Narrative: j. 1. A.

BESB’s State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) commissioned the Center for Public Policy and Social Research (CPPSR) at Central Connecticut State University to conduct a comprehensive statewide needs assessment (CSNA) in 2020 to assist the SRC and BESB VR with establishing goals and priorities. The full report was issued by CPPSR in December, 2020. This was after the submission of the initial WIOA Plan, and the results are being incorporated into the 2-year plan modification. Among the variables reviewed, CPPSR conducted an analysis of BESB VR services to individuals with the most significant disabilities.

In conducting this assessment, the Center for Public Policy and Social Research examined and/or conducted:

• An analysis of population statistics for Connecticut that describe disability and minority status;
• A description of VR participation rates of minority individuals in comparison to individuals in the overall population in Connecticut, as well as to national VR statistics;
• An analysis of VR services to individuals with the most significant disabilities,
• An analysis of Bureau improvements since the previous VR assessment;
• The results of the Consumer Satisfaction Survey for individuals served during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020;
• Comparative longitudinal data analysis based off of the consumer satisfaction survey from FY 2017-2020;
• The results of in-depth interviews with select BESB VR counselors (conducted October through December 2020).

As part of the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment, the Center for Public Policy and Social Research also put forth the following recommendations. These recommendations helped to inform BESB's new goals, which are presented later in the plan.

1. Improve Bureau outreach and visibility by sharing client success stories online, as well as continuing to promote BESB VR services to eye doctors.
2. Offer new virtual services to encourage clients to utilize VR services.
3. Work with community organizations to improve outreach and client engagement.
4. Further emphasize online career opportunities for VR clients to broaden employment and internship possibilities.
5. Continually refine plans for providing necessary services to vulnerable clients in the event of a pandemic-related lockdown.
6. Make additional efforts to equip and train VR clients with technology to prepare them for virtual work and education.
7. Look into arranging housing placement for VR clients who struggle with finding secure housing.

One issue identified in the CSNA was a decrease in the number of individuals on the registry and a corresponding decrease in the number of new VR clients. BESB has a statutory obligation to maintain a registry of all individuals in Connecticut who are legally blind. After a steady increase from FY 2012 to FY 2015, BESB’s registry has shown some evidence of a decline. In FY 2015, 11,854 individuals were listed in the registry, the highest number observed for this assessment and a client increase of 4.3%. The registry in FY 2019 has 9,338 individuals with significant visual impairment, a 16.2% decrease since FY 2015. And as of the writing of this plan modification, there are 8,642 individuals on the registry. The decrease is likely not a result of a decreasing blind population in Connecticut and may instead be attributed to other factors. One such factor could be the lack of referrals from doctors, a point included in CPPSR recommendations. Another is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BESB VR staff will identify a vendor to create outreach materials for distribution of information on BESB. Rehabilitation Technologists in collaboration with this vendor, will identify accessibility issues with marketing documents and solutions to share with clients of the Bureau. The BESB VR website will be redesigned to target individuals who are blind, eye doctors or other referral sources, and employers. All accessible documents will be posted on the agency website and social media platforms, as well as distributed to organizations of and for individuals who are blind and will also be mailed to clients upon request. This will improve Bureau outreach and visibility resulting in increased referrals as well as employment opportunities.

The Council further utilized the findings and recommendations within this report to assist with the development of goals, objectives, strategies, and measures for the state plan. Among its findings, CPPSR noted the following:

In order of frequency, minority ethnic groups within Connecticut are accounted for as follows: 16.9% Hispanic/Latino, 12.2% African American, 5.0% Asian, 0.6% Native American, and 0.1% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. Comparing BESB, state, and national statistics, we find that the Bureau’s Vocational Rehabilitation program appears to be successful at engaging Connecticut’s visually impaired minority community. Overall, Bureau clientele enrolled in the VR program who self-identify their ethnicity reasonably reflect both the state and national minority population at approximately 33.5%. Sub-groups are similarly represented. For FY 2019, BESB reported the following VR program enrollment: 26% African American, 20% Hispanic/Latino, 3% Asian, and less than 1% Native American/Pacific Islander. There is currently no reliable data that measures the incidence of blindness in minority communities within Connecticut. For this reason, the needs assessment approximates information based on general minority population statistics.

Since the last VR assessment was issued, BESB has continued to take numerous steps to improve its outreach to the minority community. BESB employs two VR counselors who are bicultural, one of whom is fluent in Spanish.

BESB VR will continue to work with community organizations to improve outreach and client engagement particularly to minority communities. We will also continually refine plans for providing necessary services to vulnerable clients in the event of a pandemic-related lockdown and look into arranging housing placements for VR clients living in economically challenging neighborhoods who struggle with finding secure housing.

CPPSR concludes that BESB is actively engaging blind youth in the State of Connecticut. Regarding BESB’s financial situation from the previous CPPSR report, in 2019 and 2020, there have been improvements. In both years, BESB received significant supplemental awards through the federal reallotment process. Along with savings due to the pandemic, BESB is in a more financially secure position in an uncertain economic climate.

BESB will offer virtual trainings and events geared towards BESB's youth. For example, VR Rehabilitation Technologists will develop a series of tutorials, such as but not limited to, working in a remote environment and how to use common assistive technology and other technology.