Narrative: a. 1.

The Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) has had a State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) for more than twenty–seven years. The SRC mission statement is:

The Colorado State Rehabilitation Council increases opportunities for Coloradans with disabilities to pursue success as they define it. Our members work in service of equality and access to full participation in all aspects of life, by advocating for the budgetary and programmatic integrity of the vocational rehabilitation program in the Centennial State, a resource for increasing employment and economic advancement. The SRC meets quarterly, including an annual retreat. The SRC depends on the following committees to help carry out its responsibilities: Membership; Customer Satisfaction and Program Evaluation; and Planning, Policy, and Education. Minutes are maintained of all SRC meetings, committee meetings and retreats. Minutes summarize the advice and recommendations provided to DVR by the SRC. DVR continues to work closely with the SRC to share and discuss information on finances, personnel, services to clients, agency policies, state rules, WIOA common performance measures, customer satisfaction, and any other items that impact the extent, scope, and effectiveness of rehabilitation services.

The SRC is currently evaluating DVR’s customer and DVR program participant satisfaction evaluation processes, which includes electronic surveys available to all customers, along with postcard surveys available in each office. The SRC has been involved in focus groups conducted as part of the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA), and participates in public meetings hosted by DVR to gather stakeholder input. Each of these provide opportunities to learn about customer satisfaction. The results from customer satisfaction surveys along with guidance from the SRC, are used to drive more effective and efficient vocational rehabilitation services for customers. Quarterly customer satisfaction results are one data element of DVR’s CSNA, and as such, are used as part of the development of the state plan.

DVR regularly seeks the advice of the SRC on pertinent issues, including the development and implementation of the state plan. To this end, DVR and the SRC jointly developed and conducted the 2018 DVR triennial Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment to determine the rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities in Colorado. The SRC and DVR established the goals of the CSNA and developed a plan for dissemination. Results were analyzed and findings were used to make recommendations to DVR that informed the state plan’s goals, priorities, and strategies. The SRC and DVR will continue to conduct public hearings in person, by telephone, and electronically to obtain comment on the DVR state plan and on potential policy changes that are a part of the state plan.

As a result of the 2018 CSNA and the SRC’s related activities, the SRC makes the following recommendations to DVR for the upcoming state plan period:

SRC Recommendation 1

The SRC recommends DVR increase the number of individuals served from rural areas and culturally and socioeconomically diverse communities. This will be done by encouraging and welcoming new applicants with disabilities that are in need of services in order to obtain employment. DVR will work to ensure offices are open and friendly, with staff who are culturally competent. Additionally, SRC recommends that new materials be developed for each targeted audience that focus on the successes of DVR; and the website should also reflect this. Based on information from the CSNA, SRC believes that DVR should target unserved and underserved populations including  justice involved individuals; individuals with limited education; people with behavioral health conditions; those experiencing homelessness; individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; those with multiple disabilities; and others. Outreach and education to community partners, including workforce centers, employers, educators, parents, and others to generate referrals will be crucial. As outreach is provided, technical assistance should be given to educate all communities about the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

SRC Recommendation 2

SRC recommends DVR continue to focus on increasing high quality employment outcomes for individuals with significant and most significant disabilities. SRC would like to receive quarterly updates on successful employment closures, median earnings from employment, and employment in the second and fourth quarter following exit from the program in order to evaluate and provide input on employment outcomes for individuals with significant and most significant disabilities.

SRC Recommendation 3

The SRC recommends all DVR staff receive ongoing training in order to provide effective and high quality services to all customers. An interdisciplinary approach may be employed where counselors and others with expertise work with staff to build skills. The SRC recognizes a need for training in these areas; excellent customer service skills for office staff;  Customized Employment targeted to Business Outreach Specialists to support effective outreach to businesses on behalf of all customers; counseling and guidance, including the effective use of labor market information; effectively working with specific disability groups, including accessing community resources available to support their unique needs; available work incentives; assessment, including “Discovery”; cultural competence; job development; and the use of assistive technology to increase employment options. SRC suggests training also include best practices for implementing key elements of WIOA, including supported self-employment, customized employment, using “discovery” as part of the assessment process. DVR will ensure those providing this training have completed nationally recognized training and/or maintain nationally recognized certification in the topic area.

