Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Blind)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
- l. State Goals and Priorities
The designated State unit must:
- l. State Goals and Priorities
l. 1. Identify if the goals and priorities were jointly developed and agreed to by the State VR agency and the State Rehabilitation Council, if the State has a Council, and jointly agreed to any revisions
Current Narrative:
The following goals were jointly developed and agreed to by Rehabilitation Services for the Blind and the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind following review of the comprehensive needs assessment referenced in Section (J). The goals appear in their order of priority.
Goal 1: Stabilize the downward trend in new applicants to 390 in PY 2024.
Baseline data:
The number of new applicants in each year since 2011 are as follows: FFY 2011 was 460; FFY 2012 was 455; FFY 2013 was 436; FFY 2014 was 430; and in FFY 2015 was 397. The RSB noted stabilization and a rise in the number of new applicants in PY 2017 through PY 2018. The number of applicants in PY 2017 was 334 and in PY 2018 it was 367.
Goal 2: Improve employment outcomes to enhance economic stability and self-sufficiency for clients who exit the VR program.
Baseline data: In PY 2017, RSB had a total of 187 successful VR case closures. The average hourly wage rate for these closures was $20.83 and the average annual wage rate was $31,417.23. In PY 2018, RSB had a total of 188 total successful VR case closures. The average hourly wage rate for these closures was $16.31 and the average annual wage rate was $27,205.65.
Goal 3: Develop and streamline the VR service delivery system to maintain consistency with WIOA requirements and improve the quality, timeliness and effectiveness in the provision of services.
Goal 4: Increase the total number of individuals receiving pre-employment transition services to 247 in PY 2024.
Baseline data: In PY 2017 the total number of individuals receiving pre-employment transition services was 143 and in PY 2018 the total number was 186.