Annual report, 1998 / Georgia Division of Rehabilitative Services, State Rehabilitation Council

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MAR 15 2002
DOCUMENTS UGA LIBRARIES
GEORGIA ANNUAL REPORT
1998

Membership
M embership to the sixteen+person State Rehabilication Council is ba~d on the federal regulations outlined in the 1998 amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. Appointments arc made by the Governor 10 include citizens and advocates with varied backgrounds, representing geographic and ethnic diversity. The majority of members are _ people widl disabilities (7), or family members of people with disabilities (6).

Member, 1997-19981---------1

ANNErrE BOWLING, CHAJRPERSO Executive Director Albany Association for Retarded Citizens
RAy BISHOP, VICE CHAIRPERSON
Executive Director Goodwill Industries of Adanta
LAIUlY BECK
Ficld Services Manager Georgia Department of Labor
MI<;:HAEL COX
Senior Procurement A.nalyst Westinghouse Savannah River Company
KENT EAIlNHARDT, PH.D. Attorney/Consultant
NATHANlEl Fox, PH.D.
Retiree, United St~ltes Air Force
HELEN HILL. Eo.D., LPC
Director of Student Support Services Georgia College ,mcl St.lte University

ANNIE KWAN Director of Human Resources Hyatt Regency Sujtcs
CHARLES MAUTIN
Anorne)' Director, Client Assistance Program
LEE MILLER
Attorney/International Consultant
PAT PUCKET!"
Executive Director Statewide Independent Living Council
LINDA SHEPHERD
Executive Director Parents Educating Parents and
Professionals
CHARLES VANDIVIER Self Employed
TIM WILLIS
P-.tralympic Athlete, Law Student, Speaker

Strategic Changes

The Statewide Vocational Rehabilitation Advisory Council was established in accordance with the 1992 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, ,mel convened for the nrst time in 1993. Recent legislation resulted in significant changes in the composition and purpose of the Council.

The reauthorization of the Act and the 1998 Amendments changed the name of the group to the State Rehabilitation Council to focus on its role as a joint partner with significant responsibilities for assisting the Georgia Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) in the .dTect.ive delivery of vocational rehabilitation services. The Council and the DRS arc to jointly develop, agree to and review annuajly critical elements of Jhe Vocational Rehabilitation State Plan. The Council's involvement emphasizes analysis of information concerning statewide I~eeds, goals and priorities, as well as evaluation of the state~s effectiveness in meeting goals and performance standards.

The 1998 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Ap were made to ~create linkage between State vocational rehabilitation programs and workforce activities carried out under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 ..." Under the guidelines of the Workforce Investmelll Act, the Vocational Rehabilitation State Plan is to be submitted to the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) simultaneously with the Workforce Investment P,Ian that is submittcd to thc U.S. Departmem of Labor. The Workforce Investment Board, on which the DRS has representation, may also elect to submit a unified plan.

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As a result of tbe 1998 Amendments, appointments to the Council are made by the

Governor, not:l designee. Further, two members from ncw categories will be appointed

one reprcsentative from the Workforce Investment Board, and one representative from the

st:lte agency responsible for the lnclividuals with Disabilities Educarion Acr, i.e., the

Georgia Deparrmcnt of Education.

