Annual report, 2000 / Georgia Division of Rehabilitative Services, State Rehabilitation Council

State Rehabi Iitation Council
Georgia Annual Report
2000

State Rehabilitation Council

Membership to the sixteen-person State Re habilitation Council (SRC) is based on the federal requirements outlined in the 1998 amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. Appointments are made by the Governor to include citizens and advocates with varied backgrounds, represe nting geographic and ethnic diversity, as well as one representative from the Georgia Workforce Investment Board, and one from the state age ncy responsible for the Individuals with Disabilities Act, i.e., the Georgia De partment of Education.
The majority of members of the 1999-2000 SRC are people with disabilities (7), or fam ily members of people w ith disabilities (6). Me mbership has not been finalized for 2000-2001.
Purpose
The Counc il e mphasizes its role as a joint partner with the Georgia Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), with significant responsibilities for e nsuring the effective deUvery of vocational re habilitation (VR) services.
The Council and the DRS jointly develop , agree to and review annually critical eleme nts of the Vocational Rehabilitation State Plan. Specifically, the Counc il's principle involve ment focuses on the analysis of information concerning statewide needs, goals ~md priorities, as well as an evaluation of the state 's effectiveness in meeting goals and pe rformance standards.

Members, 1999-2000
Annette Bowling, Chairpers<)n Executive Director Albany Advocacy Resource Center
Ray Bis hop, Vice Chairperson Execmive Director Goodwill Industries of North Georgia
Larry Beck Field Services Manager Georgia Department of Labor
Kent Earnhardt, Ph.D. Attorney/ Consultant
Nathaniel Fox, Ph.D. Retiree. United States Air Force
Helen Hill. Ed.D., LPC D irector of Student Support Services Georgia College and State University
Annie Kwan Director o f Human Resources Hyatt Regency Suites
Charles Martin Attorney Director, Client Assistance Prog1~1m
Lt:t: Mille.Attorney
Pat Puckett Executive Director Statewide Independent Living Coull(;il
Linda Shepherd Executive Dir ector Parents Educating Parents and Professionals
Charles VanDiviere Self Employed, SILC Member
Tim Willis Pa1~1lympic Ath lete, Attorncy, Speak er

A Message from the Chair

December, 2000

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

It has been a precedent-setting year in the history of the Georgia Division

of Rehabilitation Services.With the passage of Georgia HB 172, authorizing

the merger of the Division of Rehabilitation Services with the Georgia Department of

Labor, we began a new era to ensure that persons with disabilities may follow an

unfettered path to success in work. This monumental step signaled implementing the

Workforce Investment Act of 1998 in earnest. Our sincere desire is to now move for-

ward to carry out the spirit as well as the intent of the law- to integrate, coordinate

and improve all services designed to help persons with disabilities achieve independ-

ence and self esteem through meaningful employment.

As a significant resource for the Vocational Rehabilitation program and a partner with

the Division of Rehabilitation Services, the Council's goals for 2001 will continue to focus

on the mission to assist Georgians with disabilities to obtain satisfying employment. We

value and respect our role as a voice for persons with disabilities in Georgia, and we will

strive to promote a common agenda for the benefit of persons with disabilities.

The Council is prepared to work diligently to explore and put into practice new

strategies that will meet our customers' highest expectations. We are grateful to our

existing committed partners, and we also look forward to pursuing new collaborations,

and promoting dialogue among those who wish to join our unified voice in advocating

for persons with disabilities in their quest to become productive me mbers of society.

CL_ & Sincerely,
Annette Bowling Chairperson

~ '

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Work is a valued activity, both for individuals and society; and fulfills the need of an individual to be productive, promotes independence, enhances self-esteem, and allows fo r participation in the mainstream of life in the United States.
The provision of workforce investment
activities and vocational rehabilitation services can enable individuals with disabilities.
including individuals with the mast
significant disabilities. to pursue meaningful careers by securing gainful employment commensurate with their abilities and capabilities.
'll!e Re/J11/Jimalio11 Ac/ of 1973 Ar Amended, 1998

The Council embraces the Rehabilitation Act and its amendments as the fo undation that will help ta ensure a successful future for persons with disabilities in Georgia. We further pledge to express our operating principles through meaningful actions. Individually and collectively, Council members value:
Persons wilih disabilities, and believe their individuality should be recognized and respected...
Employers, wha alsa seek ta include and integrate people with disabilities int the mainstreamof business and society...
Teamwork, and each other's expertise. cantributians and pinions...
Leadership, and a commitment to integrity, accountability and innovation...
Collaboration, and a dedication to forming working partnerships with individuals and groups who understand that the disability community does not exist in isolation and agree that cooperation results in mutual benefit.

