Narrative: b. 1. B.

Findings – Consumers with Significant Disabilities from Minority Backgrounds

In 2023, SPPE staff members conducted a qualitative analysis of the reported service needs of 1,209 persons with significant disabilities of various age and disability groups statewide.

Of the statewide total of 1,209 persons with significant disabilities at the time of their WVDRS application, 119 persons (9.8%) were determined to be of minority status. The demographic profile of this subset of minority status individuals with significant disabilities consists of the following characteristics:

- Gender:  56.3% male, 43.7% female;

- Race: 3.4% American Indian or Alaska Native, 3.4% Asian, 73.9% African American, 17.6% Hispanic Latino, 1.7% Pacific Islander;

- Age: 52.9% under 20 years old, 27.7% 20-34 years, 5.0% 35-44 years, 10.9% 45-64 years, 3.4% 65 years or older;

- Primary Impairment: 8.0% Sensory/Communicative Impairments (including blindness, other visual impairments, deafness – primary communication visual, deafness – primary communication auditory, hearing loss – primary communication visual, hearing loss – primary communication auditory, other hearing impairments, deaf-blindness, and communicative impairments), 13.8% Physical Impairments (including mobility orthopedic/neurological impairments, manipulation/dexterity orthopedic/neurological impairments, both mobility and manipulation/dexterity orthopedic/neurological impairments, other orthopedic impairments, respiratory impairments, general physical debilitation, and other physical impairments), 78.2% Mental Impairments (including cognitive impairments, psychosocial impairments, and other mental impairments);

- Referral Source: 2.5% Adult Education and Literacy Programs, 0.8% Community Rehabilitation Programs, 0.8% Consumer Organizations or Advocacy Groups, 1.7% DOL Employment and Training Service Programs, 35.3% Educational Institutions (elementary/secondary), 5.9% Educational Institutions (postsecondary), 0.8% Faith-Based Organizations, 12.6% Family/Friends, 2.5% Medical Health Provider (Public or Private), 3.4% Mental Health Provider (Public or Private), 0.8% Other One-stop Partner, 0.8% Other Sources, 0.8% Other State Agencies, 0.8% Other VR State Agencies, 0.8% Other WIOA-funded Programs, 0.8% Public Housing Authority, 27.7% Self-referral, 0.8% Veteran’s Administration;

- Employment Status at Application: 5.0% Employed, 95.0% Employment not reported;

- Primary Source of Support: 6.7% Personal Income, 73.1% Family and Friends, 17.6% Public Support (SSI, SSDI, TANF, etc.), 2.5% Other (Private disability insurance, Private charities).

Service Needs Reported by Consumers with Significant Disabilities from Minority Backgrounds

Education

Among consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds, 32 of 119 (26.9%) needs comments involved education. Of these 32, education needs identified were categorized as transition (65.6%), 2-year or 4-year college (18.8%), other (9.4%), high school education (3.1%), tutoring (3.1%), assessments (3.1%), accommodations (3.1%), and graduate degree education (3.1%).

The numbers add up to more than 100% because some staff provided more than one suggestion.

Most Frequently Reported Education Needs

Transition (65.6%)

Many responses by consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds indicated a need for transition from school to work. These comments included phrases such as “transition from school to work” or “assistance with transition services.”

2-year or 4-year College (18.8%)

A few of the consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds who expressed needs regarding education were particularly interested in attending and completing college.

This was expressed in a number of ways, such as “assistance with college” or “higher education.”

Training

Among consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds, 35.3%n of needs comments involved training. Of these, training needs identified were categorized as business/vocational training (83.3%), drive training/licensing (14.3%), job search training/assistance (2.4%), and other (2.4%).

Most Frequently Reported Training Needs

Business/Vocational Training (83.3%)

The most identified training need by consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds was training for employment. Within this category, responses were typically of the general sort (e.g., “training and employment”), although a few responses targeted training for specific jobs.

Drive Training/Licensing (14.3%)

Some consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds identified the need for driving skills or legal driving capability. This was generally referred to by phrases such as “driver’s license” or “learn to drive.”

Health

Among consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds, 16% of needs comments involved health. Of these, health needs identified were categorized as psychological/psychiatric (42.1%), hearing/audiological services (31.6%), eye care (10.5%), other (10.5%), physician’s services (2.2%), and hospital services (5.3%).