Values
Work is a valued activity, both for individuals and society; and fulfills tbe need oJ an individual to be productive, promotes independence, enhances self-esteem, and allows for jJCwticijJation in [be mainstream oj life in the United States;
As a groujJ, individuals with disabilities e:\1Jerience staggering levels oj unemployment and /Joverty;
Individuals with disabilities, including individuals witb (be most significant disabilities, have demonstrated their ability to achieve gainful employment in integrated set-
tings if appropriate services and sUjJports am jJrovided;
The provision oj workforce investment activities and vocational mbabilitation services can ellclbte individuals with disabilities, inclluli~lg individuals witb tbe most Significant disabilities, to pm'sue meaningful careers by securing gainfuL employment C01J1:mellsurate witb tbelt abilities and capabilities.
THE REHABILITATION Acr OF 1973 As AMENDED, 1998
The Council wholeheartedly embraces and adopts the above statements as the focal point of its gUiding principles. Because of its work, the Council is a significant resource for, and partner with, the Division of Rehabilitation Services. Most importantly, the Council and its individual members value: '
PerSOlls with disabilities, and believe their individuality should be recognized
and respected.
EUlployers, who along with us seek to include and integrate people with disabilities
into the mainstream of business and SOCiety...
Tealnwork, and acknowledge each other's expertise, contributions and opinions in a
nonjudgmental atmosphere...
Leadersf.!ip, .and a commitment to integrity, accountability and innovation.
Collaboration, and a dedication to forming working partnerships with individuals
and groups who understand th;lt the disability community does not exist in isolation and agree that cooperation results in mutual benefit.
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A Message from the Chair
December, 1998
Dear Friends and Colleagues: \'(Ie have just completed another critical year in our development as a committed partner with the Division of Rehabilitation Services. It has been <Ill ambitious year as we have sought to build new strategies, structures and functions that will better meet our customers' expectations. It has also been a ch~ILlengi.ng one as we cdntinue to support DRS in the arduous work of completing the implementation of the new vocational rehabil-
itation service delivery system. Much has been learned about our importance of assuming a leadership role in d~velop
ing partnerships with other Councils, vocational rehabilitation providers, and consumer and advocacy groups. Tllis will serve us well as we broaden our collaborative efforts, and set in motion the work needed to establish the crucial linkages called for by the Workforce Investment Act.
In moving forward with our goals for 1999, we must never lose sight of our mission to assist Georgians with disabilities in obtaining satisfying employment. We must be always cognizant of advancing a common agenda for the benefit of persons with disabilities, and steadfast in our efforts to be a resource and proactive partner with the Division of Rehabilitation Services',We must continue to explore new opportunities for networking in the disability commullity. And we must reaffirm our commitment to our business and labor customers that all our efforts are designed to help persons with disabilities become productive members of their organizations and society in general.
As we pursue our future efforts in the full spirit of these commitments, all Georgians will benefit significantly,
Sincerely,
Annette Bowling Chairperson
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Responsibilities

The State Rehabilitation Council is charged with advising the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) with regard to its performance and ability to provide quality vocational rehabilitation services to consumers. Key functions focus on:

Reviewing and analyzing DRS performance regarding consumer eligibility (including order of selection), the.: effectiveness of rehabilitation services and the results of these functions that affect the achievement of positive results from service to persons with disabilities.

Advising and assisting DRS regarding the State Plan and amendments to the Plan, as well as required applications, repofts, needs assessments and evaluations.

Conducting consumer needs <Issessrncnts, and reviewing and analyzing cutomer satisfaction with regard to' all DRS services that influence the rehabilitation process.

Preparing an annual report for the Governor on the status of the Vocational Rehabilitation program in Georgia.

Coordinating with other statewide councils on disability issues and activities.

The Council's efforts in 1998 were -Iarge.ly devoted to continuing to assist DRS with the implementation of the massive changes called for in the iJdical redesign of the vocational reh,ibilitation service delivery system. Key changes included establishing over fIfty (50) local hub offices, acquiring the appropriate computer and communications equipment to allow hub office staff minimal virtual office operdtions, and training and educating new and reassigned VR staff tp carry out their redesigned roles in a demand-side employment market envirolUnent.

DRS'staff are to be applauded for their tireless efforts to assist people with disabilities

to work. The Council will continue to support the staff as they complete, refine, ,mel in

some cases, initiate changes in the VR service delivery system, to the mutual satisfaction

of all parties,

...

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Milestones

TIle Council's assessment ofVR service deliv~ry effectiveness is based on measured performance outcomes. In State Fiscal Year 1998, the Division of Rehabilitation Services exceeded every major 1997 indicator:

Georgians Served by Primary Disability

Visual

Hearing

Orthopedic

Splnal Cord Injured

Amputations _ !III)~

Mental Impairment

Alcohol & Drugs

PeMrseonntaaliltlyy

Djsorders~;!~i~~
Retarded

Others

'.'

