Narrative: p. 1. A.

Below are the goals described in the FY 2016 approved VR services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan for the most recently completed program year, along with activities that took place and progress made on the goals, and strategies used to help DBVI towards achieving those goals.

Goal 1: To stabilize DBVI’s financial situation, ensuring that expenditures are budgeted consistently within existing and available federal and state funds.

Objective:  DBVI’s operational expenses will be equal to its federal grant award and matching state funds, allowing re-allotment funds to serve as a reserve in times of budget constraints, such as federal continuing resolutions, and a resource for one-time initiatives that will benefit people who are blind and visually impaired in Maine.

Strategies:

1. Further develop budget reports with the Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS) to better monitor and manage expenditures in real time.  In accordance with State of Maine procurement policies and procedures, ensure that the required and necessary services for the education of blind children are available July 1, 2016 after the current contract expires.

UPDATE:  DBVI and DAFS have worked collaboratively over the last in PY18 through PY20 to improve budget reports to better monitor and manage expenditures for each reporting period. DBVI staff meet with DAFS on a monthly basis (and frequently in between) to review the reports and to ensure that the budgets are accurate and that DBVI is meeting all the federal and state budget requirements.

2. In accordance with State of Maine procurement policies and procedures, ensure that the required and necessary services for community-based vision rehabilitation services are available July 1, 2016 after the current contract expires.

UPDATE:  DBVI has continued to secure an annual contract since this one expired.  Negotiations took place each year with the Iris Network staff and DBVI staff to ensure that the required and necessary services were available at a reasonable, cost effective price.
 

Goal 2: To increase successful competitive employment outcomes for DBVI clients.

 Objective: Reduce the amount of time it takes to achieve a competitive employment outcome for DBVI clients from 54 months in FFY 2010 to 31 months in FFY 2013, to 27 months in FFY 2015 and to 26 months for FFY2017.

Strategies:

1. Continue re-establishment of a center-based blindness rehabilitation facility in Maine that utilizes an immersion model to teach blindness skills in a manner that can be easily integrated into work activities and transferred to an employment setting.

Update (PY18): The Rehabilitation Center opened in September 2015. Often it takes some time with new programs to determine what is working and what is not working.  A group comprised of Iris Network staff, and DBVI staff, both direct service and administrative, meet quarterly to review the progress/program at the center.  Modifications are made to improve services to consumers.  Since the opening of the Rehabilitation Center, at least 33 individuals were involved in some programming at the center.  Some received only assessments while others completed the entire program. Eleven of the twenty-seven graduates have worked since completing the program, which is a 41% success rate. For PY19, there were many individuals that either went through a full program at the Center or a truncated, less comprehensive program to achieve employment targets. DBVI has continued to work with the Iris Network to tailor the program to increase exposure.

2. Expand the use of assistive technology to increase the rate of competitive closures. 

UPDATE:  Maine DBVI has been successful in using assistive technology in the placement of successful closures.  One example is the use of JAWS for two receptionist positions has allowed them to be very successful at their jobs.

Objective:  Contribute to Maine’s WIOA Performance Accountability and Unified Plan measures by increasing the number of successful competitive employment outcomes for individuals who receive services from DBVI from 30 in FFY 2015 to 36 in FFY 2017. 

Strategies:

1. Work with WIOA core partners at MDOL and Adult Education to ensure that job seekers with visual impairments are included in the growth and diversification of Maine’s workforce.
2. Increase DBVI’s relevance to employers through technical assistance and support regarding vision loss, rehabilitation technology and employment.
3. Refer and support participation of six DBVI clients at the Iris Rehabilitation Center at any given time through Individualized Plans for Employment.
4. Deliver at least one session of the DBVI Employability Skills Program every other year to clients who are long-term unemployed/underemployed or otherwise are stuck in job seeking.

UPDATE:  Maine DBVI has been successful in PY20, working with core partners at MDOL and Adult Education to participate in cross-training for staff.  This allowed other MDOL staff to gain a better understanding of the services that DBVI provides as well as provided DBVI staff with a greater knowledge of other programs that might benefit DBVI consumers.  There was also training on blindness skills/knowledge at the regional levels.  DBVI staff provided blindness etiquette and other trainings to many of the core partners.

