Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for State Vocational Rehabilitation (Blind)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by sections 101(a) and 606 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA.
a. 5. Provide the VR agency’s response to the Council’s input and recommendations, including an explanation for the rejection of any input and recommendations.
List each recommendation/input followed by the VR agency response
Current Narrative:
- The council recommended and RSB agreed to use public eye screening events to promote and recruit individuals for VR services. RSB presented to the council about client recruitment efforts. This includes the implementation of the Client Recruitment Team (CRT) started in January 2022. The CRT is charged with developing case finding strategies to improve overall outreach regarding RSB’s programs and services. The council was informed that Prevention of Blindness (POB) Program’s “Glaucoma Screenings” have been replaced with a more comprehensive vision screening tool. POB and CRT have provided outreach throughout the state in various venues including discrete vision screening services, and with employers as part of their health initiatives. POB has recently presented to and begun working with Local Public Health Agencies (LPHAs) to provide further outreach and education at their local health fairs, and has provided discrete vision screening events at their health centers.
- The council recommended full and continued use of the electronic system to accept referrals for VR services due to an increased rate in total numbers and RSB response in the first three months. The option for electronic referrals has allowed for easier processing of referrals. The Electronic Referral form went live in April 2022.
- The SRC has provided input on improving survey participation rates and survey procedure. The suggestions included providing surveys immediately upon case closure. They provided input on expanding options for completion of the surveys such as the phone, and suggested an incentive for those who complete the surveys. RSB rejected recommendation for an incentive. Monetary incentives are not an allowable expense.
- The SRC recommended updating the client satisfaction survey questions. The survey was reviewed by the SRC Evaluations committee and suggested updates implemented by RSB.