J,,fafe ~hahi/ifafion Councif Annual Report (Jeo,:!)ia State 1<./ia6;/itafion Council- 2.007 1lnnuaf1<.#porf .---h' e members of the Georgia State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) represent a cross section of the state's citizenry who have a stake in the vocational rehabilitation process, and who bring expertise to the council from a wide spectrum of disciplines. They were appointed by the Commissioner of Labor, a duly elected constitutional officer, and may serve no more than two consecutive three-year terms. The council works jointly with state officials to develop VR goals and priorities and review them annually. To accomplish this effort, the council aims to: Build partnerships among people and organizations that participate in realizing the mission and vision of the organization ; Forge a spirit of trust and cooperation among all partners; Reach out to people with disabilities and employers throughout the state to create a true spirit of inclusion; Be receptive to the concerns and issues raised by people with disabilities, employers, and other concerned individuals so that its work can be a catalyst for positive change. Who We Are Linda Shepard, Chairperson Parents Educating Parents & Professionals, Inc. Douglasville Joe Tedesco, Vice Chairperson TECH-ABLE Conyers James Ashworth AirTran Airways Atlanta Dexter M. Brown Bank of America Atlanta Cornelius L. Butler Butler New Media, LLC Bainbridge Fred Cannon AirTran Airways Atlanta Thomas W. Dennis Georgia Client Assistance Program Decatur Russell C. Fleming Georgia School of the Deaf/ Cave Spring Rome Michael Ci. Hale Synovus Financial Corporation Bogart Virginia C. Harris BAIN, Inc. Center for Independent Living Bainbridge Charles W. Lamb, Jr. The Lamb Law Firm, P.C. Albany Wes Massey Commerce High School Commerce Walter Morris Conley B. Lu Nations-Miller, Ph.D. Georgia Department of Education Atlanta Bennie Butler Newroth Columbus Regional Healthcare System, Inc. Columbus Pricilla L. Peters-Ward, CRC GDOL/VR Program College Park Charles F. Wells, CRC (Alternate) GDOL/VR Program Macon Alice Ritchhart Brunswick Shelia H. Thomas Easter Seals of East Georgia Augusta Dorie Tuggle (Retired) Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Austell Christina Peggy Venable Lower Muskogee Creek Indian Tribe Whigham EX-OFFICO Peggy D. Rosser Assistant Commissioner GDOL/Rehabilitation Services Atlanta (Jeor_Jia State 1<./ia6;/itafion Council- 2.007 1lnnuaf1<.#port The mission of the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) is to work in partnership with the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL)Nocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program to prepare Georgians with disabilities to enter, return to, and/or advance into competitive employment, and to promote their hiring. Vision To advocate for VR to be the premier organization that assists people with disabilities to maximize their work potential and level of independence, and to ensure that each person with a disability will have the opportunity to guide his/her own education and career path. PhifosophJ We believe all people deserve the best we have to offer; therefore, we strive to actively value: Meaningful Work Inclusion Informed Choice Self Determination Trust and Integrity Positive and Effective Change Purposeful Collaboration (Jeo,:!)ia State 1<./ia6i/itafion Council- 2.007 1lnnuaf1<.#porf 0 n behalf of the Georgia State Rehabilitation Council (SRC), I am honored to present the SFY 2007 annual report. It was a busy and productive year for the SRC, and while it was characterized by a significant transformation of the membership, I believe the council achieved a balance of support for today's needed decisions and thoughtful input to shape tomorrow's challenging plans. This was a year of transition, with new leadership, new SRC members, and a unified commitment to the administrators of the I IO program that we are here to work side-by-side with them to achieve measurable outcomes. We stand ready on all fronts to align our efforts strategically to ensure that Georgia's vision for the VR program becomes a reality: To be the premier organization that assists people with disabilities to maximize their work potential and level of independence. The SRC is committed to carrying out the spirit as well as the letter of the law to integrate, coordinate and improve all services to achieve full inclusion for persons with disabilities. Individually and collectively, we value and respect our role as a voice for persons with disabilities in Georgia, and we are focused on promoting a common agenda for their benefit. Under the leadership and guidance of the past council chair and members, the new council has learned that its job is vitally important to the future of the I IO program. We have also learned that the only constant is change, and change is simply another word for transition, a necessary step to move ahead. Perhaps the most important thing we have learned is that an alliance of SRC members, VR staff, and community and business partners makes virtually anything possible. A testament to that underscores one of the SRC's proudest accomplishments: a series of public hearings across Georgia that gave individuals the opportunity to provide vitally important comment on the VR strategic plan for 2008. This alliance is critical to our support of VR's mission to assist people with disabilities and businesses to reach their respective workforce needs. It is also integral to moving each of us closer to understanding the true foundation of the VR program: Disability is a natural part of the human experience; it should not stand in the way of any person to achieve success in work or in life. Sincerely, Linda Shepard Chair (Jeo,:!)ia State 1<.