations to accomplish essential functions of the work.
• The DBVI Director has been very involved with the Unified Plan for Vermont which will bring together all of the workforce partners.
• Staff are learning about the potential partnerships to meet the need of individuals who are blind.

Factors that continue to impede implementation include:

• Typically partner programs are not fully accessible to individuals who are blind.
• DBVI believes the new partnerships through WIOA will lead to DBVI customers participating in the many partner programs of the Job Centers.

Goal 5. DBVI will continue to implement highly effective Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for students statewide.

Program Year 2019 Measures:

• The percentage of students participating in Pre-ETS through DBVI.
• The percentage of all potentially eligible students statewide who are participating in Pre-ETS through DBVI.

Program Year 2019 Targets:                

• 25% of DBVI population served will be students.

Program Year 2018 Update:

• Total number of youth ages 14-24 served with a DBVI IPE=54.
• Total number of students in school and under age 22 served with a DBVI IPE= 34
• DBVI has successfully expanded our services overall to students. The percentage of population served who were under age 22 at entry into DBVI services has grown from 17% of people served in SFY 2014 to 29% of people served in SFY 2019. 
• Our efforts to include more students led to a higher increase in the number of participants and in the number of training hours in the LEAP program: The number of participants increased from 18 in 2014 to 74 in FFY2019. The number of work-based learning and job readiness training hours increased from 15,000 in 2014 to 21,000 in FFY2019.

Strategies that contributed to the achievement of this goal included:

• The summer LEAP program and school year weekend retreats have inspired students to believe they can work. These programs are designed to promote success at these initial employment experiences. Students receive a lot of feedback about their work performance and receive enough support for success.
• Students also learn from and encourage each other. Many of the older students become leaders and share their success experiences at college and work.
• Both programs emphasize the importance of assistive technology and create real world opportunities for practice.
• The weekend retreats focus on workplace readiness which builds a strong foundation for students in transition.

Factors that continue to impede implementation include:

• A factor that impedes progress is when students or families are not responsive to the DBVI series of Pre-Employment opportunities.

Goal 6. DBVI will continue to expand efforts to effectively serve employers through Creative Workforce Solutions (CWS).

Program Year 2019 Measure: Employer engagement with DVR and DBVI as tracked through the CWS Salesforce account management system.

Program Year 2019 Target: DVR and DBVI will maintain active relationships with 2,500 employers statewide during the program year.

Program Year 2018 Update: CWS had relationships with 2,418 discrete employers. The CWS Business Account Managers had 5,672 record activities with those employers (introductory meetings, informational interviews and business tours). These activities generated 4,175 opportunities for DVR and DBVI consumers. An opportunity might include:

• A job shadow or informational interview
• A training placement
• An OJT placement
• A competitive job opportunity

We believe the above data indicates that CWS continues to produce robust engagement with Vermont employers resulting in increased opportunities for DVR consumers.

Goal 7. DBVI will continue to seek opportunities to expand and/or improve services for underserved populations including individuals who need supported employment.

DBVI recognizes that there continue to be populations of Vermonters with disabilities that are unserved or underserved in the state. These include, but are not limited to:

• Individuals with developmental disabilities who do not meet the developmental services system eligibility criteria or system of care priorities.

• Individuals with other severe disabilities, including individuals who are deaf-blind who need supported employment.

DBVI will partner with DVR to explore opportunities to expand or improve services to address the unmet needs of these groups. This includes exploring new partnerships or expanding existing partnerships with other agencies, funding sources and stakeholders.

Program Year 2019 Measure: DBVI will track and report the results of specific individuals related to these populations.

• There were 4 individuals served in PY 2018 who received supported employment services.
• There were 2 individuals served in PY 2018 with a disability impairment of “Deaf-blindness.”
• There were 9% of the caseload who identified as minorities.

Program Year 2019 Target: Five individuals in the above categories will receive supported employment services.

• There will be 5 individuals who will receive supported employment services.
• There will be 3 individuals with a disability impairment of “Deaf-blindness" will receive services
• 10% of the caseload will represent services for minorities.

Program Year 2018 Update:

• There were 4 individuals served in PY 2018 who received supported employment services.
• There were 2 individuals served in PY 2018 with a disability impairment of “Deaf-blindness.”
• There were 9% of the caseload who identified as minorities.

Strategies that contributed to the achievement of this goal included:

• Key strategies involve effective outreach. Each region creates an inclusive regional outreach plan. Each region creates a strategy to reach out to their communities.