Objective:  Implement new WIOA regulations that affect individuals who have been historically served through DBVI’s VR program with the goal of “homemaker.”

Strategies:

1. Assist current DBVI clients to achieve the goals outlined in their IPE.
2. Assess newly referred clients to determine if they can be served under the VR program through IPE’s that identify competitive employment goals but start with blindness rehabilitation and independent living skill development services.  Provide staff training and supervisory support in the development of these types of plans.
3. For new referrals that cannot be served under the VR program, provide IL case management and track needs that are unmet due to absence of resources.
4. Seek advice and advocacy from the SRC’s homemaker workgroup for individuals with visual impairments who may be negatively affected by these changes.

UPDATE:  DBVI VR counselors continued to assist clients to achieve their goals.  With the implementation of WIOA, DSUs could continue to provide services to individuals with uncompensated employment goals on their IPEs that were approved prior to the effective date of the final regulations through June 30, 2017, unless a longer period of time was required based on the needs of the individual as documented in the individual’s service record. After this date, any new applicants who were not interested in work but needed some blindness rehabilitation skills, entered the IL program.  Maine DBVI was successful during this period to attain some additional general fund appropriation to either match the federal OIB grant or use for those individuals under the age of 55 that needed independent living services.  DBVI worked very closely with the SRC homemaker group through this process.  The group was then disbanded.

Goal 3: To deliver Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to youth who are blind and visually impaired, assisting them to successfully live and work independently in the community.

Objective:   Use the equivalent of 15% of DBVI’s federal allotment to serve students who are blind and visually impaired. 

Strategies:

1. Receive assistance from the SRC’s workgroup in identifying ways that Pre-ETS can be provided that will make the best use of the funds that must be set aside.
2. Increase the number of students who are referred to the VR program as part of their educational plan.  This will be done in part through the case management by the Blindness Rehabilitation Specialists (BLRS) who connect families with transitional and community resources.
3. Hold regional meetings with DBVI staff, and contracted partners toward the beginning of each school year to determine VR eligibility on all students 14 years of age and older.
4. Make optimal use of the existence of a Maine-based immersion center to offer summer programs, including blindness rehabilitation, independent living, work experiences and college preparation. College preparation will include AT, VRT, VRC- vocational, volunteer, O&M. Another planned program is for those 8th – 12th graders not planning on pursuing a college program. Another anticipated program at the immersion center will focus on volunteer, CBSA’s, work experiences, job club, VRT, AT, and O&M skills. There is a planned session for parents to educate them on resources, independence with their kids, and a Q&A session.
5. Create a summer youth employment, job shadow, CBSA, job club and/or work internship experience for all students by age 16.

UPDATE: DBVI continues to expand its understanding and engagement of Pre-ETS related activities and services.  

The 4^th iteration (every other year) of the college prep program was conducted in PY18. The program ran for 5 weeks from July 8 – August 10 for 8 students who are visually impaired.  The mission is to identify students who may or may not be ready for college and provide opportunities to help prepare them for secondary education.   Students live at the UMaine Orono in Somerset Hall and eat at the Memorial Union and Hilltop commons cafeteria.  They are enrolled in a 3 credit English course (Eng. 129) which meets every weekday.  They also participate in a 5x per week seminar and 6x per week learning labs.  They also participate some evenings and Saturdays in recreational activities in which they can gain and practice their skills in the area of blindness rehabilitation.  New in 2018, students participated in a paid work experience for the 5 weeks. 

 DBVI in collaboration with our contracted partners, CCME and the Iris Network, developed a modified versions of previous summer youth programs (Life 101 & 201).  Our Transition Consultants and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors noted a shift in needs for the transition aged youth. Many of these high school students have not had the opportunity to practice skills independently. In fact, many had never been away from home overnight without their families.  Most of these students have multiple disabilities and/or protective families who have been reluctant to allow them to participate in typical activities of their peers- overnight sleepovers, staying home alone, grocery shopping, household chores etc. LOYO (Living on Your Own) was developed to address some of these needs and, at minimum, provide an opportunity to “try out” some of these typical adolescent experiences in a safe environment with support.