#hahififafion Council- 2.007 1lnnuaf1<.#porf f.etfer ~rom the Zlssistanfi Commissioner. r e dictionary defines transition as a passage from one form, state, style, tage or place to another." Add a few synonyms from a thesaurus -- shift, change, alter, modify, transform -- and what emerges is an accurate picture of what this fiscal year was like for Georgia's I IO program. This was a year of transition second only to when Rehabilitation Services moved from the Department of Human Resources to the Department of Labor. It was a year marked by rigorous examination of our policies, principles and complex challenges, each with its own impact on our continuum of services and each affecting the very way we do business. It was a year that brought about a great appreciation for what a committed team of rehabilitation professionals and a dedicated, participatory and knowledgeable rehabilitation council can bring to a state YR program . A great deal was accomplished during this fiscal year, and both old and new council members remained steadfast in their support of staff efforts and readily accepted their advisory and policy-affirming roles . It is no accident that for the past six years on average, 4,300 people with disabilities have achieved successful, competitive employment. Yet numbers do not tell the entire story; achievements do. In those same six years, the Georgia SRC fostered development of the independent evaluation process for employers and clients; it championed the move to require Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) status for front-line YR staff and initiated the collaboration with the University of Kentucky's Master's Rehabilitation Counseling program to help make it possible; it forged and sustained key legislative relationships that forestalled budget cuts; and it consistently offered sage and spirited inspiration to ensure that we always kept our eyes on the prize -to assist people with disabilities to work. I appreciate the thoughtful input both old and new SRC members provided to the design of the comprehensive needs assessment, the precedent-setting public hearings and the 2008 strategic and state plans for Georgia's I IO program, and I am confident that their continued involvement and oversight will help us achieve our measurable outcomes. It has always been my privilege to work with council members who give so readily of their time and talent; this new group of dedicated professionals will continue that legacy. Beyond that, however, I am genuinely heartened by the council's sincere advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities, and its commitment to ensure that vocational rehabilitation remains a significant force in their lives. Sincerely, Peggy D. Rosser Assistant Commissioner Rehabilitation Services (Jeorfa State ~ha6ilitation Councif- 2.0071innua(~fort I IO Program Expenditures (in millions) Services purchased (fotal) $6.S Services provided to consumers by Roosevelt Warm Springs Administrative Support Services provided to consumers $1.8 by Business Enterprise Program Services provided to consumers by Vocational Rehabilitation The Cave Spring Rehabilitation Center (CSRC), a residential program focusing on job readiness and employment training, served 93 clients this fiscal year. Over half of the client census received either a learner's driving permit {36) or a driver's license {22) while at CSRC. About a third (30) of the residents were involved in Community Work Adjustment outside the Center. The YR Program continued its contract with the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) to provide assessments to Georgia Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients. In FFY07, YR offered assessment services for I IO new TANF recipients with I 7 referrals carried over from FFY06. Of the total 127 recipients receiving assessment services, 38 were referred to the YR Program and 64 were referred back to DFCS with recommendations for services; of the remaining individuals, 13 referrals discontinued their assessments and 12 referrals were carried into FFY08. The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Ticket to Work {TTW) program provides (Jeo,:!)ia State 1<./ia6;/itafion Council- 2.007 1lnnuaf1<.