• It is very important to get high school students connected with SE programs before they graduate.
• DBVI provides a key role in the partnership with Developmental Services Agencies by bringing expertise in low vision and adaptive blindness skills.

Factors that continue to impede implementation include:

• The greatest challenge is getting a response from individuals who do not recognize the value of these services that can help them adapt to vision loss and find meaningful employment.

• The numbers for this population can vary greatly from year to year due to the low incidence of blindness. The key is for DBVI to stay closely connected with all visually impaired students in the state and act quickly with supported employment needs are anticipated.

Goal 8. Consumer satisfaction with DBVI services will be maintained or increase.

Program Year 2019 Measure: Tri-annual consumer satisfaction survey. The survey will be conducted again in November/December 2020.

Program Year 2019 Target: In the 2020 Consumer Satisfaction Survey, at least 95% of respondents will report that they are satisfied with the DBVI vocational rehabilitation program.

Consumers reported a 93% overall satisfaction in the most recent survey (2017).

Program Year 2018 Update:

DBVI contracts tri-annually with an independent survey organization to assess consumer satisfaction statewide. This data is critical to helping us improve services and provide better customer service. DBVI has consistently maintained high overall rates of satisfaction.

The most recent resultsof the 3-year statewide random survey of all participants in the DBVI Vocational Vision Rehabilitation program was conducted by Market Decisions in 2017. The next statewide survey is scheduled for November/December 2020.

• 93% of respondents said they are satisfied with the DBVI vocational rehabilitation program.
• 93% of respondents said overall, they are better off as a result of the services they received from DBVI.
• 95% of respondents said that DBVI staff treated them with dignity and respect.
• 94% of respondents said that DBVI helped them achieve their vocational rehabilitation goals.
• 92% of respondents said that DBVI services met their expectations.
• 89% of respondents said that DBVI vocational rehabilitation services helped them become more independent.
• 84% of respondents said that DBVI helped them reach their job goals.

Strategies that contributed to the achievement of this goal included:

• DBVI staff consistently delivers services well and help consumers to meet their goals and become better off.
• Staff are trained to use Customer-Centered Culture to obtain the Voice of the Customer as we develop strategies to accomplish desired results.
• Staff also use many of the practices in the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey to create goals, organize priorities, and effectively work with consumers by understanding their needs and developing a plan of services to accomplish their goals.

General Program Results and Highlights

Recent Developments and Accomplishments

This year DBVI organized several events around the state to educate the public about White Cane Safety Awareness. The white cane is a symbol of strength and independence, used by people who are blind as they travel independently.  Members of the public received training in safe travel techniques from an Orientation and Mobility Instructor, increasing awareness of what it is like to travel with the white cane.

The main events were held in Brattleboro, Burlington, Montpelier, and Rutland. Each included a walk guided by an Orientation and Mobility Specialist to demonstrate proper use of the white cane and safe travel techniques. These events are great opportunities to educate the public and to have meaningful discussions about how blind and visually impaired individuals travel independently within their communities.

In addition to educational events, DBVI collaborates with several partners to create Vision Rehabilitation Teams. This year DBVI hosted a partner event at the annual State Rehabilitation Council meeting. Attendees included partners from the Agency of Education, Department of Labor, Community Rehabilitation Provider, Developmental Service, The Assistive Technology Program, Vocational Rehabilitation, and more. Participants had an opportunity to attend concurrent sessions that included detailed information about Orientation and Mobility Instruction; Low Vision Eye Examinations; Assistive Technology Evaluation and Training; Assessment Instruments for individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired; Job Development; and Blindness Adaptive Skills Training. The feedback from the event emphasized how useful it was to learn how the partners of a Vision Rehabilitation team work together to assist an individual in pursuing their employment and independence goals.

DBVI also partnered and assisted with the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Vermont Transition Core Teams Conference. This statewide event brought together Transition Core Teams from schools and employment service providers to share ideas about how to assist students with disabilities with their employment goals. In addition, DBVI partnered with VR Vermont for several events for the newly formed Student Advocacy Council. Several DBVI staff and consumers joined the planning team for the events.

DBVI has a commitment to ongoing training of staff to deliver services well. This year one staff member entered a master’s program to become a Blind Services Rehabilitation Counselor. This individual is learning the latest techniques and strategies to help individuals explore and find a great career match.

Future Directions

DBVI believes the best path forward includes a solid foundation in technology. Relevant new technologies emerge every day, and our staff stay current to help our customers achieve their employment and independence goals. One recent technology is an app called Voice Dream Scanner, which allows people to gain access to print documents. The user takes a picture of the paper document with the phone’s camera and the app converts it to speech output. This provides access to information and makes it possible to accomplish many tasks independently.

