Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Blind)

Section Published

--- Previous Plan Year Value
+++ Current Revision
 <p>The following is a progress report of our goals and priorities for the current state plan:</p>
 <p><strong>Goal 1 - Increase independence and employment outcomes through quality rehabilitation services.</strong></p>
 <p>PY 2022 Update:</p>
-	<li>ICBVI conducted periodic program surveys from participants to identify program strengths, and to facilitate continuous improvement of program curriculum;</li>
-	<li>Services were provided statewide, with emphasis on rural and remote communities. ICBVI regional rehabilitation teachers provided individualized training to promote independent living, and community inclusion:
-	<ul>
-		<li>Orientation and Mobility Training</li>
-		<li>Activities of daily living</li>
-		<li>Assistive Technology</li>
-		<li>Accessing transportation and the One Stop System.</li>
-	</ul>
-	</li>
-</ul>
 <ul>
 	<li>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.</li>
 	<li>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.</li>
 	<li>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.</li>
 	<li>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.</li>
 </ul>
 <p>Average hourly wage at program exit – $18.40</p>
 <p>PY 2020</p>
 <p>Number of client's who achieved competitive integrated employment-&nbsp;&nbsp;22</p>
 	<li>ICBVI continued to reach out to consumers and employers throughout the state in 2019.</li>
 <p>There were no participants who exited the VR program with a supported employment outcome.</p>
 	<li>ICBVI staff, under the direction of the Chief of Rehabilitation Services and the Transition Project Coordinator, collaborated with key stakeholders to increase student participation in Pre-ETS.</li>
 <p>Measurable Skills Gains: 34</p>
 	<li>ICBVI continued their commitment to the partnership with the Idaho Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind with the BELL (Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning) for children who are blind or visually impaired.&lt;/li&gt;
 <p>Pre-Employment Transition Services provided – 175</p>
+<p>Average hourly wage at program exit – 15.08</p>
+<p><strong>Goal 2 -<u>–</u> Reduce barriers to employment for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. </strong></p>
+<p>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).</p>
+<p>Outreach to LEA’s was extremely limited during the pandemic, due to staffing shortages, school closures and other barriers created by COVID-19.</p>
+<p>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.&amp;nbsp;</p>
 <p><em><strong>Performance Measures for Goal 2:</strong></em></p>
 <p>Number of contacts to employers: 29</p>
 <p>PY 2020</p>
+<p>Total number of referrals to the VR program: 137</p>
 <ul>
 	<li>No individuals were referred from the tribal VR program.</li>
 	<li>No individuals were referred from the One Stop system.</li>
-	<li>ICBVI has been committed and involved in the continuous improvement of programmatic and physical accessibility in the One-Stop System;</li>
-	<li>In 2019, ICBVI continue a project of sending Assessment and Training Center (ATC) instructors to all regions in order to provide blind skills training to parents, employers, CRP’s, LEA personnel, and other interested community stakeholders.</li>
 </ul>
 <p>Total number of applications: 64</p>
+<p>Total number of individuals found eligible for services:</p>
+<p>Total number of individuals with an approved IPE: 73</p>
+<p>Total number of Hispanic individuals served: 34</p>
+<p><em>Outreach performance (defined as substantial information shared about the VR program and services)</em></p>
+<p>Number of contacts to CRP's: 12</p>
+<p>Number of contacts to LEA's: 24</p>
+<p>Number of contacts to employers: 23</p>
+<p><strong>Goal 3 – Improve transition services for students. </strong></p>
+<p>PY2022 Update:</p>
+<p>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.</p>
+<p>COVID-19 also limited our ability to engage students in WBLE’s with regional employers. However, this is rapidly rebounding in PY 21.&nbsp;</p>
+<p><strong><em>Performance Measures for Goal 3:</em></strong></p>
 <p>PY 2018</p>
 <p>Total number of client's who received rehabilitation technology services: 141&nbsp;</p>
 <p>Total number of regional on-site office visits by the statewide Assistive Technologist: 10</p>
 <p>Total number of state-wide training seminars conducted&nbsp;by our ATC: 6</p>
 <p>PY 2020</p>
 <p>Total number of client's who received rehabilitation technology services: 134</p>
+<p>Total number of regional on-site office visits by the statewide Assistive Technologist: 3</p>
+<p>Total number of state-wide training seminars conducted&nbsp;by our ATC: 0</p>
+<p><strong>Goal 4: </strong>Improve VR program efficiency through continuous quality improvement activities</p>
+<p>PY 2022 Update:</p>
+<p>Throughout the pandemic, the Commission worked diligently to make progress with program evaluation and quality assurance activities:</p>
+<ul>
+	<li>A Participant Satisfaction Survey was completed and launched in PY 2020;</li>
+	<li>RSA-911 dashboards were utilized to make improvements in reporting and program performance;&lt;/li>
+	<li>A Data Validation Policy and Procedural Manual was implemented in PY 2021;&lt;/li&gt;
+	<li>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;&lt;/li&gt;
+	<li>ICBVI began utilizing Power BI for generating program data and reports;</li>
+	<li>The Commission completed an Internal Controls Assessment that utilizes the COSO framework. This assessment was completed in PY 2021.</li>
+</ul>

Idaho PYs 2022-2023 (Mod) C Published Approved

Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Blind)

Idaho PYs 2022-2023 (Mod) Published Approved