The first LOYO program was held in the summer of 2018. Five students and staff lived on the Bowdoin College campus. They were required to utilize problem solving skills that could be transferred to home, school and work environments.  The teens worked on socialization, group dynamics, self-awareness, personal strengths, peer relationships, decision making, personal safety, home safety and home management.  Some of the activities included:  grocery shopping, preparing meals, cleaning, changed light bulbs, using a toilet plunger and even climbing out of a window in the Brunswick Fire Dept. smoke house!  The program also encouraged parent participation. Prior to the start of the program, parents completed a survey to identify their son/daughter’s level of independence within their home, school and community. Parents participated in facilitated discussion around independence and future goals for their son/daughter. Parents had the opportunity to observe their child’s progress through a closed group Facebook page.

LOYO on the Go 2019 was modeled after the 2018 program but with more focus on travel skills. Students still practiced independent living skills but spent a good portion of the day being introduced and/or practicing the orientation & mobility skills needed to live and work in the community. The development of these “work readiness” skills is an especially important component of the Pre-Employment Transition Services for students who are blind and visually Impaired.  Nine students participated in the program.

Students were housed at a Portland hotel and classes and training took place at the Iris Network Rehabilitation Center. A majority of the time was spent out in the community where students worked with Orientation & Mobility Specialists to learn to plan and walk routes, how to use public transportation, introduced to ride share programs (Uber/Lift), safely crossed streets, problem solved travel issues and so much more!   Students participated in planning, shopping and preparing meals; using assistive technology to access and process common consumer tasks such as making (secure) online purchases, billing paying and banking.  Throughout the program students will be encouraged to practice self -advocacy and to develop their social skills.  They will travel to the Portland Career Center where they will meet with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to discuss interests, goals, strengths and needs relevant to employment. They will also meet with several successfully employed people who are blind and visually impaired.

Pre-Employment Transition Services were an important focus for the LOYO participants in both the 2018 and 2019 programs. There were many opportunities for participants to develop and practice skills that transfer to the work place and community including self-advocacy, work readiness training, independent living skills, “soft” skills and peer mentoring.  Creation of a Youth Advisory Committee has been initiated to promote opportunities for youth to influence how DBVI VR approaches and delivers youth and Pre-ETS services.

Maine DBVI has provided Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) for high school students who are blind or visually impaired.  The activities were derived from the transition competencies checklist and many students received community service activity credits when they participated.  They learned many of the competencies necessary to become a productive member of the workforce as well as to advocate for themselves.  These activities have continued to take place over the last few years and have expanded to the northern part of the state.

Goal 4: To ensure that a larger number of individuals, with disabilities, who may be unserved or underserved or have minority status, have access to DBVI services.

Objective:  DBVI will work with WIOA core partners to address the transportation needs regionally.

Strategies:

1. DBVI staff will provide input regarding accessibility needs of their consumers.

UPDATE:  In PY20, DBVI staff have continued to advocate for their consumers with the WIOA core partners.

Objective:  DBVI will work with Maine’s Section 121 VR Grant – Wabanaki Vocational Rehabilitation to identify an increased number of individuals eligible to be served by both programs.

Strategies:

1. Maine DBVI will include Wabanaki Vocational Rehabilitation in training and technical assistance opportunities offered or funded by DBVI.
2. A representative from the Wabanaki Vocational Rehabilitation will participate on DBVI’s State Rehabilitation Council (SRC)
3. The Wabanaki VR Program will provide technical assistance to Maine DBVI on issues related to cultural competency and best practices in Native employment supports.
4. DBVI will provide in-service training to staff at tribal health or community centers of the four Maine tribes (Passamaquoddy Tribe, Penobscot Indian Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseets, and Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians) on an annual basis.

UPDATE:  The Director of the Wabanaki Vocational Rehabilitation program provided training at the 2017 SRC Annual Training. 

