Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Blind)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:
__________
[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
j. 1. C. Who have been unserved or underserved by the VR program;
Current Narrative:
The CSNA data shows 3 categories of individuals who are unserved or underserved. Vermont is the 2nd oldest average age population in the country. Many of these older individuals desire to stay in the workforce to meet their financial needs. Losing vision can be part of the aging process and this becomes a major adjustment and often causes feelings of loss and denial. DBVI is available help these individuals stay in the workforce as they learn new skills to adapt to their vision loss.
The data also shows that individuals who are deaf-blind have unique and specific needs due to their duel sensory impairment. Services like Support Service Providers are helpful to access the community and lesson isolation. There are very few professionals in the country who can teach adaptive blindness skills like Orientation and Mobility who can also communicate using tactile sign. There is a need to build more of that capacity in Vermont. The ICANNECT program is beginning to grow in New England and Perkins is providing important technology through that program. There is a need to build strong partnerships with the Helen Keller National Center who can provide specialized training for staff and services for deaf-blind individuals.
The greatest underserved population is in the Northeast Kingdom of the state. This is very rural and has very few jobs. DBVI encourages youth in this area of the state to participate in the LEAP summer residential work experience program and the residential school year retreats so they can participate in job readiness training and work experiences in an area where there are more work opportunities.
The AHS website resource includes:
https://inside.vermont.gov/agency/AHSIntra/LEP/Pages/LEP.aspx
- Interpretation and Translation service available to all AHS staff.
- Tools for working with LEP clients
- Specialized training for communicating across cultures, and; communicating effectively through an interpreter.
- DBVI data shows a need to increase the percentage of transition age students that receive services.
Suggestions in Assume Nothing!—A Monograph from the 38th Institute on Rehabilitation Issues to Address Underserved Populations, Including Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind
Rehabilitation Services Administration U.S. Department of Education
- Cultural training for staff from consultants on DB culture and someone from Alliance of Africans Living in Vermont or Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program for ethnic minorities. DBVI need to truly understand the beliefs and values about work and “independence” and disability held by people from these cultures. (pages 23 & 28)
- Get a DB person or a person of color on the SRC (top of page 17)
- Lack of services for DB people. Someone in the state should provide DB leadership for services. (p 31)
- Initiate a DB targeted “town hall meeting” (p 33)
- Create a partnership with VR to assist individuals who are deaf-blind seeking employment.
- Assign specific staff to take the lead for underserved and underrepresented populations.
- Add cultural humility/ cultural competency training
- Consider outreach for All strategies in each region.