SRC Recommendation 4

The SRC recommends DVR ensure access to high quality supported employment services by actively seeking to increase capacity through outreach, training, and rate structure evaluation. DVR will utilize the newly funded Supported Employment Trainer/Coordinator positions to improve internal expertise among DVR staff, including Business Outreach Specialists, in utilizing evidence-based and promising supported employment practices (e.g., Individualized Placement & Supports (IPS) and Customized Employment). DVR staff responsible for providing training and technical assistance must have the requisite knowledge, including completing the respective nationally recognized training and/or certification(s). SRC recommends DVR continue to promote and assist supported employment providers to meet the requirement to complete nationally recognized training or certification by June 30, 2024, as required by Senate Bill 18-145. SRC would like to see DVR promote an early adoption of the requirements of Senate Bill 18-145 by encouraging supported employment providers to develop an implementation plan that should be submitted to DVR by January, 2021. 

SRC recommends DVR lead, or engage in efforts led by partners, to explore and resolve the systematic issues limiting capacity to provide supported employment services, particularly related to the rate structures many providers cite as a limiting factor in their ability to expand services leading to competitive integrated employment for individuals with the most significant disabilities. Vendors working with DVR must receive training so that they have a clear understanding of the rehabilitation process and will be effective and qualified to work with both counselors and the individual’s they serve for the customers’ success. Training topics should include specifics on the rehabilitation process, increased cultural competence, clear understanding of disability issues, supported employment, and use of interpreter and translation services, among others. Training may also include best practices for implementation of the key elements of WIOA, including customized employment, using “discovery” as part of the assessment process, and person-centered planning practices.

SRC Recommendation 5

The SRC recommends DVR consistently recognize assistive technology as a critical strategy for improving access to competitive integrated employment for individuals with significant disabilities. DVR should ensure counselors have opportunities for frequent and ongoing training in rehabilitation technology, improving counselors’ ability to identify when and how assistive and universal technology can expand opportunities for competitive integrated employment. SRC recommends DVR explore opportunities to partner with the technology sector to identify new and developing technologies that may further improve accessibility and broaden opportunities for employment, as well as ensure a variety of qualified vendors to improve access to assistive technology.

SRC Recommendation 6

Despite ongoing efforts to improve and expand transition services, families and students still express difficulty accessing DVR services early enough to support an effective transition from secondary education. SRC recommends DVR create and implement an active plan to provide innovative and effective transition services to youth with disabilities, including those with the most significant disabilities, across the state of Colorado. To be as effective as possible, these strategies will need to include working with all stakeholders including the Colorado Department of Education, special education teachers, parents, workforce centers, and youth with disabilities. It is critical these stakeholders have a clear understanding of DVR’s role, including DVR participation in Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings for transition age students. SRC recommends transition services through DVR align with Employment First principles, including assessments such as Discovery, Project SEARCH, and Customized Employment to support the success of students with the most significant disabilities. DVR should continue to collaborate with schools and workforce centers to provide pre-employment transition services to younger students with disabilities prior to their referral to vocational rehabilitation. SRC recommends including the provision of informational sessions coordinated with DVR’s school partners to increase awareness of transition services and provide materials to transition youth and their families about the availability of services and supports through DVR.

SRC Recommendation 7

While DVR has successfully obtained sufficient non-Federal dollars to fully access the available Federal funds through the Rehabilitation Services Administration, SRC recommends DVR continue to actively work with the executive and legislative branches of Colorado government to ensure the stability of this funding moving forward. In order to create effective and far reaching success in the employment of people with disabilities in Colorado, it is critical the full allotment of Federal funds continues to be available and DVR minimize any risk of potential Maintenance of Effort penalties due to reduction in State funds. Ongoing communication with the legislature will need to focus on the success that DVR is having in all areas of operation.

SRC Recommendation 8

As DVR leads the effort for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and the State of Colorado to be a model employer, SRC recommends DVR explore the feasibility of establishing a Project SEARCH site within state government. Such an effort would demonstrate to business the benefits of inclusive work environments, while supporting the vocational training and employment of youth with significant disabilities.

SRC Recommendation 9

The SRC recommends DVR continue to emphasize a dual customer approach, ensuring quality services to business partners to support the employment of individuals with disabilities, including significant disabilities. Through outreach, training, and ongoing support, DVR can gain an understanding of the business community's need for qualified employees and assist businesses to find motivated and skilled workers by drawing upon highly talented and diverse workforces, inclusive of people with disabilities. Thus, helping both the customers of DVR and the businesses where they will work.