In PY17, the Acting Director of DBVI and the Director of DVR met with the Director of the Wabanaki Vocational Rehabilitation to review and revise the MOU.  In PY19, the Director of DBVI and the Director of DVR met with the Director of the Wabanaki VR to review and update the MOU.

Maine DBVI and DVR are planning a state diversity training with the Wabanaki Vocational Rehabilitation program.

Currently the Director of the Wabanaki Vocational Rehabilitation (WVR) program holds a seat and actively participates on the DBVI SRC.  The WVR received another 5-year grant award through 2025.

The Commissioner of Labor, Deputy Commissioner, along with the DVR and DBVI directors met with the Tribal Chief of the Tribal Council, as well as the staff of the Wabanaki Vocational Rehabilitation program over the summer to discuss collaboration between the two VR programs.  Currently DBVI does not have any dual enrolled clients.

Objective:  DBVI will continue its efforts to cultivate a communication network for consumers who are deaf-blind or dual sensory impaired (hearing and vision) so there are professional Deaf-Blind Interpreters and Support Service Providers (SSP) available statewide to assist them in their endeavor for employment.

 Strategies:

1. Secure funding for coordinated operation of the Maine SSP program.
2. Work with collaborative partners to increase training opportunities for Deaf-Blind Interpreters and SSP’s.
3. Encourage more deaf-blind/dual sensory impaired consumers to take an active role on the steering committee working on the interpreting and SSP project.
4. Work with collaborative partners to identify funding for SSP’s.
5. Expand the number of trained SSP’s in the northern half of the state (Waterville and north).
6. Provide outreach activities in three areas across the state to introduce the SSP project to persons with dual sensory impairment.

UPDATE:  In Maine, there continues to be limited SSPs on a volunteer basis through the University of Southern Maine’s (USM) programming.  There continues to be gaps in the services due to the lack of providers during summer and school breaks.  DBVI has continued to meet and have discussions about these services with multiple organizations, e.g., Division of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened, USM, Helen Keller National Center, Department of Human Services, and Disability Rights Maine.  Maine DBVI staff attended the initial tri-state collaboration meeting to identify needs of deaf-blind/dual sensory impaired consumers and has plans to continue to attend future meetings.

Objective: DBVI attempt to expand the number of New Mainers who are receiving services from the agency.

Strategies:

1. DBVI will communicate with advocacy organizations to identify New Mainers who would benefit from DBVI VR services.

UPDATE: DBVI discusses VR services to all individuals including New Mainers at the DBVI SRC bi-monthly meetings.  This is an opportunity to identify New Mainers or ways to increase referrals for New Mainers.

DBVI, upon request, provide informational sessions and trainings to service agencies who provide case management and other services to New Mainers.  DBVI provides in-person and online orientations describing our eligibility requirements, service delivery and program requirements to job seekers. 

Goal 5: To increase awareness of services and resources for individuals who are blind or have low vision.

Objective:  DBVI will become more publicly visible and recognized as a primary source of information and services for individuals with visual impairments, as well as their families and employers.

Strategies:

1. With input from the SRC, DBVI’s website will be updated and made more helpful to end users.
2. DBVI contractors will be required to include acknowledgement of Rehabilitation Services DBVI grant funding on program materials and public documents.
3. DBVI and contracted partners will provide congruent services across the state.

UPDATE:  Although DBVI’s website has had some minor updates, there are plans to completely redo the current website.  DBVI is working with the Communications office of the DOL toward the development of a Facebook page where program information can she shared in an accessible platform.

DBVI contracted partners are acknowledging RSA’s grant funding that they receive from DBVI in all public documents.  DBVI staff and contracted partners meet regularly to discuss the provision of services for consistency across the state.

Objective:  DBVI will work with the Maine blindness community to promote the services and resources available to individuals who are blind or have low visions.