DBVI staff recognize the importance of helping consumers learn more about their own interests and strengths for employment. DBVI recently established a workgroup called the Investigation Empowerment Improvement Team. The purpose of this group is to provide DBVI consumers with increased opportunities for self-knowledge through assessment tools. This initiative will help participants to:

• Learn about interests, skills, and abilities for future career direction.
• Increase knowledge of Visual Impairment.
• Identify adaptive skills training that will decrease functional limitations.
• Increase self-knowledge.
• Provide information for consumer career decision making.
• Identify transferrable skills.

This year the team evaluated several assessments and adapted them for accessibility when possible. DBVI believes that the approved instruments will help individuals gain self-knowledge and assist them as they pursue their employment goals. The team also established a fully accessible assessment workstation at the DBVI Montpelier office. This includes all the adaptive technology necessary for consumers to complete assessments independently.

In an annual closure surveys DBVI participants shared examples of how their new skills have helped them adapt to vision loss, maintain employment, and improve their quality of life. They reported being better off because they can now:

• Obtain their employment goals.
• Access printed material with the use of specialized blindness technology.
• Travel independently on the job and in the community with the use of the white cane.
• Use special magnification and lighting to access information on the job and at home.

Services to Students

DBVI has been very successful in expanding Pre-ETS services for students who are blind or visually impaired by providing work-experiences, internships, and job readiness training to build skills necessary for career development. Learn, Earn, and Prosper (LEAP) is a program developed by DBVI to achieve these goals. Most students participate by living and working in the Burlington area in the summer. Other students participate to build job readiness skills during school year retreats and work experiences in their local communities. Our efforts to include more students led to a higher increase in the number of participants and in the number of training hours:

• The number of participants increased from 18 in 2014 to 74 in 2019.
• The number of work-based learning and job readiness training hours increased from 15,000 in 2014 to 21,000 in 2019.

The LEAP summer work experiences and school year retreats have resulted in significant skill gains for students developing employment and independent living skills that are essential for future employment. Each student receives a report of their progress which is shared with school teams, teachers of the visually impaired, and DBVI counselors. Students learn to identify their strengths and areas of vocational interest. They also learn specific job readiness skills including respect in the workplace, assistive technology, transportation strategies, workplace relationships, personal finance, interview practice, building a strong resume, and networking.

Students also received specialized services necessary to develop adaptive skills related to their blindness including Orientation and Mobility (O&M), Vision Rehabilitation Therapy, and Instruction in Assistive Technology. This resulted in a significant positive impact in their mobility skills in the community and at the work site.  LEAP students received over 230 hours of O&M Instruction in 2019, as well as 40 hours in VRT (Vision Rehabilitation Therapy), and 400 hours in assistive technology instruction by a CATIS (Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist).

DBVI has successfully expanded our services overall to youth.  The percentage of population served who were under age 22 at entry into DBVI services has grown from 17% of people served in SFY 2014 to 29% of people served in SFY 2019.

Providing real work-based learning experiences in actual employment settings is one of the most effective ways to prepare youth for long term success. Therefore, DBVI has invested more resources in providing real-world internship opportunities. Internship placements at Vermont businesses include the Burlington Free Press, Burlington City Arts, Sangha Yoga Studio, Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, Vermont Community Gardens Network, the Overlook Café, the Waterbury Café, the Courthouse Café, the Flynn Theatre, Mt. Mansfield Media, Sara Holbrook Community Center, The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, and the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. In 2019, 4 out of 5 interns were enrolled in college programs after LEAP, and the remaining Intern is working with their DBVI counselor to match their skills to a career path.

“I embraced challenges and new opportunities, worked on my leadership skills, and learned to not be afraid of communicating with people when I am unsure or need help with something.”          

-LEAP Intern, Sangha Yoga Studio

“I learned that some things take time to learn, and you just have to be patient. I also learned the importance of communicating directly with people so they can help you meet your needs. I learned that it’s ok to be open and vulnerable with people to ensure that you establish trust with them.”

            -LEAP Intern, Vermont Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired

DBVI staff work towards continuous improvement by listening to the voice of customers and using that information and data to improve performance. An updated DBVI State Plan was completed and approved by the State Rehabilitation Council in February 2020 and can be found at https://dbvi.vermont.gov/resources/publications. Please also visit the success story link on the DBVI website at www.dbvi.vermont.gov to see examples of people reaching their goals.