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:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
p. 1. A. Identify the strategies that contributed to the achievement of the goals
Current Narrative:
The following is a progress report of our goals and priorities for the current state plan:
Goal 1 - Increase independence and employment outcomes through quality rehabilitation services.
PY 2022 Update:
- ICBVI developed a new participant satisfaction survey in PY 20. Any participant who exits with a IPE is encouraged to complete the survey. Participant satisfaction rate was 100% for individuals who completed the survey in PY 20.
- Business Engagement: The Commission entered an Intensive Technical Assistance (ITA) agreement with the VRTAC-QE. This ITA begins early February 2022 and continue until the end of May 2022.
- VR Staff Training: The COVID-19 pandemic created opportunities to explore new and different approaches for VR staff training. The Commission has adopted the Microsoft Teams platform as its platform and repository for all VR related training.
- Direct services to participants were extremely limited during the early part of the pandemic. In PY 2021, the Commission has been increasing our capacity to provide in person services, as CDC and state guidance allows.
Performance Measures for Goal 1:
PY 2018
Number of client's who achieved competitive integrated employment- 32
There were no participants who exited the VR program with a supported employment outcome.
Measurable Skills Gains: 14
Pre-Employment Transition Services provided – 324
Average hourly wage at program exit – $18.40
PY 2020
Number of client's who achieved competitive integrated employment- 22
There were no participants who exited the VR program with a supported employment outcome.
Measurable Skills Gains: 34
Pre-Employment Transition Services provided – 175
Average hourly wage at program exit – 15.08
Goal 2 -– Reduce barriers to employment for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
PY 2022 Update: While outreach activities were limited due to COVID-19, the Commission was able to engage participants and community partners in new ways (virtual platforms).
Outreach to LEA’s was extremely limited during the pandemic, due to staffing shortages, school closures and other barriers created by COVID-19.
Participation in the One-Stop system continued through the pandemic. In PY2020, ICBVI and the core partners engaged in collaborative effort (Data Labs) to create a common intake process for the state workforce system.
Performance Measures for Goal 2:
PY 2018
Total number of referrals to the VR program: 153
- One individual was referred from the tribal VR program.
- No individuals were referred from the One Stop system.
Total number of applications: 129
Total number of individuals found eligible for services: 129
Total number of individuals with an approved IPE: 106
Total number of Hispanic individuals served: 30
Outreach performance (defined as substantial information shared about the VR program and services)
Number of contacts to CRP's: 23
Number of contacts to LEA's: 56
Number of contacts to employers: 29
PY 2020
Total number of referrals to the VR program: 137
- No individuals were referred from the tribal VR program.
- No individuals were referred from the One Stop system.
Total number of applications: 64
Total number of individuals found eligible for services:
Total number of individuals with an approved IPE: 73
Total number of Hispanic individuals served: 34
Outreach performance (defined as substantial information shared about the VR program and services)
Number of contacts to CRP's: 12
Number of contacts to LEA's: 24
Number of contacts to employers: 23
Goal 3 – Improve transition services for students.
PY2022 Update:
As previously mentioned, engagement with LEA’s was extremely limited during the pandemic, due to staffing shortages, school closures and other barriers created by COVID-19.
COVID-19 also limited our ability to engage students in WBLE’s with regional employers. However, this is rapidly rebounding in PY 21.
Performance Measures for Goal 3:
PY 2018
Total number of client's who received rehabilitation technology services: 141
Total number of regional on-site office visits by the statewide Assistive Technologist: 10
Total number of state-wide training seminars conducted by our ATC: 6
PY 2020
Total number of client's who received rehabilitation technology services: 134
Total number of regional on-site office visits by the statewide Assistive Technologist: 3
Total number of state-wide training seminars conducted by our ATC: 0
Goal 4: Improve VR program efficiency through continuous quality improvement activities
PY 2022 Update:
Throughout the pandemic, the Commission worked diligently to make progress with program evaluation and quality assurance activities:
- A Participant Satisfaction Survey was completed and launched in PY 2020;
- RSA-911 dashboards were utilized to make improvements in reporting and program performance;
- A Data Validation Policy and Procedural Manual was implemented in PY 2021;
- Program audits : The current instrument (Survey Monkey platform) was updated for the PY 2020 audit cycle. An Executive Summary of the audits findings was developed to document audit findings, corrective actions, and staff training needs;
- ICBVI began utilizing Power BI for generating program data and reports;
- The Commission completed an Internal Controls Assessment that utilizes the COSO framework. This assessment was completed in PY 2021.