A ctiv it ies and A cconrplishnrents
Custmmer Satisfaction Surveys The SRC ser ves as an independent evaluator w hen it comes time to determine how
effective ly DRS conducts the business of the vocational rehabilitation service delivery system. In its analysis of customer satisfactio n survey responses, the Counc il is pleased to note that, as usual, the q ualitative data received was entirely favorable. Virtually all respondents pointed out such p ositive criteria as the courteous, friendly and knowledgeable VR staff; the cooperative and coordinated development of individual work plans; meaningful interaction regarding clients' c hoices and options; substantial and thorough job preparation; and, most critically, the consistent quality of actual employment situations.
With an eye toward increasing the response rate ;md collecting more extensive data from w hich to assess VR's effecti veness, the Council accepted the final recommendation of Dr. Ralph Crystal, a VR consul tant at t he University of Kentucky, regardi ng a more sophisticated and thorough survey instrument. It w ill include demographic information as well as VH service deliver y q uestions; a te lepho ne "hot line" assistance system w ill also be utilized . A p ilot test is set to begin in the first quarter of SFY 2002.
S t ate Rehabilitation Council Annual Report 2000 5

Responsibilities

The Sl:ial:ie Rehabilil:ial:iion Council's key federal mandal:ies focus on:
Reviewing and analyzing ORS's performance in the delivery of rehabilitation services
Advising and assisting ORS in the development of the State Plan for vocational rehabilitation services
Conducting consumer needs assessments, and reviewing and analyzing customer satisfaction with regard to ORS services that influence the rehabilitation process
Coordinating with other statewide councils on disability issues and activities

The Council cast a wide net during the year. The various efforts that it became involved in or otherwise endorsed. clearly reflected the collaborative nature of building an inclusive world cl.ass Georgia workforce.
Significant commitments included offering guidance and leadership to the Division of Family and Children Services (OFCS) to ensure that it is abiding by the letter and spirit of the AA in relation to its clients... affirming the value of expanding vocational rehabilitation services to traditionally under served or unserved populations. such as the Lower Muskogee Creek Indians and persons with disabilities who are Hispanic... and acknowledging the contribution of community rehabilitation facilities while also championing th~ t;ritical necessity of a public vocational rehabilitation system.
The Council also fulfilled its responsibility regarding reports from the Client Assistance Program (CAP). whose work helps VR clients and applicants who have had difficulties obtaining the assistance sought from the agency. The SRCutilized the case summaries and statistical data presented by the CAP director in its review of the VR State Plan and other advice to the agency.

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Georgia Committee o n Employment
of Peo p le \Nith Disabilities
The Georgia Committee serves as liaison to the President 's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, and administers four national initiatives for statewide implementation: the Business Leadership Network, High School/High Tech, Youth Leadership Forum and Project Employ.
Dedicated to increasing the number of employers who offer job opportunities for persons with disabilities, Georgia's Business Leade rship Network (GBLN) is comprised of more than 100 large, mid-size and small businesses. Oarold Sawyer, IBM, chairs the effort;Jerry Kirby, Lockheed-Martin, serves as co-chair.
A major GBLN effort during 2000 focused on October's National Mentoring Day. Several Cobb County and City ofAtlanta students participated in activities at Bank of America in metro Atlanta and Alpharetta, students from Richmond County were mentored at Fort Gordon in satellite and gmphic arts training, and DeKalb Cotmty young people were matched with Georgia Department of tabor staff mentors who shared their vocational interests.
GBLN also co-sponsored a very successful Atlanta Employment Fair, a part of the President's Committee Employment Fair National Tour. Thirty-two employer/exhibitors had the opportunity to discuss job possibilities with more than 120 registrants.
The principal goal of Georgia High Sch ool/High Tech (HS/HT), a collaborative effort among several influential groups, is to ensure that young people with disabilities are prepared to enter and be successful in today's technology-drive n workforce. T hrough a variety of activities and opportunities, students are encouraged to explore careers in science, engineering, technology, and other related areas. Georgia HS/HT continues to lead the nation in total programs statewide with nearly 30 operating successfully. Accomplishments for the year include:
State Reh abilitation Council Annual Report 2000 7