Cardiovascular "Wi%
TrauLmeaartnicinBgraDiin sInajbuirelditieS~~:iS

Undetermined
o

"""''''---+----+----ir------j
1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

SFY 97

- .SFY 98

.....-------Nolew0I"tAy Meas\;Jfes,-------..1
10% increase in employment outcomes, from.2,929 to 3,225
85% of employment outcomes - 2,755 - were competitive 11.5% morc competitively employed clients worked over
30 hours per week 14% increase in average weekly wage, from $203 to $230
29% increase in number of jobs in professional and/or managerial occupations
The number of employers hiring clients increased by 194 for a total of 2,297
New referrals increased by 19% - from 7,621 to 9,075 New work plans increased by 23% -. from 4,934 to 6,087
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l
Activities and Accomplishments
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Perhaps the best way the Council may help to determine how effectively DRS conducts the business of vocational rehabilitation service delivery is to gain an understanding of customer satisfaction. Newly designed client and employer satisfaction surveys were implemented in 1998, and the qualitative data received has been encouraging. A substantial majority of respondents from boch client !llle! employer sectors identified numerous positive measures - accessibility of office locations; easy access to friendly and helpful VR staff; high levels of involvement in developing individual work pl,U1S, with consistent interaction regarding choices and options; appropriate and thorough job preparation; and, most critically, quality of actual employment situations.
A client survey targeting students with disabilities in post-secondary institutions was also administeted, with such measures as timely appointments, accessible offices, and comfort level with and professionalism ofVR staff among the iJldicators. Survey results were very complimentary. The majority of respondents were satisfied with tbe level ;uld quality of services they received.
GeeFlie G~mmittee eA . mploymeAt If ~eep ~Wlt isel3ilities
The Georgia Committee, established in 1995 at the recommendation of the Council chairperson and unanimously approved by the membership, acts as liaison to the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. The Georgia Committee interacts locally with Mayor's Committees, of whid~ there are currently 17, which cmphasize activities during October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month. AdditionaUy the US Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance, joined with the Georgia Committee in a precedent-setting Memo of Understanding that provides for cross training and mutual support of appropriate programs.
Since its inception, the Georgia Committee has targeted three areas for statewide projccts: the Business Leadership Network and High SchoollJ-ligh Tech are in eftect;YoutJl Leadership will begin in t.\ugust, 2000.
Business Leadership Network - This initiative seeks ultimately to increase the
number of employers who offer job opportunities tor persons with disabilities. The concept is based on employer to employer communication ~ to enlist the help of business leaders who understand the benefits of hiring and promoting persons with disabilities, and encourage them to share their successful employment exp~rienceswith others. There arc .. currently almost 80 companies on the Georgia BLN membership roll, representing large, mid-size and small businesses. A List of BLN participants is available upon request.
Noteworthy events tor the GBLN included two "kick-off" meetings. TIle AtI,U1ta gathering was highlighted by keynote remarks from Senator Paul Coverdell, and ,m executive seminar on the BLN model presented by the BLN Manager of lhe President's Committee. 'nle Albany meeting was also ,mended by the President's Committee represenmtive, as weU as the president of Albany State University and the former EEO Director of the NASA Kennedy Space Center.
GBLN mcmbers participated in a national BLN meeting in Dallas,Tcxas, and made presentations at a I3LN symposium in lUchmond, Virginia, <IS weU as the President's Committee Annual Conference in New Orleans. The latter event included a GBLN workshop on resume preparation and interview techniques tOr today's competency-based staffing environment.
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Georgia High School/High Tech - A collaborative dfort among several influen-
tial groups, High School/High Tech encourages students with disabilities to explore the career fields of science, engineering and teclmology, and other related areas. Its pre-eminent goal is to ensure that young people wid1 disabilities be prepared to enter and be s.uccessful in the technology-driven workforce of the 90s and beyond.
On a fast trJck in 1998 thanks to the full commitment of DRS, which assigned HSjHT Initiative Coordinators in each of its twelve regions, Georgia has 21 ptqgrams statewide the most of any state involved. Several of the programs are in rural areas and provide an otherwise unrealized opportunity for students to progress into high tech education and employment opportunities. NASA, which partially funds the project in Georgia, renewed its grant with Albany State University for a second year, and also initiated a new grant to collaborate with Savannah State University. 111e Georgia Department of Education and State School Superintendent are committed partners in this venture.