Strategies:

1. Maine DBVI staff will provide in-service trainings to other service providers within their region.
2. Maine DBVI Staff will provide service awareness and assistive technology/adaptive device activities for consumers and the general public within their regions.
3. DBVI will coordinate cooperative training with Maine Department of Transportation.
4. DBVI will work with its main contractors to create a more organized and more centralized public education effort.
5. DBVI will continue to explore collaboration with the Veteran’s Administration Blind Rehabilitation program to streamline the referral process between the two agencies.
6. Encourage all staff to regularly attend local Lions Club meetings.
7. Maine DBVI staff and contracted partners will provide service awareness to doctors within their region.

UPDATE:  DBVI staff continue to work with the Maine blindness community to promote services and resources to individuals who are blind or have low vision.  Some examples are:

In PY18 – DBVI staff provided a 2-hour presentation to staff at University of Maine, Learning Center (Bryant Pond).  Staff worked to help them better understand the needs of folks who are blind who attend their programs. They walked through the “school program” that is used and made appropriate recommendations and aided them in some temporary braille signage. The Leaning Center is interested in having DBVI consult from time/time and would definitely be interested in having our students do a field trip to use their outdoor site/staff to do some adventuresome outdoor activities (archery, low & high ropes, zip line, animal and plant exploration, along with basic outdoor education). 

In PY18 – DBVI staff met for 1.5 hours on the streets of Saco with 3 DOT (one of which is DOT ADA coordinator) and 1 local traffic engineer to look at a recent project on Rte. 1 (downtown Saco) where attempts to be ADA accessible have failed.  DOT was looking for expertise and information regarding blind and visually impaired travelers in this area and how best to remedy the accessibility issues.

In PY18 – DBVI presented at the University of Maine, Farmington’s Rehabilitation 102 class. The topic:  What is blindness rehabilitation and what careers exist in that field?  There was one instructor and 12 undergraduate students majoring in various fields – rehabilitation, special education, psychology, data and statistics – in attendance. The format was lecture and demonstration. Introductory vocabulary was explored. Multiple aids and devices were demonstrated and circulated as well as some of the techniques taught to persons who are blind and visually impaired.  There was audience participation.  The attendees did various tasks with the aids and devices.  A discussion of the various professions in blind rehab were discussed – COMS, CLVT, CVRT, CATIS, TVI, VRC, and Adjustment Counselor.

IN PY19 – A former DBVI VR client and DBVI staff did a 50-minute public outreach at the Watershed School in Camden. There were 20 high school students and two staff members in attendance. The students learned human guide technique and navigated with white canes while wearing simulator goggles.

In PY19 – DBVI and contracted staff completed an in-service with four 4th-grade classes at SeDoMoCha Elementary School. This training focused on general information about what it is like to work with individuals who are blind or visually impaired, what does it actually mean to be blind or visually impaired, the student’s experiences with this population, as well as answering any questions.  All the students in the 4 different classes were very engaged and had very thoughtful, appropriate questions and input. The training also focused on White Cane Awareness Day (October 15), and discussed what the white cane is, rules around the white cane (Maine’s White Cane Law), and how it is used by someone who is visually impaired. 

In PY19 – DBVI staff completed an in-service training to 3 faculty and 20 University of Maine at Farmington First-Year students. The group participated in a simulation activity, the purpose of which was to expose these students to some of the work in the blindness rehabilitation field as they are contemplating declaring their major.

In PY19 – DBVI O&M staff provided Sensitivity training and O&M presentation to UMaine Residential Advisors (RA) on the Orono campus. There were approximately 80 RAs and UMaine staff present. Discussed was Orientation and Mobility, White Canes, Human Guide, Types of Visual Impairments and Supportive Strategies, as well as completion of a blindfold sensitivity training. Supportive Strategies Handouts were provided to all in attendance. The blindfold experience was discussed with questions answered. Later, a meeting with the RA staff from Oak Hall occurred to discuss specific issues for incoming student.

In PY19 – DBVI staff presented with a contracted partner at the YWCA in Bar Harbor. Approximately 14 people were in attendance for the presentation. Discussed was Vision Rehabilitation Services, including DBVI, Iris Network, eye conditions, referral process, VRT, and O&M. For O&M specifically, the group reviewed definitions, white canes, various marking tapes, human guide, guide dogs, ways to assist/describe and safe walking practices.