Most Frequently Reported Health Needs

Psychological/Psychiatric (42.1%)

Needs comments in this category indicated the need for mental health services of some type. However, the specific need varied. Some consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds expressed the need for “counseling” or “mental restoration,” while others were interested in psychological evaluations.

Hearing/Audiological Services (31.6%)

Some consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds identified needs related to hearing. Most of these needs comments specifically stated the need for hearing aids.

Employment/CRP

Among consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds, 59.7% needs comments involved employment/CRP services. Of these, employment/CRP service needs identified were categorized as job placement (76.1%), vocational counseling and guidance (21.1%), life skills training (5.6), other (5.6%), work-related tools or equipment (2.8), job retention (1.4%), work adjustment training (1.4), and supported employment (SE) (1.4).

Most Frequently Reported Employment/CRP Needs

Job Placement (76.1%)

Nearly half of consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds were primarily interested in placement in a job. Needs comments that specifically included the word “placement” fit into this category. However, some simply stated the need for “employment” or a “job.”

Vocational Counseling and Guidance (21.1%)

Some consumers with significant disabilities indicated a need for vocational counseling and guidance. Key phrases in this category include “vocational planning” and “job exploration.”

Support

Among consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds, 20.2% of needs comments involved support. Of these, support needs identified were categorized as financial assistance (75.0%), assistive technology services (12.5%), other (8.3%), orientation/mobility services (4.2%), and transportation (4.2%).

Most Frequently Reported Support Needs

Financial Assistance (75.0%)

Some consumers with significant disabilities from minority backgrounds identified the need for financial assistance, typically for hearing aids, education, or other training. Key words and phrases for this category include “sponsorship” and “financial assistance.”

Service Needs of Consumers with Significant Disabilities from Minority Backgrounds as Reported by WVDRS Field Staff

In compliance with the Rehabilitation Act, the survey asked respondents to identify the top five service needs of individuals from minority backgrounds.  The most commonly reported service needs were Transportation, 2-year to 4-year College, Job Opportunities, Search and Placement, CRP Services, and Training. 

Service Gaps for Consumers with Significant Disabilities from Minority Backgrounds as Reported by WVDRS Field Staff

The percentage of respondents who indicated a gap for the service are in parentheses.

Note: New categories were created to incorporate answers that were not specific to a pre- existing service category from the survey.  For example, the “Overall Training” category was created to include a number of open-ended responses where the respondent indicated a need for training, but not a specific type; for example, “Training options” and “Training services.”

The survey asked, “Select the top five most needed services by your minority consumers with significant disabilities that you work with.”  There were 144 respondents to this question.  The most reported service needs were:

• Transportation (43%)
• 2-year to 4-year college (34%)
• Job Placement (29.9%)
• CRP Services (26.4%)
• Overall Training (26.4%)

Minority Populations

In compliance with the Rehabilitation Act, the survey asked respondents to identify the top five service needs of individuals from minority backgrounds.  The most commonly reported service needs were Transportation (43.1%), 2-year to 4-year College (34%), Job Opportunities, Search and Placement (29.9%), CRP Services (26.4%), and Training (26.4%). 

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Decennial Census, there are approximately 182,967 racial minorities (including multi-racial) in West Virginia, making up 10.2% of the state’s total population. This is a 3.5 percentage point increase from the 2017 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which were used in the PY 2020 WV Unified State Plan. Based on the 2020 Census data, WVDRS exceeded the minority percentage in terms of minority consumers served for PY 2021 (10.7%), PY 2022 (11.3%), and PY 2023 (12.0%).

The 2020 Census Bureau data reveal a total of 14 counties in West Virginia that have minority populations that exceed 3,000: Berkeley (23,795, 19.5% of total county population); Cabell (11,685, 12.4%); Fayette (4,005, 9.9%); Harrison (5,587, 8.5%); Jefferson (10,876, 18.8%); Kanawha (27,108, 15.0%); Marion (5,627, 10.0%); Mercer (7,110, 11.9%); Monongalia (15,810, 14.9%); Ohio (4,656, 11.0%); Preston (3,384, 9.9%); Putnam (4,076, 7.1%); Raleigh (10,566, 14.2%); and Wood (6,126, 7.3%).