#porf I IO Program Funding Sources State 22% Social security reimbursement 1% Other match 1% Federal 76% beneficiaries of 551 and 55D1 greater choices in receiving employment, vocational, and other services they need to go to work and/or increase their earnings from work, thus reducing their dependency on cash benefits programs . Georgia VR received 496 ticket assignments in SFY 2007. Since the TlW program began in 2002, more than 4,000 tickets were assigned to Georgia VR; 362 tickets were assigned to the other 26 Employment Networks in Georgia . The VR program's federally funded Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) project provided direct benefits advisement and guidance to more than 260 Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities in SFY 2007. During SFY 2007, the VR Assistive Technology unit received 1,302 client referrals from counselors, and provided 4,951 individualized AT services (devices, home and vehicle modifications , work site accommodations) in support of work goals. (Jeo,:!)ia State 1<./ia6;/itafion Council- 2.007 1lnnuaf1<.#porf VR Program Service Trends (SFY 200s - SFY 2001) Referrals Applicants - -SFY2005 D-SFY2006 D-SFY2007 Work Plans Clients Working Rehabilitated Served Transition Cases Served (SFY 2007) Transition - Age (Group Ages I 6 - 2 I) 8, I 14 Percentage of Total Served 23. 78% Transitioning students who are goal directed toward employment, post-secondary education and independent living receive a variety of services. In SFY 07, 88 school systems participated in a total of 65 VR/DOE Collaborative Agreements to enhance VR services to eligible students with disabilities. (Jeo,:!)ia State 1<./ia6;/itafion Council- 2.007 1lnnuaf1<.#porf Total Clients Served - Race/Ethnicity (SFY 2007) American Indian or Alaskan Native .19% Total= 34,117 100% Asian Black or African American White or Caucasian Hawaiian or Pacific Islander .63% 45.87% 51.35% .06% Multi-Racial .34% Hispanic or Latino 1.56% 66 214 Total Clients Served - By Disability Category (SFY 2007) 21% 2% 4% 6% <1% 23% 43% Mental & Emotional (Psychosocial) Disabilities Other Visual Impairments Deaf & Hard of Hearing Communicative Impairments Total= 34,117 I 00% Physical Disorders Cognitive Impairments (Jeo,:!)ia State 1<./ia6;/itafion Council- 2.007 1lnnuaf1<.#porf Total Clients Served - Age/Gender (SFY 2001) Under 18 18 - 24 - 25 - 30 - 31 - 39 - 40 - 54 - 55 + - Total Served 2,012 15 ,265 3,165 3,875 7,531 2,269 34,117 Percentage Female 5.90% 44.74% 9.28% 11.36% 22.07% 6.65% I 00% 787 6,056 1,281 - 1,750 - 3,660 - 1,158 - 14,692 Female Percentage Male Male Percentage 2.31 o/o 17.75% 3.75% 5.13% 10.73% 3.39% 43.06% 1,225 - 9,209 - 1,884 - 2,125 - 3,871 - - 1,111 - 19,425 3.59% 26.99% 5.52% 6.23% 11.35% 3.26% 56.94% Referral Sources for New Referrals (SFY 2001) Educational Institutions (Elementary/Secondary) - ,- Educational Institutions (Post Secondary) Physician or other Medical Personnel or Institutions Welfare Agency (State or Local Government) ,_ - Community Rehabilitation Programs ,- Social Security Administration ,_ One-Stop Employment{Training Centers ,- Self-Referral ,_ Other Sources ,- Total 3,360 - ,- 405 608 - ,- 167 ,_ - 1,097 - ,- 255 - ,_ 427 - ,- 3,571 - ,_ 2,129 - ,- 12,019 27.96% - 3.3 7% 5.06% - 1.39% - 9. 13% - 2. 12% - 3.55% 29.71% 17.71% - 100% (Jeo,:!)ia State 1<./ia6;/itafion Council- 2.007 1lnnuaf1<.#porf Client Employment by Occupation (SFY 2001) Closed 26/With Supports 16 30/o Farm/Fishing/Forestry 231 - 161" 90/o Industrial/Trades/Manufacturing 90/o Professional/Technical/Managerial 370/o Service Occupations 170/o Miscellaneous Occupations 260/o Clerical/Sales Total= 620 100% The highest average weekly salary was $543.20; the lowest was $197.34. The highest average hourly wage was$ 14.20; the lowest was $7.00. Average hours worked per week ranged from a high of 42 to a low of 28. Client Employment by Occupation (SFY 2001) Closed 26/Without Supports 103 Farm/Fishing/Forestry 30/o Total= 3,874 100% Industrial/Trades/Manufacturing 170/o Professional/Technical/Managerial 130/o Service Occupations 330/o Miscellaneous Occupations 140/o Clerical/Sales 210/o The highest average weekly salary was $510.41; the lowest was $236.33. The highest average hourly wage was $14.04; the lowest was $7.02. Average hours worked per week ranged from a high of 40 to a low of 34. (Jeo,:!)ia State 1<./ia6;/itafion Council- 2.007 1lnnuaf1<.#porf 13usiness r.nfer(Jrise flr!}ram Georgia's Business Enterprise Program (BEP) provides work opportunities to persons who are blind and who want to manage small businesses, primarily in establishments in the food-service industry. In SFY 2007, there were 133 BEP sites operated by 96 licensed BEP vendors, who also employed more than 1,300 non-disabled individuals. Total sales equaled $ I 1,240,292 dollars, and generated $747,315 dollars in sales tax revenue. Excluding the BEP contracted vendors who manage the Fort Benning military feeding operation in Columbus, Georgia, the average annual salary of a licensed BEP vendor was $40,560. The lowest SEP-vendor salary was $3,469; the highest was $176,087. Including all operating locations, BEP vendors employ nearly 300 people with disabilities at their various work sites. 