Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

(B) who are minorities;

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE MINORITIES

The 2016 Needs Assessment identified a need for DORS to consider target outreach efforts, in collaboration with workforce and education partners, to increase services to minority individuals with disabilities with emphasis on Hispanic and Asian individuals.

The 2016 Needs Assessment report provided recommendations to increase accessible services for minority individuals with disabilities. The 2016 Needs Assessment also identified the need to develop a catalogue of standard letters in foreign languages to ensure individuals understand services, their rights, and responsibilities during the rehabilitation process. As a result, a variety of brochures, forms, and other materials were made available in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and French in 2017 and 2018. These materials are available for staff on the internal intranet and available to the public on the DORS public website. Targeted outreach efforts to increase the number of minorities served by DORS has not been developed. Additionally, DORS counselors were not provided with information to share with non-citizens regarding the process for an individual to be legally allowed to work in the U.S. DORS continues to be committed to increasing and improving services for minority populations.

PREVALENCE

According to the 2018 U.S. Census Estimates, 14.9 percent of the population in Maryland are foreign-born. Ten percent (10.1 percent) of the population identified as Hispanic and 6.7 percent of the population identified as Asian. These estimates also show that 18 percent of households speak a language other than English.  (www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/md,US/PST045218)

METHODOLOGY: DORS DATA REVIEW

AWARE data was reviewed to assess the numbers of individuals served by DORS who are of Hispanic or Asian ethnicity (AWARE Report: Participants Served by Ethnicity). Individuals from Hispanic and Asian backgrounds continue to be underrepresented among individuals receiving services. While the number of individuals served by DORS remains low, it is important to note that DORS service levels have remained consistent each year. 

Hispanic Individuals Served:

• FY 2016 number served: 755 (3 percent of total served)
• FY 2017 number served: 775 (3 percent of total served)
• FY 2018 number served: 723 (3 percent of total served)

 Asian Individuals Served (Asian, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander):

• FY 2016 number served: 784 (3 percent of total served)
• FY 2017 number served: 801 (3 percent of total served)
• FY 2018 number served: 753 (3 percent of total served)

METHODOLOGY: DORS COUNSELOR SURVEY

Regional Directors from the Office of Field Services (OFS) and the OBVS Director were contacted to identify DORS VR counselor(s) in each Region who would provide information on the efforts and needs of their Region in serving consumers for whom English is a second language. Eleven DORS counselors were contacted and interviewed by telephone.

NEEDS/CONCERNS IDENTIFIED

Staff identified a variety of needs in their Region in regards to serving non-English speaking individuals. 

• Staff shared their challenge of ensuring that they provided an adequate explanation of the DORS process and services to non-English speaking individuals. 
• Staff were queried on the knowledge and use of the printed materials in different languages available on the DORS intranet. All reported knowledge of the materials and most reported successful use. In addition, staff were aware of the foreign language translation service available and most reported that it was convenient and efficient.
• Staff reported that their primary challenge in assisting non-English speaking consumers with employment is identifying CRPs that provide services to non-English speaking consumers in their native language.
• Staff continue to report that they do not have information to share with applicants who are non-citizens regarding the process for an individual to be legally allowed to work in the U.S. 
• No one was aware of targeted outreach efforts in their Region to increase the number of minorities served by DORS.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Re-establish the Multicultural Access Committee to continue their efforts to ensure equal access to DORS services.
• Task the Multicultural Access Committee with developing a resource list for each Region of available community agencies that provide assistance in completing the Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, which is the first step for non-citizens to become legally allowed to work in the U.S.
• Task the Multicultural Access Committee with identifying a resource list for each Region of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) providers.
• Develop an Agency work group lead by WTC's Academic Services department to explore the option of WTC offering ESOL classes at the Center or in the Regions.
• Develop an Agency work group lead by DORS Community Rehabilitation Programs office to identify CRPs that provide services to non-English speaking consumers in their native language. Ensure that services include an understanding of the complicated VR and job search process. Services should include identifying appropriate training, completing employment applications, and finding a suitable employer.
• Task the Multicultural Access Committee with publishing all information developed as a result of these recommendations on InDORS, the Agency’s internal intranet.
• Task the Agency’s Staff Development office to arrange a cultural competency training which will ensure that staff have been trained and are better sensitized to the needs of individuals from different racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Before developing outreach efforts to increase the number of minorities served by DORS, the Agency needs to ensure that the resources needed by field service staff have been developed and disseminated. This will contribute to a better employment outcome for minorities served by the Agency.