Narrative: b. 1. A.

The Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA) is conducted every three years. The most recent CSNA was completed in 2023. The purpose of the CSNA, conducted jointly with the Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services (MCRS), is to describe the rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities residing in Michigan, particularly the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) service needs as outlined in 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 361.29. 

According to Program Year (PY) 2021 Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)-911 data, 87 percent of the 9,723 participants who exited MRS during PY 2021 were significantly or most significantly disabled;
65 percent were most significantly disabled. Participants with the following characteristics were more likely to be determined to have a most significant disability: racial/ethnic minority, students or youth (younger than the age of 26 years old at application), and Social Security beneficiaries. In addition, a higher proportion of participants with cognitive or psychosocial/mental impairments were determined to be most significantly disabled.

The priority services received in relation to VR needs for MRS participants with the most significant disabilities were assessment, job placement, short-term job support, and miscellaneous training. The primary barriers to employment were low income, basic skills deficient/low literacy, and long-term unemployed.

Of participants who exited in PY 2021, 526 specified an employment outcome/vocational goal in a supported employment setting in their Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE); 70 percent of them reported receiving Social Security benefits at the time of application. Most of the participants had either a mental illness
(44.3 percent) or intellectual/cognitive disability (45 percent) as the primary disability reported. A third of them (32.5 percent) were younger than the age of 26 years old at application. Two hundred sixty-seven (51 percent) of the participants who had Supported Employment goals in their IPE exited MRS with a competitive and integrated employment (CIE).  (When reviewing this data it became apparent that MRS incorrectly coded SE outcomes as VR CIE outcomes despite the participant having SE goals in their IPE). Regarding employment rate by type of disability, of the 51 percent who achieved employment there were 59 percent of the participants with autism, 61 percent with intellectual disabilities, 41 percent with mental illness, and 59 percent with learning disabilities.

Of the total participants who had Supported Employment goals in their IPE 49% exited without employment in any status from application to IPE.

With regard to a competitive and integrated employment outcome (Numerator [N] = 137); 51 percent of 267 participants with a successful employment outcome), 71 percent of the participants with autism, 42 percent with learning disabilities, 37 percent with mental illness, and 42 percent with intellectual disabilities achieved a competitive and integrated employment outcome. 

MRS spent a total of $2,677,975 for the 526 participants, who had an employment outcome/vocational goal in a supported employment setting in their IPE, with an average cost of services of $5,614 (Standard Deviation [SD] = $4,940). The average cost of services for those with a competitive and integrated employment outcome was $6,601 (SD = $5,585) and for those with a supported employment outcome was $8,361 (SD = $4,823).