1<.,ooseveft Warm jpriYJ_JslVocafionaf 1<.hahififafion 1Jnif One hundred ninety seven ( 197) VRU students completed their academic education training in SFY 2007, and received such services as academic remediation, GED prep and testing, tech school preparation, keyboarding, and Off Campus Opportunity Summer Program . It is important to note that VRU academic education services increased by 73% this fiscal year, and the VRU received certification from the Georgia Accreditation Commission. There are four certificate-training programs aligned with the VRU. In SFY 2007: 47 students participated in the Certified Nursing Assistant program ; 29 students studied in the Basic Printing Assistant program; 24 students worked in the Forklift & Heavy Machinery category; and six were enrolled in Lawn Care & Maintenance for the spring quarter. One hundred sixty ( I 60) VRU students graduated work ready during SFY 2007. "7he j,,1(C is commiffelto carryiYJ_J outtheS('iritas weffas the fetter ofthe faw to intB_Jrate, coorlinate anlim('roveaffservices to achieve fuffincfusion for('ersons withlisa6ilifies, 11 (Jeo,:!)ia State 1<./ia6;/itafion Council- 2.007 1lnnuaf1<.#porf Vocational Services / Roosevelt Warm Springs Carried Forward Admissions Average Length of Stay (days) Average Daily Census Admissions by Age: 6-19 20-30 31-55 55 & Over Admissions by Diagnosis: Mental Retardation Learning Disability Head Trauma Spinal Cord Injury Visual Impairment Neuromuscular Behavioral Disorders Other FY07 116 265 204 149 FY06 124 277 193 150 FY05 148 319 176 163 FY04 112 356 181 157 FY03 100 335 168 148 FY02 100 317 159 128 62% 35% 2% I o/o 64% 32% 3% I o/o 63% 30% 6% I o/o 60% 33% 6% I o/o 32% 60% 6% 2 o/o 38% 53% 9% 0% 42% 20% 4% 2% 2% I 0% 17% 3% 44% 24% 4% I o/o 4% 9% I I o/o 3% 39% 32% I o/o I o/o 4% 9% I 0% 4% 45% 18% I o/o I o/o 6% 8% 2% 18% 39% 21 o/o 2% 2% 3% 6% 6% 21 o/o 41 o/o 13% 2% 2% 3% 4% 9% 26% The VRU offers students a 24/7 dorm life experience coupled with job skills training, independent living, and academic education classes. VRU students experience not only vocational, but also personal, social, spiritual and recreational growth during their enrollment at VRU. Attending the VRU as a student is oftentimes the first time that many of these young men and women have been away from home. VRU programs and services are designed to be as close to college life as possible. Because of this environment the students complete their programs as well rounded young men and women. One student stated it best when he said, "RWSIR stands for Reaching Whatever Star It Requires" to become successful. (Jeo,:!)ia State 1<./ia6;/itafion Council- 2.007 1lnnuaf1<.#porf In spite of a year of monumental change that demanded a significant time commitment to administrative detail, the Georgia SRC remained active with regard to its initiatives and partnerships. Selected new activities also received the council's attention. The summary that follows highlights the significant efforts of the SRC membership: The Client Assistance Program (CAP) provides information, assistance, and advocacy to applicants and consumers with disabilities who are applying for and receiving services from the YR Program. The Law Offices of Martin and Jones administer CAP in a manner that informs and empowers people with disabilities to fully understand and exercise their rights to services. One of CAP's priorities is to resolve problems to the customer's satisfaction. As a result, very few issues have to be resolved through the formal appeals process. CAP's experiences with resolving disagreements through mediation and informal negotiations have been highly successful for YR consumers. During SFY 2007, CAP: Responded to 867 requests for information and referral. Provided direct services to 91 individuals. Provided services to 81 applicants and 88 clients of the YR Program. Settled consumer problems through mutual agreement rather than fair hearing decisions before an administrative law judge. Resolved one case through formal mediation. Represented one YR client in administrative hearings . Represented one client in appeal in Superior Court. The Georgia Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, Inc., which is affiliated with the National Association of Governors' Committees, is a 50 I(c)(3) non -profit corporation committed to maximizing and enhancing the employment of people with disabilities in Georgia. Over the past several years, the Georgia Committee has focused largely on activities affecting youth and students with disabilities, most particularly as they relate to the Georgia High School/High Tech (HS/HT) initiative, and has utilized funding from the SRC and other sources to support the efforts of the HS/HT project. Activities during SFY 2007 included: The fifth annual Youth Leadership Forum, which was held at Georgia State College and University in Milledgeville, allowed I 7 HS/HT students to experience a college campus atmosphere while they learned about employment and post-secondary options, and explored leadership skills presented by successful adults. High School/High Tech Capitol Day, which was attended by more than I 00 student and site coordinators. The presentation of $1,000 post-secondary scholarships for HS/HT graduates: three awarded from the Atlanta Industry Liaison group, the fourth from Georgia Committee funds . (Jeof'_!}ia State