Narrative: j. 1. C.

IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE BEEN UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED BY DRS

As has been the case for many years, DRS’ direct client services units located at DRS’ Nitro location will continue to be critical for DRS 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 part of the State, blind and visually impaired individuals, and the deaf and hard of hearing.  The DRS 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.  

According to the 2017 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (which are the most recent estimates available as of October 1, 2019) there are approximately 122,252 racial minorities (including multi-racial) in West Virginia, making up 6.7% of the state’s total population. Since FY 2015, DRS has slightly exceeded this percentage in terms of minority consumers served (8.4%, 8.1%, 8.3%, 8.8%, and 8.7% for FY 2015, FY 2016, FY 2017, FY 2018, and FY 2019, respectively), indicating overall equal access to services.

2017 ACS 5-Year Estimates data reveals that nine counties in West Virginia have minority populations that exceed 3,000: Berkeley (14,229, 12.7% of total county population); Cabell (8,680, 9.0%); Jefferson (6,947, 12.5%); Kanawha (21,557, 11.5%); Marion (3,452, 6.1%); Mercer (5,364, 8.8%); Monongalia (10,424, 10.1%); Raleigh (9,200, 11.9%); and Wood (3,110, 3.6%).

In each year since FY 2015, the DRS minority service percentage has exceeded the county minority population percentage for eight of the nine aforementioned counties: Berkeley, Cabell, Jefferson, Kanawha, Marion, Mercer, Raleigh, and Wood. The DRS minority service percentage was below the county minority population percentage in each year since FY 2015 for Monongalia county. Below is a list of each of these nine counties (with its respective minority population and percentage in parentheses), followed by the DRS minority service percentage for each county in FY 2015, FY 2016, FY 2017, FY 2018, and FY 2019.

Berkeley (14,229, 12.7%): FY 2015 – 18.1%; FY 2016 – 19.4%; FY 2017 – 18.9%; FY 2018 – 14.1%; FY 2019 – 15.0%

Cabell (8,680, 9.0%): FY 2015 – 10.7%; FY 2016 – 11.0%; FY 2017 – 13.0%; FY 2018 – 15.1%; FY 2019 – 14.0%

Jefferson (6,947, 12.5%): FY 2015 – 18.0%; FY 2016 – 13.4%; FY 2017 – 14.0%; FY 2018 – 15.6%; FY 2019 – 16.6%

Kanawha (21,557, 11.5%): FY 2015 – 18.5%; FY 2016 – 16.8%; FY 2017 – 15.6%; FY 2018 – 16.1%; FY 2019 – 15.9%

Marion (3,452, 6.1%): FY 2015 – 9.1%; FY 2016 – 8.1%; FY 2017 – 7.0%; FY 2018 – 10.2%; FY 2019 – 6.4%

Mercer (5,364, 8.8%): FY 2015 – 13.2%; FY 2016 – 14.5%; FY 2017 – 12.3%; FY 2018 – 13.8%; FY 2019 – 15.2%

Monongalia (10,424, 10.1%): FY 2015 – 7.9%; FY 2016 – 7.7%; FY 2017 – 9.5%; FY 2018 – 8.5%; FY 2019 – 7.4%

Raleigh (9,200, 11.9%): FY 2015 – 14.7%; FY 2016 – 13.5%; FY 2017 – 13.2%; FY 2018 – 13.7%; FY 2019 – 13.1%

Wood (3,110, 3.6%): FY 2015 – 6.3%; FY 2016 – 4.9%; FY 2017 – 5.2%; FY 2018 – 5.0%; FY 2019 – 6.0%

In addition, the 2017 ACS 5-Year Estimates data indicated five additional counties in West Virginia with a minority population under 3,000 and a county minority population percentage greater than the State’s minority population percentage of 6.7%: Gilmer (1,484; 17.9%), McDowell (2,132; 10.8%), Ohio (2,930; 6.8%), Preston (2,274; 6.7%), and Summers (968; 7.3%). Of these five counties, only Ohio County had a DRS minority service percentage (8.8% in FY 2015, 9.4% in FY 2016, 9.3% in FY 2017, 10.9% in FY 2018, and 12.6% in FY 2019) consistently higher than its county minority population percentage (6.8%). No minorities were served by DRS in FY 2015 and FY 2016 in Gilmer County. Below is a list of each of these five counties (with its respective minority population and percentage in parentheses), followed by the DRS minority service percentage for each county in FY 2015, FY 2016, FY 2017, FY 2018, and FY 2019.

Gilmer (1,484; 17.9%): FY 2015 – 0.0%; FY 2016 – 0.0%; FY 2017 – 6.3%; FY 2018 – 13.8%; FY 2019 – 14.3%

McDowell (2,132; 10.8%): FY 2015 – 11.4%; FY 2016 – 7.9%; FY 2017 – 6.7%; FY 2018 – 8.9%; FY 2019 – 10.7%

Ohio (2,930; 6.8%): FY 2015 – 8.8%; FY 2016 – 9.4%; FY 2017 – 9.3%; FY 2018 – 10.9%; FY 2019 – 12.6%

Preston (2,274; 6.7%): FY 2015 – 4.4%; FY 2016 – 5.6%; FY 2017 – 6.7%; FY 2018 – 6.5%; FY 2019 – 9.6%

Summers (968; 7.3%): FY 2015 – 3.4%; FY 2016 – 4.8%; FY 2017 – 7.1%; FY 2018 – 8.6%; FY 2019 – 6.5%

To determine potentially underserved areas, the DRS minority service percentage for the five–year period (FY 2015 – FY 2019) for each county was compared to that county’s minority population percentage. Counties with mean DRS minority service percentages that are lower than the minority population percentage are considered to be potentially underserved. Of the 14 aforementioned counties, only 5 counties met this criterion: Gilmer, McDowell, Monongalia, Preston, and Summers counties.

DRS utilized geographic information systems (GIS) to pinpoint potential underserved zip codes in Gilmer, McDowell, Monongalia, Preston, and Summers counties. Zip codes that meet two criteria are identified as potential underserved areas: (1) the zip code has a minority population greater than or equal to 50 and (2) there are 10 or fewer minority consumers (as of October, 2019) reported in the agency’s database over the last four fiscal years. Applying these criteria reveals 11 potentially underserved zip codes; 1 in Gilmer County (Sand Fork), 2 in McDowell County (Big Sandy and Maybeury), 2 in Monongalia County (Granville and Osage), 4 in Preston County (Albright, Bruceton Mills, Kingwood, and Terra Alta), and 2 in Summers County (Hinton and Pipestem). DRS will pursue outreach efforts in these zip codes to market and expand VR services to individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds.