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a. 5. Provide the VR agency’s response to the Council’s input and recommendations, including an explanation for the rejection of any input and recommendations.

List each recommendation/input followed by the VR agency response

Current Narrative:

WVDRS Response to Observation/Recommendation 1:

WVDRS agrees with the benefits of collecting and utilizing data to assess the impact of Pre-ETS and VR services on the long-term success of students with disabilities.  WVDRS continues to expand and enhance partnerships at the state and local levels to ensure students with disabilities, and their families, are aware of the full range of services available through other agencies and programs.  Since the enactment of WIOA, WVDRS has continually expanded its Pre-ETS offerings through in-house and purchased services from CRPs and other community providers.  Many Pre-ETS providers incorporate presentations, resources, and materials from additional partners, including local employers, as part of their services.  WVDRS will continue to encourage this practice, whenever appropriate.

WVDRS Response to Observation/Recommendation 2:

WVDRS agrees that it is important for students and youth with disabilities to begin the vocational rehabilitation process as early as appropriate after reaching 14 years of age. WVDRS is open to the recommendation and has requested that counselors identify any possible opportunities for additional embedded VR offices within high schools. WVDRS continues to maintain an office on-campus at the WV Schools for the Deaf and Blind to provide awareness and services, including Pre-ETS, in an expeditious manner. If additional opportunities arise, WVDRS will move forward to establish offices, where appropriate and agreed upon by both parties. In support of this aim, WVDRS currently has 64 vocational rehabilitation counselors assigned to serve youth and students with disabilities, including a counselor assigned to each high school in the state. Thirty-seven counselors are assigned exclusively to transitioning youth territories, allowing for more time and resources to provide outreach and services, particularly Pre-ETS to high school students. These counselors are also beginning outreach to students in the ninth grade to ensure sufficient time to provide Pre-ETS and develop and implement a plan for the student’s transition from high school to postsecondary education, employment, or training. Additionally, WVDRS has made concerted efforts to provide outreach and services to nontraditional education settings for youth with disabilities, such as juvenile centers and facilities, Youth Reporting Centers, and other similar locations. The youth in these settings are afforded the same opportunity to receive Pre-ETS and other VR services as individuals in traditional settings, as appropriate. Further outreach continues to be conducted with stakeholder groups, such as parent and grandparent organizations, to include those students who may be in homeschool, private school, or other educational settings. For an example of the agency’s efforts to educate parents, WVDRS utilizes the West Virginia Parent Training and Information, Inc (WVPTI). The WVPTI is the only organization in West Virginia charged by the U.S. Department of Education/Office of Special Education Programs to serve as the state's Parent Training and Information Center. As mandated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the WVPTI provides parents of children with disabilities with the information and skills necessary to become effective partners in their children's provisions for special education and related services, including vocational rehabilitation services provided by WVDRS.

In 2021, the WVDRS developed the Systemic Transition Enhancement Project (STEP 21). The STEP 21 initiative encourages WVDRS consumers, WVDRS vocational rehabilitation counselors and other staff, WVDRS partners, and stakeholders to work harder together to increase coordination and cooperation to expand access and opportunities for individuals with disabilities, especially students with disabilities, to participate in and succeed in education and training programs that will lead to high-quality employment. Through STEP 21, WVDRS is also expanding coordination and outreach efforts with WVDRS partners including Special Education, Career Technical Education, local schools and their administrators, community service providers, and other partners to further enhance relationships and increase buy-in that will facilitate systemic change and a systematic approach to jointly support students with disabilities in maximizing their potential.

WVDRS Response to Observation/Recommendation 3:

WVDRS is in agreement with the benefits of materials that enhance the communication between individuals with disabilities and first responders.  The agency appreciates the research and examples provided by the SRC, CSAVR, and other VR agencies. WVDRS will work with its CACs, and other stakeholders including the SRC, to explore the development, creation, and distribution of materials that would afford more effective communication between first responders and people with disabilities statewide, as appropriate.

WVDRS Response to Observation/Recommendation 4:

WVDRS agrees that consumers are better served when additional partners are involved, whenever appropriate. WVDRS strives to continually enhance communication, awareness, and collaboration with partner agencies and stakeholders. As mandated by the Rehabilitation Act, as amended by WIOA, WVDRS provides individualized services to its consumers, as outlined in consumer IPEs. The IPE is the product of the informed choice of the consumer and VR counselor expertise. In addition to print materials, the agency’s websites, www.WVDRS.org and www.pathwayswv.org, provide descriptions of available services. The agency is currently in the process of developing a fully redesigned, accessible website that will allow for easier navigation, including information about available services. WVDRS will notify the SRC when the new site is ready for demonstration.

WVDRS Response to Observation/Recommendation 5:

WVDRS agrees with the value of partner conferences and other cross-training opportunities and will continue to coordinate with WV Combined State Plan partner agencies to share knowledge, information, and resources at the local, regional, and state levels.  As mentioned, WVDRS is present at AJCs across the state.  These co-locations allow for greater coordination among partner agencies to better serve individuals with disabilities. Data sharing with core WIOA partners, WorkForce WV and WV Adult Education, allow for enhanced and efficient service delivery for consumers who are co-enrolled across multiple programs, even when served through a non-AJC location. 