Student Activities
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Albany HS/ HT was honored to respond to a request fro m the Smithso nian Air and Space i'vluseum to donate the butterfly exhibit for permanent display. The students involved are justly proud to have represented the first American high school to ever have an experiment aboard a NASA space flight.
Georgia HS/HT was featured at the President's Conmtittee Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C. The GL:orgia Committee received an award from Chairma n Tony Coelho for "dist inguished contri butions toward t he fu ll e mployme nt of people w ith d isabilities:
Savann ah State University completed Georgia 's fi rst completely accessible high tech computer lab for people w ith d is:1bilities; NASA provided funding.
Forty thousand do llan; in grant funds from the President's Committee helped to provide seed money for a new program:; in Rome and Valdosra, as well as Floyd,Troup, Bibb, Cobb, Chatham, Mitchell,Wo rth, Decatur, Baldwin,Tift and Richmond counties. Four new programs are anticipated in the Chattahoochee Valley, and two are on the drawing board in the Marietta a rea.
Initial plans have begun for establishing programs in Atlanta, DeKalb Counry a nd Decatur City schools. The Hean of Georgia Regional Education Services Agency (RES/-\) implemented a tour-county HS/HT progmm in Dodge ,Wheeler, Illeckley and relfair counties.
165 HS/HT students and c haperones visited NASA's Kennedy Space Cente r to view the November 30 launch of the Endeavour shuttle that will send astronauts to live on the internat io nal Space Statjon .
Twenty student participants from various Georgia high schools attended the first annual Carl Anthony Cunningham Youth Leadership Forum , an inte nsive four-day conference designed to e ncourage young people to participate in leadership activities at the local level. Held at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Instinite for Re habilitation in
State Rehabilitation Council Annual Report 2000
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The SRC commends staff for the careful and painstaking work it did to develop a Vocational Rehabilitation Strategic Agenda for 201 and beyond, and encourages all appropriate strategies and refinements as the ag1:nda becomes reality.
Mission: Assist people with disabilities ta work.
Vision: Aworkforce development system that serves all Georgians with disabilities.

Russell S11a11so11.fo1111d his 11iche
1rith G11ick:fil-A. .. andhe's been 111orki113 there .,'i11ce 1997!

Goal # 1 Increase organizational effectiveness

Goal #2. Enhance service capacity

Goal # 3 Develop market potential and p o s it i o n i n g
3

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VI? clientfind e111ploy111e11/ at n
riding stable.

mi.cl-August, the all-volunteer program fean1red a w ide array of knowledgeable speakers, inclucling representatives from the President's Committee, the ADA Exchange, the U.S. and Georgia Departments of Labor, and the Governor's Developmental Disabilities Cotmcil.
A highlight of the YLF experience was a Mentor's Luncheon , sponsored by the GBLN, where each student delegate was seated at a table w ith a facilitator to encourage discussion with the business and agency leaders atten ding. Among the almost I 00 participants were representatives from DRS, Georgia and U.S. DOL, the Governor's DD Council, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Coca-Cola and Cessna. Al Mead, Paralympic Gold Medallist and world record holder in the high jump , gave the keynote add ress.
Pro ject Emp loy, a new coordinated effort of the President's Committee, the Georgia Committee and SHRM (Society for HtUrntn Resource Management), is being p iloted in Cobb and Douglas counties. The focus of the project is to provide high-quality business office e mployment for people w ith cognitive disabilities. Some 100 potential employers attended the initial meeting hosted by HomeBanc and the Cobb-Douglas Community Service Board. Twenty-nine companies signed "on-the-spot" participation commitments!
Legislative Education and Advocacy
Council me mbers' time, advice and expertise were devoted tO monitoring the issues and proposed legislation, state and tederal , that could potentially affect persons with disabilities. Most noteworthy was Georgia HB 172, w hich moved DRS to the Department of Labor after 27 years in the Department of Human Resources. The Counc il took no official stance on t he bill, acknowledging that it would support the vital work of DRS regardless of the agency's reporting status. However, the Council d id advocate keeping the existing Division configuratio n, thereby retaining the structural and service integrity
State R ehabilitation Council Annual R eport 2000 1 1