Activities incorporated internships, college entry workshops and summer employment. Site visits included Cable News Network (CNN), the "Space Congress" at Kennedy Space Center to meet the astronauts and explore e...xhibits of companies providing services to NASA, and the ultinmte highlight - a trip to the Cape Canaveral, this year to view the historic shuttle launch carrying former astronaut ,md Senator John Glenn.
National recognition for Georgia's HS/HT efforts included an "outstanding accomplish ments" commendation from the President's Committee, and an invitation to join Vice President Gore and others in a panel discussion for the Presidential Task Force on . Employment of Adults with Dis<lbilities. Intern<ltional attention. was captured when the Committee chairperson, a re<:~nt appointee to the Executive Board of the President's Committee, made a case-study presentation to the European Union-United States Conference on I-ligh Tech Employment for people with disabiJities in Madrid, Spain. The DRS-funded videotape used in Madrid so impr.essed the President's Committee that it will be used to encourage repl.ication of the "Georgia Model" nationwide.
In a particularly critic'll legislative and election year, statewide and nationa.l1y, monitoring the issues that could potentia.l1y affect persons with disabilities occupied much of the . Council's time.The CounciJ and other advocates for persons with disabilities strongly supported and scored a major victory with the passage of S8 110, which allowec,1 for increased penalties for violations involVing driving under the influence of <lleohol or drugs, and allocated those funds to create a Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund. Support for HB 1621, which prOVides a tax credit for the purchase of or retrofitting single-family homes with acceSSibility fea[Ures, also achieved positive results. All budget items related to the enlployment of persons with disabilities were strongly endorsed, especially those designated to implement the Assistive Work Technology program. The Council also gave its full support to the reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act <IS a vital piece of federal legislation that is critical to increasing viable employment for persons with disabilities.
Collaborations with the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities included gUidance and participation at a statewide Candidate'S Forum prior to the November elections, coordinating a cultural diversity workshop at Columbus State University, ,md statewide Voter Registration Training Sessions to encourage persons with disabilities to become informed members of the electorate who are their own best advocates.
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Priorities At A Glance -1999
o Support the DRS FY2000 budget request. o Identify key legislative issues for individuals with disabilities. o Work with employers to increase employment of people
with disabilities.
o Support the DRS efforts to attain the FY99 goal of 3,661 successful
employment outcomes for persons with disabilities, whic::h denotes a 25% increase over the FY97 baseline of 2,929.
<> Retool the existing Customer Satisfaction Survey system to refine the
effectiveness of the survey instruments, to increase the participant resp.onse rate and to expand the survey instrument to include needs assessment and work incentives questions.
o Educate state legislators about the critical need for consistent ser-
vices to persons with disabilities, and strongly advocate for an aligned, singJe~voice position on common issues.
o Work diligently to establish partnerships with those individuals and
entities who are similarly committed to carrying Ollt the mandates
of the Workforce Investment Act.
o Continue active participation in the unified transportation disclIs-
sions, ancl consistently advocate for reasonable options in rural transportation.
o Explore options with key education partners (DOE, DTAE and the
University System) to develop a system of earlier identification of
and intervention with students with disabilities.
o Provide advice and counsel to the Division of Rehabilitation Services
regarding the design and implementation of its Comprehensive
System of Personnel Development (CSPD).
o Expand the activities of the Georgia Committee on Employment of
People with Disabilities as appropriate.
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Vocational Rehabilitation Program Offices

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VR Unit at RWSIR

Business Enterprise Program Office

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State Rehabilitation Council
2 Peachtree Street, NW
35th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3142
Phone: 404-657-3023 Fax: 404-463-6424 D;rectTI'Y: 404-657-3000
Georgia Relay Service Voice: 1800-255-0135
Georg;a Ilelay Serv;ceTlY 1-800-255-0056
E-mail: nabannan@dhr.state.ga.lIs
DRS is a Division of The Geo'ogia Department of Human Resounes