WVDRS Response to Observation/Recommendation 6:

WVDRS agrees with the importance of informing and coordinating with employers to better serve consumers and employees with disabilities. The agency will continue to highlight business success stories through a variety of methods, including recognition events, social media, and email blasts. WVDRS will also continue to actively participate in Chambers of Commerce meetings and events to enhance its relationship with businesses across the state. WVDRS supports and promotes WVABLE to its staff and consumers and appreciates the SRC having WVABLE as a presenter during a previous SRC meeting in 2023. WVABLE was also invited to attend its most recent conference to provide additional information to WVDRS staff.

WVDRS Response to Observation/Recommendation 7:

WVDRS agrees with the importance of ensuring public awareness of the VR program in West Virginia and will continue to utilize a variety of methods to conduct outreach. As evidenced by the substantial increase in the number of consumers over the last several years, from 6,326 in FY 2020 to 12,172 in FY 2023, West Virginians with disabilities are increasingly aware of WVDRS and its services.

WVDRS has further enhanced its outreach efforts to potentially underserved areas and populations across the state by adding a full-time position responsible for conducting outreach across the state to ensure individuals are aware of the vocational rehabilitation program in WV. Outreach strategies are developed based on information and data provided by the WVDRS State Plan and Program Evaluation Unit on unserved or underserved populations that are not currently participating in WVDRS services.

The role of the full-time position is to raise awareness and promote WVDRS services to individuals, communities, and organizations on a statewide level and to share information on a level that allows individuals to make an informed decision to seek WVDRS services when they are ready to enter the workforce. Strategies include presenting at conferences; partnering with clinics and recovery centers; and attending health fairs, school fairs, and other community events throughout West Virginia's 55 counties. WVDRS also continues conversations with mandated partners and state agencies as services change.

WVDRS’ primary messages include that we work with individuals with disabilities beginning at age 14 and through retirement; we provide career exploration services for students with disabilities, as well as Pre-ETS services; we promote quality employment outcomes in competitive integrated employment through STEP 21; and our service delivery system is set up to take advantage of additional services provided by partner agencies to maximize the benefits for consumers in the West Virginia workforce system.

WVDRS Response to Observation/Recommendation 8:

WVDRS agrees with the SRC regarding the importance of working with various councils, boards, and programs including Jobs and Hope. The members of the WVDRS Executive Management Group, as well as WVDRS Field Specialty Program staff, regularly participate in numerous meetings and events of partner councils, boards, government agencies and organizations, and other stakeholder groups as part of their ongoing job duties to represent WVDRS and promote WVDRS services and programs. WVDRS will continue to expand and enhance partnerships and participation, whenever and wherever possible. 

WVDRS Response to Observation/Recommendation 9:

WVDRS agrees that driving and transportation in general continue to be a barrier to employment for many West Virginians with disabilities of all ages. WVDRS continues to seek solutions to transportation issues and maintains this as an agency goal and priority. During the initial phase of the vocational rehabilitation process, WVDRS counselors discuss transportation-related issues with consumers. Counselors work with consumers to address and resolve any identified disability-related employment barriers; services to circumvent barriers are included in Individualized Plans for Employment and may include transportation services. WVDRS also emphasizes individualized transportation services, including driver training, bioptic training, vehicle modification, and vehicle purchase, when necessary. WVDRS agrees that counselors need to stay abreast of resources available to consumers with disabilities regarding driving licensure, including provisional licensure, in order to best meet their needs for necessary transportation related to employment. WVDRS will also continue to enhance transportation and other rehabilitation technology services through community-based providers, as needed and appropriate.

WVDRS Response to Observation/Recommendation 10:

WVDRS agrees that training conferences are extremely valuable for agency staff members. In the past, these conferences have provided expert speakers, training sessions, and networking opportunities for field staff from across the state. Additionally, it is an enriching experience for staff members to meet others from throughout West Virginia. The conference promotes cohesiveness among VR staff, as well as team building, in order to serve consumers with disabilities statewide. In 2023, WVDRS held a partner conference, a WVDRS staff training conference, and an in-person and virtual Ability Works Ceremony. The hybrid Ability Works ceremony allows for all WVDRS staff, and other stakeholders, to participate either live or view at their convenience. WVDRS intends to continue conferences and ceremonies of this nature in the future.

The agency has included former WVDRS consumers at various conferences and events, such as transition fairs, as speakers and panel members and agrees with the SRC regarding the powerful, beneficial impact they have on WVDRS staff and potential and current consumers.

THE DESIGNATED STATE UNIT’S EXPLANATIONS FOR REJECTING ANY OF THE COUNCIL’S INPUT OR RECOMMENDATIONS.

The agency is in agreement with the input and recommendations provided by the SRC. Please see the previous section for the full WVDRS responses to the SRC input and recommendations.