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!l11t1ra11es.l" tlfontb proclamation: /Jana (,'ay/01: Miss Wbllelcbair Georgia. 1111d l'rrldos/11 VI? bub Employmenl il/m1ager lid Wil.~on lt!ok mi.
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Manypeople1/'ilb disabihlies
findprofessional success in !be busi/1(<'-' world.
Employment Outcomes reached an all-time high since the SFY97 benchmark year. VR prfessionals assisted 3.805 persons with
disabilities to work. Eighty seven percent (87%) of those were competitive situations. SFY2000 also showed record numbers of new referrals (13.889) and new work plans (8.453) since the
SFY97 benchmark year.

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I.each. Store Jl/mwger... all al !be t,'ood 1./011 i11 /.'i/zgemld, Geo1;qit1.

(teorgians Served By Primary Disability

Stale FiscalYear '.WOO

Alcohol & Drugs

Visual

1,424 Pe rsonality Disorders

Hearing

1,603 Mentally Retarded

Orthopedic

3,225 Others

Spinal Cord Injury

688 Cardiovascular

Amputations

340 Learning Disabilities

Mental Impairmen t

3,526 Traumatic Brain Injury

TOTAL

67 1 1,006 6,507 2 , 156
351 2,686
983 25~66

of the Division's five distin ct p rograms. The Council further pledged its support to

future Workforce Investment Ac t legislation determine d to be critical to the success of

assisting persons with disabilities to find fulfilling, long-term employment.

Essential Council support was provided also for Georgia SB 479, the "Omb udsman

Bill," which established a system to investigate and attemp t to resolve complaints against

any service provider brought by persons with mental disabilities or substance abuse

problems. The function is under the direction of the Consumer's lnsurance Advocate,

and is thus external to and inclepenclent of, the Departmen t of Human Resources.

The Council c hair was appointee! by the Governor to lead a Blue Ribbon Task Force

charged to examine issues surrounding Georgia's waiting list for community services

among people with disabilities and the elderly. The Task Force report to the Governor,

submitted in Nove mbe r, 2000, focused on recommendations

to reduce the significant numbers on the waiting list. The SRC's advocacy for increased legislative action trans-

KfllieGermsio. DRSrebr1bilitalio11 e11gli1ee1;Ji1sbio11sm, adaplirn dericefor afor//01ale VI? clieul.

lated into funding that w ilJ allow the supp ort of two

indep e ndent living centers, one in Macon and one in

Bainbridge. In aclclition, the Tools for Life assistive technol-

ogy p rogram received the first state allocation e ver in order

to p rovide adaptive equipme nt and devices. These tools are

available to persons w ith disabilities through a "lending

library," so they m ight "try before they buy."

Finally, and for the third year in a row, the Council joined

other groups and individuals in the successful opposition of

repealing Georgia's "Helmet Law"for motorcycle riders.

Priorities at A Glance
2001

Support the successful transition of DRS from the Department of Human Resources to the Department of Labor.
Advocate for funding for Personal Assistance Services to enable people w ith disabilities to become employed.
Support the Vocational Rehabilitation strategic agenda, which focuses on increasing
the employment of people w ith disabilities.
Endorse and support the activities of the Georgia Committee on
Employment of People with Disabilities.

Support the DRS State Fiscal Year 2002 budget request.
Ide ntify critical state and national legislative issues that affect individuals with disabilities.
Infonn state legislators about the critical need for consistent services to persons with disabilities, and continue to strongly advocate for an aligne d, single-voice position on common issues.

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Far mare information r ta obtain an alternate format f this publication. contact Denise Wilson: Phone: 404-657-3023 Fax: 404-463-6424 Direct TTY: 404-657-3000
Georgia Relay Service Voice: 1-800-255-135 Georgia Relay Service TTY: !-800-255-0056
Email: dewilson@dhr.state.ga us
Georgia Department f Human Resources Georgia Division f Rehabilitation Services
2 Peachtree Street. NW 35th flr
Atlanta. Georgia 30303-3142
Caver Graphic: In recognition of the Smithsonian Institution Air and Space Museum's permanent exhibit of the zero-gravity butterfly metamorphoses experiment designed by the Albany High School/High Tech program.