Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

The information presented in this section is based on the most recent comprehensive statewide needs assessment completed in 2022, with relevant updates. The next CSNA has begun and will be completed by early 2025 and incorporated in the next state plan amendment.

The Rehabilitation Act, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires Vocational Rehabilitation state agencies to conduct a comprehensive statewide needs assessment every three years. The needs assessment included review of data on the general population in Indiana as well as data on individuals being served in the Indiana VR program. A survey was also conducted to gather input from individuals with disabilities and their families, stakeholders, employers, VR staff and others regarding the needs of individuals with disabilities in Indiana, particularly as they pertain to employment and transition services. Feedback was also obtained on an ongoing basis through the Commission on Rehabilitation Services, regular VR staff meetings, the VR Employment Advisory Group, The Transition Advisory Group, The Mental Health and Employment Taskforce, and a variety of workgroups with stakeholders. The comprehensive statewide needs assessment established VR program priorities for the next three years, fiscal year 2022-2024.

Indiana's 2022 comprehensive statewide needs assessment reflects a synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data addressing the state’s overall vocational rehabilitation needs.

Data highlights from the full CSNA include a breakdown of individuals served in VR by disability service priority category. 

Eligible VR Individuals Served by Disability Priority Category:

 The percentage of individuals (most significant disability) served in priority category one has increased significantly, representing over 90% of total individuals served in FFY2021 compared to 42.6% in FFY2016.

The CSNA survey instrument presented questions about the needs of individuals with the most significant disabilities and who might need supported employment to keep a job. Relevant survey questions and responses are outlined below:

Do you know that VR can provide supported employment services for up to 24 months?

59.45% of combined respondents indicated ‘yes’ with 40.55% answering ‘no.’ 52.86% of individuals with disabilities indicated ‘yes’ with 47.14% answering ‘no.’  This indicates that over half of the respondents were aware that VR can provide supported employment services for up to 24 months.

What employment barriers exist for individuals with the most significant disabilities?

Highest reported barriers by combined respondents:

1. Employers’ willingness to hire individuals needing significant support           22.09%
2. Transportation (example: can’t drive, bus not reliable)                                           15.23%
3. Expectations of employers about individuals with disabilities working           13.81%
4. Not enough employment specialists or job coaches                                                 10.73%
5. Expectations of professionals about individuals with disabilities working        9.10%

Highest reported barriers by respondents reporting as a person with a disability:

1. Employers’ willingness to hire individuals needing significant support             22.95%
2. Expectations of employers about individuals with disabilities working             16.17%
3. Expectations of professionals about individuals with disabilities working       13.57%
4. Transportation (example: can’t drive, bus not reliable)                                              11.73%
5. Not enough employment specialists or job coaches                                                      7.99%

A notable difference between the two groups is that individuals with disabilities ranked expectations of both employers and professionals as higher barriers compared to combined respondents. respondents. Combined respondents ranked transportation and not enough employment specialists as higher barriers compared to respondents with disabilities.

What would improve employment services and outcomes for individuals with the most significant disabilities?

Highest reported needed improvements by combined respondents:

1. Education to employers about the value of hiring individuals with disabilities              20.72%
2. Additional opportunities for work experience                                                                               19.76%
3. Targeted efforts to transition individuals out of subminimum wage employment

(sheltered workshops) and into competitive, integrated employment                                        13.32%

4. Additional training to employment specialists and job coaches                                         11.60%
5. Additional opportunities for career exploration                                                                         10.04%

Highest reported needed improvements by respondents reporting as a person with a disability

1. Education to employers about the value of hiring individuals with disabilities          21.68%
2. Additional opportunities for work experience                                                                           18.95%
3. Targeted efforts to transition individuals out of subminimum wage employment                   

(sheltered workshops) and into competitive, integrated employment                                     12.96%

4. Additional training to employment specialists and job coaches                                       12.70%
5. Additional opportunities for career exploration                                                                       10.03%

Responses were very similar across both groups.

