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:
__________
[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
j. 1. A. With the most significant disabilities, including their need for supported employment services;
Current Narrative:
In December 2019, DSB conducted a statewide needs assessment to measure the effectiveness in providing services, and assess possible needs. The DSB Quality Assurance team used email, and traditional postal mail to send surveys to DSB consumers, DSB staff, DSB partners, and employers. In cases for which email addresses were available, an email with a brief description of the needs assessment, instructions for completing the online survey, and a direct link to the survey were provided to recipients. In total 451 surveys were emailed: 377 consumer surveys, 52 staff surveys, and 22 partner surveys. In cases for which email addresses were not available, surveys were sent by traditional postal mail. In total, 1,676 surveys were mailed. 1,313 employer surveys and 363 consumer surveys. Surveys were completed in January 2020.
To ensure that outlined needs are being addressed, DSB plans to focus more extensively on conducting assessments via various research methodologies, implementing strategic action plans, and facilitating systematic progress reviews to measure effectiveness.
Based on the needs assessment results, it is recommended that DSB partners more consistently with employers, the Workforce Development System, and various other community rehabilitation programs in an effort to provide more job services and training opportunities to those who are most significantly disabled and those who are underserved.
Because the needs assessment results suggest that those who require long-term support and extended services to maintain employment, those who reside in rural communities, and Veterans are the most underserved, it is recommended that DSB create more outreach initiatives to engage with these populations.
Additional considerations may be given to identifying, coordinating and providing transition career services and pre-employment transition services to youth and students with disabilities.
Needs Assessment results suggest that those with the most significant disabilities are most in need a job services, with 33% of respondents stating “job development and placement” as an essential service, 27% stating “employment preparation” as an essential service, 23% stating that “on-the-job training” as an essential service, and 17% stating “soft skills development” as an essential service.