Narrative: o. 1.

DBVI has developed goals and priorities based on identified needs from the most recent DBVI CSNA, Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 (including the common performance measures of section 116 of WIOA), and input from the State Rehabilitation Council.  For each goal, objectives and strategies to achieve those objectives were established to expand and improve services to individuals with disabilities.

Goal 1: To engage Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI) clients in Career Pathways that lead to meaningful and quality employment outcomes. 

Objective: Increase employment outcomes that lead to self-sufficiency and/or decreased public benefits of DBVI clients through promotion of Career Pathway planning representing a shift in focus of job attainment to one of a career for economic success.

Strategies:

1. 1. Continue to promote Career Pathway models through staff trainings and use of technical assistance.
   2. Prepare DBVI Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) clients to be successful in a full range of secondary or post-secondary education options, including apprenticeships.
   3. Improve the  Comprehensive Assessment of Rehabilitation Needs (CARNS) of clients by providing training to VR counselors on various assessment tools/databases to include use of Labor Market Information (LMI) and workforce trends, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) arenas, use of O*NET and other occupational databases, as well as accessing Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partner resources.
   4. Increase emphasis in matching skills and abilities of DBVI VR clients with vocational planning that aligns with the skill needs in the economy of the state or regional economy to achieve potential for family sustaining wage growth.  

Objective:  Increase exposure and use of apprenticeship and self-employment strategies for DBVI VR clients.

Strategies:

1. 1. As part of CARNS training, promote use of Apprenticeship and Self-Employment as a viable/preferred approach to Career Pathways.
   2. Work with MDOL Apprenticeship Program and DBVI/DVR partners to ensure that job seekers with visual impairments are included in the growth and expansion of apprenticeships in Maine.
   3. Introduce use of Apprenticeship models to the Rehabilitation Center located at the Iris Network and the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) program in an effort to develop additional career pathways for persons who are blind and visually impaired.
   4. Reestablish DBVI/DVR Self-Employment Focus Group(s), comprised of VR counselors, Small Business Development Center business consultants, and Client Assistance Program staff, and provide training and technical assistance to DBVI staff and consumers engaged in Self-Employment.

Goal 2: To increase measurable skill gains and credential attainment of DBVI clients in alignment with WIOA deliverables.

Objective: To become more proficient in identifying and capturing Measurable Skills Gain (MSG) and credential attainment.

Strategies:

1. DBVI will continue working with WINTAC for technical assistance and in educating staff regarding understanding of MSG and credential obtainment.
2. CARNS and New Counselor training will have focused components on MSG and credential obtainment.
3. DBVI will increase staff competence in use of AwareVR in tracking and recording of MSG and credential obtainment.
4. DBVI will work with HospitalityMaine in use of the Workhands App to track and record MSG and credential obtainment.

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:   Increase and expand services to blind and visually impaired youth and students. 

Strategies:

1. Continue to work with the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) members such as representatives from Catholic Charities Maine, Iris Network, and the Department of Education, to identify Pre-ETS activities/programs that can be provided to potentially eligible or eligible students.
2. Increase the number of students who are referred to the VR program as part of their individualized educational plan (IEP).  This will be done in part through consultation with  Blindness Rehabilitation Specialists (BLRS) who connect families with transitional and community resources. DBVI staff will be members of the IEP team.
3. Hold regional meetings with DBVI staff, and contracted partners including Catholic Charities Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI) toward the beginning of each school year to determine VR eligibility on all students 14 years of age and older.
4. Continue to make optimal use and expansion of Maine-based immersion centers to offer summer programs, including blindness rehabilitation, independent living, work experiences and college preparation. Current programs include College Prep, Living On Your Own (LOYO), Learning, Independence, Fun, Employment (LIFE) 101 and 102, all of which include use of Assistive Technology (AT), Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRC), Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI) and Orientation and Mobility Instructors (O&M).  Sessions for parents to educate them on resources, encourage independence with their kids, and a question and answer (Q&A) sessions are also to be offered.
5. Continued and increased implementation of Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) and Pre-Employment Skills Groups where students are encouraged to engage in community, develop Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) and Interdisciplinary Learning (IDL’s,) explore area businesses and event centers, and attend information workshops/seminars.  School personnel associated with Blind and Visually Impaired students are contacted early each school year and made aware of these planned events and are invited to attend/provide input. Creation a summer youth employment, job shadow, Community Based Situational Assessment (CBSA), job club and/or work internship experience for all students by age 16.

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 and other Government partners to address the transportation needs regionally.

Strategies:

1. DBVI staff will provide input to DOT, providers of public transportation and to core partners regarding accessibility needs of our consumers. Input shall include for example accessible route maps, large print bus schedules/routes, audible street crossings, tactile pads and lighting/contrast consultation. 
2. DBVI has designated staff to consult with transportation departments regarding transit studies, bicycle access, bus programming and staff meetings.
3. DBVI attends Transportation For All and Public Notice meetings issued by DOT.

Objective:  DBVI will work with Maine’s Section 121 VR Grant – Wabanaki Vocational Rehabilitation to identify and 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 American 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) including DBVI/DVR New Counselor Training upon request.

Objective:  DBVI will continue its efforts to cultivate a statewide communication network for consumers who are deaf-blind or dual sensory impaired (hearing and vision) to assist in their endeavors for employment and independent living.

 Strategies:

1. Work with collaborative partners to increase training opportunities for Deaf-Blind Interpreters and Support Service Providers (SSP’s).
2. Collaborate with Helen Keller National Center on resources, outreach, hearing aid access.and availability of funds..
3. Provide feedback and information on new legislation regarding insurance cost for hearing aids to the Division.
4. Designate DBVI staff to attend regional deaf-blind or dual sensory forums (for example 2019 Tri-State Meeting) and identify funding for Support Service Professionals (SSP).
5. DBVI staff will provide training to Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRPs), with an emphasis around learning basic, introductory Orientation and Mobility techniques for supporting deaf-blind or dual sensory clients in the workplace.
6. Collaborate on the creation of on-line webinars on Independent Living (IL) equipment and devices to enhance independence for deaf-blind or dual sensory loss clients and increase access to equipment available through ICANCONNECT.org.

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

Strategies:

1. DBVI will communicate with advocacy organizations, such as American Council for the Blind, National Federation for the Blind, Pine Tree Guide Dog Users, to identify New Mainers who would benefit from DBVI VR services.
2. 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.

Objective:  DBVI will continue its efforts to identify minorities with the most significant disabilities who are blind or visually impaired to assist in their endeavors for employment and independent living.
 
 Strategies:

1. DBVI will provide outreach to clinics/medical professionals in communities known to serve immigrant communities, such as Lewiston and Portland.
2. DBVI will provide outreach to community support programs known to work with immigrant populations (i.e. Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services and Catholic Charities)

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.  DBVI will continue to focus on accessibility as updates are made.
2. DBVI contractors will be required to include acknowledgement of Rehabilitation Services Administration DBVI grant funding on program materials and public documents.
3. DBVI and contracted partners will provide uniform services 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 vision.

Strategies:

1. Maine DBVI staff will provide in-service trainings to other service providers, such as Community Rehabilitation Providers, within their region.
2. Maine DBVI Staff will provide service awareness and assistive technology/adaptive device activities for consumers and organizations within their regions.
3. DBVI will coordinate cooperative training with Maine Department of Transportation (DOT).
4. DBVI will work with its contracted partners to create a more organized and 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 in an effort to promote DBVI services and resources.
7. Maine DBVI staff and contracted partners will provide service awareness to doctors within their region.