BRS also continued to support Establishment projects for several VR employment services providers through March 2021. The purpose of these projects was to increase provider capacity and training to serve VR participants, particularly those with the most significant disabilities. The CSNA includes outcomes from these projects including outcomes pertaining to the provision of supported employment services. Some *highlights are as follows:

Number of Individuals in Supported Employment

The establishment project data does not represent all VR participants or all VR providers. This data represents supported employment data for participants served by a subset of VR providers.

In PY16, the reported baseline number of individuals in supported employment was 774, a statewide average of 19 per contracted establishment provider. This number significantly increased to 2,028 in PY17, resulting in a statewide average of 51, with a 162% increase. In PY18, the number of individuals in supported employment again increased to 2,698, resulting in a statewide average of 67, with a 33% increase. When comparing activity for the first two years of the Establishment projects, PY16 to PY18 resulted in a 249% increase in the number of individuals in supported employment.

The overall metric for this performance measure was a 30% increase in the number of individuals receiving VR-funded supported employment or on-the-job supports short-term by end of year 2 (PY18), and therefore, the statewide sum in both program years by far surpassed the required end of year 2 metric.  The results of both program years were a significant accomplishment as supported employment services were underutilized in prior years. As a result of the Establishment projects, community rehabilitation programs devoted more time in the provision of supported employment services to assist VR participants in achieving stabilization and successful job retention. 

In PY19, the reported number of individuals in supported employment was 2,365, a statewide average of 74, with a 27% increase. In PY20, this number slightly increased to 2,398, a statewide average of 75, with a 1% increase from PY19. When comparing activity for the remaining two years of the Establishment projects, increased supported employment utilization from PY18 to PY20 was a 29% increase in the number of individuals in supported employment.

The overall metric for the two final years was at least a 10% increase in the number of individuals receiving VR-funded supported employment or on-the-job supports short-term by end of year 3 (PY19) and an additional 10% increase by end of year 4 (PY20). PY19 met the overall metric for this performance measure; however, PY20 did not meet the additional 10% metric increase, largely contributed to COVID-19.

Again, even though the results differ from the first two years of the Establishment projects, and the overall metric wasn’t met in year 4, the results still indicate that community rehabilitation programs are focused on utilizing supported employment, with more than a 200% increase in the number of individuals receiving supported employment services from baseline to end of the project period. As a result of the Establishment projects, community rehabilitation programs devoted more time providing supported employment services to assist VR participants in achieving stabilization and successful job retention.

Average Number of Hours for the Amount or Duration of Supported Employment or On-The-Job Supports Short Term, Per Person

As indicated above, the data does not represent all VR participants or all VR providers. This data represents supported employment data for participants served by a subset of VR providers.

In PY16, the baseline reported number of average hours spent on supported employment services or on-the-job supports short-term, per person, was 658, resulting in a statewide average of 16 hours. In PY17, the sum increased to 710, a statewide average of 18 hours, with an 8% increase. In PY18, the sum increased to 922, a statewide average of 23, with a 30% increase. When comparing activity for the first two years of the Establishment projects, PY16 to PY18 resulted in a 40% increase in the number of average hours spent on supported employment services or on-the-job supports short-term provided, per person.

The project metric was met, as the goal was a 30% increase in the amount or duration of supported employment services or on-the-job supports short-term that participants received by end of year 2. Through the Establishment project, it is clear that community rehabilitation programs devoted more time providing supported employment services to assist VR participants with achieving stabilization and successful job retention. 

In PY19, the reported number of average hours spent on supported employment services or on-the-job supports short-term, per person, was 603, resulting in a statewide average of 19 hours, with an 8% decrease from the baseline. In PY20, the sum slightly decreased to 522, a statewide average of 16 hours, with a 13% decrease from PY19.

The overall metric for year 3 (PY19) was a 10% increase in the amount or duration of supported employment or on-the-job supports short-term, per person, and an additional 10% increase by end of year 4 (PY20). Neither of the goals were met in PY19 or PY20, which is likely largely contributed to COVID-19. Not only was participants’ employment impacted by the pandemic as shared previously, but providers also reported increased difficulty with staff retention and recruitment during this time. Some VR participants also asked to pause services for a period of time due to the pandemic.