In each year since PY 2021, the WVDRS minority service percentage has exceeded the county minority population percentage in only five of the 14 aforementioned counties: Fayette, Kanawha, Mercer, Ohio, and Raleigh. The counties of Berkeley, Cabell, Harrison, Jefferson, Marion, Putnam, and Wood had a WVDRS minority service percentage that met or exceeded the county minority population percentage in at least one PY since 2021. The WVDRS minority service percentage was below the county minority population percentage in each year since PY 2021 for the counties of Monongalia and Preston.

Below is a list of each of these 14 counties (with its respective minority population and percentage in parentheses), followed by the WVDRS minority service percentage for each county in PY 2021, PY 2022, and PY 2023.

Berkeley (23,795, 19.5%): PY 2021 – 15.7%; PY 2022 – 21.6%; PY 2023 – 25.3%

Cabell (11,685, 12.4%): PY 2021 – 10.9%; PY 2022 – 12.4%; PY 2023 13.2%

Fayette (4,005, 9.9%): PY 2021 – 17.0%; PY 2022 – 13.5%; PY 2023 – 14.5%

Harrison (5,587, 8.5%): PY 2021 – 5.6%; PY 2022 – 9.0%; PY 2023 – 10.5%

Jefferson (10,876, 18.8%): PY 2021 – 18.4%; PY 2022 – 20.3%; PY 2023 – 24.5%

Kanawha (27,108, 15.0%): PY 2021 – 18.6%; PY 2022 – 18.3%; PY 2023 – 17.7%

Marion (5,627, 10.0%): PY 2021 – 8.3%; PY 2022 – 12.8%; PY 2023 – 11.3%

Mercer (7,110, 11.9%): PY 2021 – 14.6%; PY 2022 – 16.0%; PY 2023 – 14.6%

Monongalia (15,810, 14.9%): PY 2021 – 10.6%; PY 2022 – 13.1%; PY 2023 – 14.4%

Ohio (4,656, 11.0%): PY 2021 – 12.2%; PY 2022 – 15.6%; PY 2023 – 20.8%

Preston (3,384, 9.9%): PY 2021 – 5.5%; PY 2022 – 3.7%; PY 2023 – 2.7%

Putnam (4,076, 7.1%): PY 2021 – 5.7%; PY 2022 – 7.3%; PY 2023 – 5.2%

Raleigh (10,566, 14.2%): PY 2021 – 15.8%; PY 2022 – 16.0%; PY 2023– 21.1%

Wood (6,126, 7.3%): PY 2021 – 8.5%; PY 2022 – 6.6%; PY 2023 – 6.4%

The 2020 Decennial Census data indicated two counties in West Virginia with a minority population under 3,000 and a county minority population percentage equal to or greater than the State’s minority population percentage of 10.2%: Gilmer (1,382; 18.7%) and Hardy (1,614, 11.3%). Neither of these two counties had a WVDRS minority service percentage higher than its respective county minority population percentage since PY 2021. Below is a list of each of these counties (with its respective minority population and percentage in parentheses), followed by the WVDRS minority service percentage for each county in PY 2021, PY 2022, and PY 2023.

Gilmer (1,382; 18.7%): PY 2021 – 11.1%; PY 2022 – 10.0%; PY 2023 – 11.4%

Hardy (1,614, 11.3%): PY 2021 – 6.2%; PY 2022 – 7.7%; PY 2023 – 6.8%

To determine potentially underserved areas, the average WVDRS minority service percentage for the three-year period (PY 2021– PY 2023) for each county was compared to that county’s total minority population percentage. Counties with mean WVDRS minority service percentages that are lower than their minority population percentage are considered to be potentially underserved. Of the 16 aforementioned counties, eight counties met this criterion: Cabell, Gilmer, Hardy, Harrison, Monongalia, Preston, Putnam, and Wood. It is important to note that as previously described, some of these counties had a minority service percentage that exceeded the county’s minority population percentage in select fiscal years.

WVDRS will expand and enhance its outreach activities, particularly in the counties identified through this process, to ensure awareness of and access to its services in potentially underserved areas and among potentially underserved populations.  WVDRS will continue to work with community partners and stakeholders to maximize the impact of outreach activities and increase referrals.

As has been the case for many years, WVDRS’ direct client services units located at WVDRS’ Nitro location will continue to be critical for WVDRS to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities who would otherwise be unserved and/or underserved, including individuals with disabilities who live in the rural parts of the State, blind and visually impaired individuals, and the deaf and hard of hearing. The WVDRS Environmental Modifications Unit provides consumer services to assure they have the highest level of independence in and around their home and work by providing evaluations, technical assistance, and modifications.