Narrative: b. 1. B.

RSB consistently advocates to extend quality services to the unserved and underserved.  Minority income has increased from $439.84 average weekly income in PY 2020 to $487.70 in PY 2021 and to $538.38 in PY 2022. This differs to the income of non-minority individuals whose income was $740.05 in PY 2021 to $728.14 in PY 2022.

RSB’s vocational rehabilitation program serves a higher percentage of minorities than is in Missouri’s general population.  For example the percent of African Americans served in the RSB vocational rehabilitation program triples that of the general population 32.65% to 10.8% in 2022.  RSB’s total served in the VR program for those reporting Hispanic heritage 2.22% in 2022 compared to 4.6% in the general population. 

African American population:

The percent of successful closures that are of the African American population is 30.39% for PY 2021 and 24.59% for PY 2022. 

• Career Services –This includes a comprehensive assessment to help determine career goals, development of an IPE, and assistance with job search and job placement within local communities if desired.
• Training and support services – Services include college, occupational, vocational, customized, literacy, job readiness, disability-related skills training, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and work-based learning experiences.
• Assistive Technology Services – RSB provides assistive technology services to accommodate the individual needs of clients in employment.  This includes assessment and training to ensure the most appropriate accommodations for the job.
• SE Services – If RSB clients require additional supports, RSB staff work with vendors to provide supported employment services and extended supports where necessary.

Hispanic American population:

The percent of successful closures that are in the Hispanic population was 2.21% for PY 2021 and 3.83% for PY 2022.  A determination of the following services is based upon a comprehensive assessment:

• Spanish Language Brochures – RSB provides Spanish-translated brochures available on its website and on outreach events.
• Career Services –This includes a comprehensive assessment to help determine career goals, development of an IPE, and assistance with job search and job placement within local communities if desired.
• Training and support services – Services include college, occupational, vocational, customized, literacy, job readiness, disability-related skills training, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and work-based learning experiences.
• Assistive Technology Services – RSB provides assistive technology services to accommodate the individual needs of clients in employment.  This includes assessment and training to ensure the most appropriate accommodations for the job.
• SE Services – If RSB clients require additional supports, RSB staff work with vendors to provide supported employment services and extended supports where necessary.
• Benefits Counseling - Provides an analysis of an individual’s current benefits, such as SSDI and SSI, the individual’s financial situation, and the effect different income levels from work will have on the individual’s future financial situation. This service is intended to provide the individual an opportunity to make an informed choice regarding the pursuit of employment.

Deaf-Blind American population:

RSB contracts with the Helen Keller National Center to provide comprehensive personal and vocational adjustment services to individuals who are deaf-blind. RSB identified 14 individuals who received vocational rehabilitation services with dual diagnosis of vision and hearing loss in PY 2021 and 19 in PY 2022.  A comprehensive needs assessment shows the needs of the deaf-blind population to include:

• Interpreter Services – RSB provides American Sign Language interpreter services when needed to ensure accurate communication between client and staff.  Additionally RSB has provided tactile sign language interpreters when needed.
• Career Services –This includes a comprehensive assessment to help determine career goals, development of an IPE, and assistance with job search and job placement within local communities if desired.
• Training and support services – Services include college, occupational, vocational, customized, literacy, job readiness, disability-related skills training, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and work-based learning experiences.  Additionally RSB has provided residential based comprehensive vocational and personal adjustment services specifically tailored to deaf-blind individuals at the Hellen Keller National Center.
• Assistive Technology Services – RSB provides assistive technology services to accommodate the individual needs of clients in employment.  This includes assessment and training to ensure the most appropriate accommodations for the job.
• SE Services – If RSB clients require additional supports, RSB staff work with vendors to provide supported employment services and extended supports where necessary.
• Benefits Counseling - Provides an analysis of an individual’s current benefits, such as SSDI and SSI, the individual’s financial situation, and the effect different income levels from work will have on the individual’s future financial situation. This service is intended to provide the individual an opportunity to make an informed choice regarding the pursuit of employment.

American Women’s population:

RSB’s policies and practices have fared well in serving the population of women in vocational rehabilitation programs. In PY 2021 and PY 2022 50% of the total served were women. In PY 2021 and PY 2022 women made up 49.7% of the successful closures with an average weekly income of $720.80 and $629.21 respectively.  A determination of the following services is based upon a comprehensive assessment:

• Career Services –This includes a comprehensive assessment to help determine career goals, development of an IPE, and assistance with job search and job placement within local communities if desired.
• Training and support services – Services include college, occupational, vocational, customized, literacy, job readiness, disability-related skills training, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and work-based learning experiences.
• Assistive Technology Services – RSB provides assistive technology services to accommodate the individual needs of clients in employment.  This includes assessment and training to ensure the most appropriate accommodations for the job.
• SE Services – If RSB clients require additional supports, RSB staff work with vendors to provide supported employment services and extended supports where necessary.
• Benefits Counseling - Provides an analysis of an individual’s current benefits, such as SSDI and SSI, the individual’s financial situation, and the effect different income levels from work will have on the individual’s future financial situation. This service is intended to provide the individual an opportunity to make an informed choice regarding the pursuit of employment.