Narrative: a. 1.

The State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) reviewed the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation’s (MVR) services portion of the Combined State Plan for the Title I and VI B programs. On behalf of the Council, Lori Pace, SRC chairperson, submitted the following comments and suggestions:

1. The SRC Planning Committee, acting for the SRC, had an opportunity to review and comment on MVR’s services portion of the Combined State Plan. We are in support of your plan.

2. We approve of MVR’s commitment to cooperating, collaborating and coordinating with other components of the statewide workforce development system is commendable. Improving partnerships and supporting individuals, including youth and students, with disabilities to obtain competitive integrated employment benefits everyone.

3. We support MVR’s goals and priorities of increasing the number of participants receiving training services, increasing the number of students with disabilities accessing VR services, and strengthening relationships with employers. The SRC recommends that MVR work on strategies to assist them in reaching their goals and priorities and provide updates on its performance at future Council meetings.

4. The SRC appreciates MVR’s efforts to keep categories open and eligible applicants in service. The SRC does recognize that rising costs and limited funding may necessitate the closing of categories and the institution of a moving waiting list for services. The SRC believes that any waiting list is undesirable and will result in more individuals becoming dependent on public assistance and increase the number of individuals who drop from the program before services are provided. The SRC will work with MVR on strategies to reduce or eliminate the waiting list and will ask for updates at the Council meetings.

5. The SRC recognizes the challenges MVR faced as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. We commend MVR’s rapid and ongoing response to the difficulties imposed by the pandemic. The agency developed flexible strategies to ensure continued service delivery and adjusted its processes to accommodate stakeholders.

6. Recent retirements and resignations have impacted the number of staff with disabilities. The SRC encourages MVR to continue its efforts to recruit individuals with disabilities.

7. The SRC would like to acknowledge MVR’s work on the performance accountability measures under section 116 of WIOA. We agree with the expected levels of performance MVR submitted to the Rehabilitation Services Administration and expect the final negotiated rates will be achieved in the upcoming years. We encourage your collaboration with partners to determine a performance indicator for effectiveness in serving employers.

8. The SRC shares with MVR a concern that accessing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities can be challenging. SRC continues to support MVR’s efforts to find solutions by encouraging innovation and job creation and focusing on high quality employment outcomes. MVR is expanding opportunities for employment outcomes through its pilot programs on customized employment and peer mentoring for youth and students with disabilities.

9. The SRC reviewed the draft of the Missouri State Rehabilitation Council’s 2020 annual report and offered full support of the program’s performance, data, and services. The client success stories are powerful statements of the program’s impact. We are impressed with the consumer satisfaction feedback summarized in the report. The statewide results were at 92 percent and above, which are some of the highest in the nation. We are pleased that the feedback is shared with staff as a resource and utilized for service and process improvement.

10. The Council appreciates the work and inspiration that went into developing priorities for the upcoming program year. During our quarterly meetings, we had the opportunity to work with MVR in setting priorities in addition to the program’s goals and strategies. We are excited to see that MVR is not just developing a “priorities’’ document but is actualizing the priorities through its service delivery. From MVR’s staff presentations at our quarterly meetings, we are informed of the program’s progress. We recognize MVR’s commitment to its culture of support, encouragement, and caring.

11. The SRC had opportunities in the past year to provide input on other important matters with your agency. The SRC provided recommendations on and approval of policy revisions and proposed administrative rule changes. It collaborated with other disability-related councils and participated in and reviewed feedback from the March public hearings. We will continue to review hearing decisions and assess the need for hearing officer positions during our meetings.

The SRC appreciates the opportunity to work with MVR on these matters of importance to individuals with disabilities in the state of Missouri.