Narrative: k.

Missouri is one of 22 states that have both a general VR agency (Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation-General) and services for the blind VR agency (Rehabilitation Services for the Blind). Each agency serves as equal partners for the vocational rehabilitation program. Research indicates that separate blind agencies, when compared to general/combined agencies, show higher quality services specific to the population (An Update on Services and Outcomes of Blind and Visually Impaired Consumers Served in Separate and General/Combined VR Agencies; Cavenaugh, 2010), resulting in better trained clients ready for the 21st century workforce, higher competitive placement rates, and higher incomes at closure leading toward self-sufficiency for those individuals.

To facilitate the provision of VR services RSB works with employers through a variety of activities at the local level. This allows RSB to identify competitive integrated employment and career exploration opportunities. RSB vocational rehabilitation counselors and job development specialist engage in outreach activities by meeting directly with employers. The direct meetings allow them to identify employment needs and educate employers about the services RSB can offer for their existing and new employees.  

The older tonometers, previously used to screen for glaucoma have been replaced with new Titmus Vision screeners. This provides greater opportunity to engage with potential employers while providing vision screenings to their staff as a win-win for all involved. Each district office and the Prevention of Blindness program has been equipped with the new vision screeners and regularly participate in outreach activities. Outreach activities are extended to employer health fairs, job fairs, chamber of commerce events, lunch and learns, and participation in local Workforce Development Boards.

RSB continues to build out and improve its Job Development Program. The Job Development Team now consists of 4 Job Development Specialists and the Employment Services Coordinator. JDS staff provide information and training to employers and the local Workforce Development Boards.  They also receive feedback beneficial to RSB clients looking for employment. Examples of feedback indicates employer views on employment skills such as soft skills, ensuring the proper credentials for jobs, and also the importance of basic blindness and independent living skills for maintaining employment. 

One example of RSB’s collaboration with Job Centers is exhibited by their collaboration with the Job Centers on their use of Transfr, virtual reality (VR) goggles specifically geared toward career exploration. Through the use of VR goggles users are able to perform specific job tasks/duties in various job roles such as manufacturing, hospitality, health care, welding, etc. RSB’s Job Development unit has worked in conjunction with both Transfr and the Job Centers to assist in enhancing the accessibility of these devices.  This allows clients with low vision to access the device.  RSB feedback has been well received by both Transfr and the Job Centers resulting in improvements to the overall accessibility of these devices.  Recent improvements in accessibility include increased font sizes of text, increased detail of audio descriptions within the simulations, hatching in certain areas of specific simulations (assist with color blindness), and more. 

Job Development Specialists also represent RSB on the Nexus groups located throughout the state. Nexus is a collaboration of experienced employment service providers and local businesses working expand employment opportunities for individuals with barriers to employment. Job Development Specialists receives and distributes job postings to VR staff. 

In addition to jobs with employers some RSB clients have an interest in self-employment. Clients interested in self-employment receive services and assistance in the development of business plans required for self-employment vocational goals. This includes RSB collaboration with Small Business Development Centers, SBDC’s.

RSB has developed relationships with several employers across the state. By communicating directly with HR staff on employment needs RSB can identify employment opportunities, and provide, task analysis, and disability/blindness awareness and sensitivity training. Outreach activities have resulted in competitive integrated employment outcomes. Similarly the relationships have resulted in work experience opportunities, both paid and unpaid, for youth and students with disabilities and adult clients.

In July of 2023, RSB’s Job Development Unit began a partnership with Boeing to provide a seven-week training series to various high-level Boeing team members. This training series is based on the Windmills Training Program. RSB Job Development Specialists provided direct, onsite training to the Boeing team.

The purpose of this training was to partner with the Boeing team to highlight the benefits of employing individuals with disabilities through various training exercises. RSB has also developed relationships with other employers throughout the state such as Bass Pro Shop, O’Reilly Auto Parts), Coca-Cola, Mercy Hospital, FedEx and others.

RSB provides services for students and youth with disabilities. This includes pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities.  RSB uses formal contract agreements with community rehabilitation providers. The purpose of the contracts are for the CRP’s to provide services to clients for job search, job placement and customized employment opportunities. Other services include work-based learning experiences, task analysis, and job coaching when needed.

RSB Pre-Employment Transition Services contracts provide students with disabilities a foundation for the school-to-work transition through employment readiness skills instruction, including work place readiness training, job exploration counseling, and self-advocacy training. In addition to employment readiness instruction the consumer experiences work-based learning for a period of up to sixteen weeks and 120 hours total. During this time the consumers receive on-the-job training and an hourly wage during their placement at a job site. Involvement in this program is intended to increase a consumer’s career awareness, build marketable vocational skills, and support a healthy self-image.

For students with disabilities that have good foundational blindness skills RSB also provides the option of to participate in Work Based Learning Experiences directly with employers. Some examples include WBLE’s in a library, farm, college or university, and an animal clinic. Others included working in retail at a thrift store. RSB partners with Missouri School for the Blind (MSB) to provide a WBLE in collaboration with the Center for Specialized Services (CSS). MSB provides the students and transportation for the program, CSS provides the WBLE itself, and RSB provides funding for the program. In some cases the WBLE’s have resulted in job offers for students. In the summer of 2022 RSB had provided for 14 WBLE’s combined between contracted WBLEs and direct employment WBLES.

Other avenues utilized by RSB to coordinate with employers include:

National Employment Team (NET):

RSB’s Employment Services Coordinator serves as the point of contact for the National Employment Team (NET). Through a national VR team that specializes in employer development, business consulting and corporate relations, the NET creates a coordinated approach to serving both business customers and VR clients through a dual customer approach. This allows RSB another avenue to meet the employment needs of qualified applicants and to provide additional supports to potential employers.

Talent Acquisition Portal:

The online Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP) was built for to further connect VR candidates and businesses. TAP provides businesses with a national talent pool of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) candidates who are actively looking for employment. TAP is led by the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation and the National Employment Team (NET) in partnership with disABLEDperson, Inc. Every RSB counselor and district supervisor has access to TAP and can invite any VR client to enter their information into the system. Counselors can help the client enter information, edit résumés, and send job leads to clients.

Jobs.mo.gov:

RSB’s clients are able to access jobs.mo.gov, a web-based employment resource for clients and employers maintained by the Division of Workforce Development. This site offers clients career planning and job exploration, self-assessment, and wage and trend data to analyze careers, trends and growing occupations in Missouri. Clients are able to search for job orders and referral information from employers for job openings that meet their qualifications. Clients can access other job portals through this system, expanding the search outside of Missouri. Employers can also perform a job search for available applicants that match the skills for their specific employment needs and can access information on incentives, business resources, and recruitment.

Missouri Connections:

Missouri Connections provides interactive career exploration features. This includes information on educational options and degree choices after high school. Schools can upload course lists and customized career plans of study. Sponsored by DESE and the Department of Economic Development (DED), Missouri Connections is free of charge to students, parents, guidance counselors, educators, and job seekers. Through Missouri Connections, the Division of Workforce Development, under DED, Department of Higher Education, RSB and other WIOA core partners and local school districts can utilize the same career planning tool with their clients/students.