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a. 1. Input provided by the State Rehabilitation Council, including input and recommendations on the VR services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan, recommendations from the Council's report, the review and analysis of consumer satisfaction, and other Council reports that may have been developed as part of the Council’s functions;

Current Narrative:

The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services continues to have a State Rehabilitation Council which meets on a quarterly basis. Council membership is representative of most areas of the state and includes a cross section of disabilities and minorities.  Local vocational rehabilitation advisory councils, created by the SRC to obtain direct consumer input at the local level and to provide easier access, continue to meet across the state, and SRC members continue to report on information or advice from these councils at each quarterly SRC meeting.  The councils also continue to serve as recruitment grounds for future SRC members due to member training provided during meetings.


The SRC continues to advise the Designated State Unit or DSU on a variety of issues.  Specific activities and advice of the SRC for FY 2019 include the following:
 

The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services continues to have a State Rehabilitation Council which meets on a quarterly basis. Council membership is representative of most areas of the state and includes a cross section of disabilities and minorities.  Local vocational rehabilitation advisory councils, created by the SRC to obtain direct consumer input at the local level and to provide easier access, continue to meet across the state, and SRC members continue to report on information or advice from these councils at each quarterly SRC meeting.  The councils also continue to serve as recruitment grounds for future SRC members due to member training provided during meetings.
The SRC continues to advise the Designated State Unit or DSU on a variety of issues.  Specific activities and advice of the SRC for FY 2019 include the following:

(1) At the time of the October 2019 SRC meeting, the SRC  agreed with the goals and priorities in the State Plan with the following recommendations:

Recommendation:  The Agency should add to Goal 1 that it will work with non-profit organizations to develop paid work experiences (work-based learning) with them for individuals with disabilities.

Agency response:  The Agency accepts this recommendation and will implement it as soon as possible.

Recommendation: The Agency should add job retention to Goal 1.

Agency response:  The Agency accepts this recommendation and will implement it as soon as possible.

(2) Review and comment on the Agency’s CSPD. The SRC received information on the CSPD and recommended no significant changes to the recruitment or retention plan. The SRC also reviewed information on current training programs for VRS staff and consumers and recommended no significant changes. 

(3) Review and comment on the VR Employer services.  The SRC continued to work with the Agency on issues affecting employer services and made the following recommendation:

Recommendation: The Agency should work with the Governor to make the State of Alabama a model employer of individuals with disabilities. 

Agency response:  The Agency accepts this recommendation and will advocate through meetings with the governor’s office and submission of examples of executive orders from other states who have taken part in similar initiatives.

Recommendation: The Agency should support state legislation that would implement WOTC at the state level.

Agency response: The Agency accepts this recommendation and will request approval from the ADRS Board to support this legislation.  Once approval is received, ADRS will research similar legislation in other states and will advocate for implementation in Alabama.  

Recommendation: The Agency should create a communication document that shows state benefits/resources for employers and aligns language and services among the different WIOA partner programs.

Agency response: The Agency accepts this recommendation and will work with other state workforce board members to create a document showing benefits/resources for employers.
  
(4) Review and comment on Impartial Hearing Officer List: The SRC continued to monitor the list for vacancies and recommend replacements where appropriate.  The SRC approved a replacement IPO to the list for FY 2019.  

Recommendation: Replace impartial hearing officer Joetta White with Laura Clemons.

Agency response:  The Agency accepts this response and will implement it.

(5) Review and comment on VRS Consumer Satisfaction Survey: No comments.

(6) SRC Training. Council members received training and/or informational materials on the following areas:
a.    Business Relations Program
b.    Deaf Satisfaction Survey Results
c.    Full Life Ahead Foundation
d.    Informed Choice
e.    Medicaid Waivers

(7) Revision of SRC bylaws.  No changes to the bylaws were made in FY 2019.