New York State Rehabilitation Council (SRC)
2009-10 Annual Report

Annual Report: Word (1.29 MB, 22pp)
Annual Report: PDF (557 KB, 22pp)

Council Goal:

Raise the employment rate of people with disabilities to a rate that is equal to people without disabilities.

About the Council

The New York State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) was established in 1992 to fulfill the requirements of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It is charged with ensuring that the New York State (NYS) Education Department’s Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES) – Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) addresses community concerns by creating responsive policies and programs designed to improve education and employment outcomes for New Yorkers with disabilities.

The SRC’s voting members consist predominantly of individuals with disabilities who represent community rehabilitation programs, rehabilitation counselors, advocacy groups, business leaders and former recipients of vocational rehabilitation services. Its nonvoting members facilitate communication between the Council and other State agencies responsible for empowering people with disabilities to achieve their goals for employment, independence and community integration.

Together, these stakeholders advise ACCES-VR on the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services and program design. Members of the Council:

• Participate in community meetings held across the State to shape ACCES-VR’s strategic plan;
• Work with ACCES-VR to develop and interpret needs assessments and consumer satisfaction surveys;
• Promote the employment of people with disabilities to and with, the business community;
• Coordinate with other State agencies serving and representing people with disabilities; and
• Assess and recommend revisions to ACCES-VR policies to support the program’s efforts to meet consumers’ changing needs.

State Rehabilitation Council Members

Susan Barlow
Representative of a parent training center
Lisa Bayer
Representative of a community rehabilitation program
Gregory Bell
Representative of a disability advocacy group
Tina Conneely
Representative of a community rehabilitation program
John Decamilla
Representative of business, industry and labor
Susan Dooha
Representative of a disability advocacy group
Patricia Dowse
Representative of a disability advocacy group
Scott Ebner
Representative of a disability advocacy group
Brett Eisenberg
Former recipient of vocational rehabilitation services
Kyle Goodridge
Representative of business, industry and labor
Howard Gross
Representative of business, industry and labor
Kathy Hoffman
Representative of a disability advocacy group
Kevin Kennedy
Representative of a disability advocacy group
Jason McDonald
Representative of Native American Projects
Joan McGovern
Representative of business, industry and labor
Ernestine McElvene
Representative of a disability advocacy group
Patricia McKay
Representative of a community rehabilitation
Marianne Murphy
Representative of business, industry and labor
Sukyeong Pi
Representative of a disability advocacy group
Cynthia Printup-Harms
Representative of a disability advocacy group
Jeanne Ricigliano
Representative of a disability advocacy group
Lisa Rosano
Representative of the Client Assistance Program
Tamar Sherman
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Francine Tishman
Representative of a community rehabilitation program
Wendy Strobel Gower
Representative of the State Independent Living Council

Ex-Officio Members

Joanne Bushart
NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities
Elaine Kost
NYS Department of Labor
Rosemary Lamb
NYS Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
Robert Noble
NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities
Nicholas Rose
NYS Developmental Planning Council
Douglas Ruderman
NYS Office of Mental Health
MaryAnn Van Alstyne
NYS Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped

ACCES-VR Liaisons

Dennis Barlow
ACCES-VR Policy and Planning Committee Liaison
Tobi Bickweat
ACCES-VR Workforce Development Committee Liaison
Patricia Mazzariello
ACCES-VR Quality Assurance Improvement Committee Liaison
Michael Peluso
ACCES-VR Council Liaison

A Message from the Chairperson

We start by understanding the employment crisis for people with disabilities.

The Council worked diligently to meet its mission against the backdrop of New York’s continued severe economic downturn in 2010. The economic climate was challenging for all New Yorkers. However, people with disabilities lost their jobs at a dramatically higher rate than people without disabilities.

Between October 2008 and June 2010, the U.S. employment rate for people with disabilities dropped by 9 percent. During the same period, there was no statistically significant drop of employment for people without disabilities. The drop in employment was experienced more sharply by men than by women with disabilities. People with mobility impairments were particularly affected with a drop in employment of 17.8 percent. People with disabilities who have difficulty performing activities of daily living had a decline in employment of 16.7 percent. People without college degrees were more affected than people with college degrees.

In September 2010, the employment-population ratios among working men and women who have disabilities were less than half the ratios among working men and women without disabilities. The employment rate of working age men with disabilities was 30.3 percent and it was 26.8 percent among women with disabilities. The employment rate for working age men without disabilities was 74.7 percent and it was 65 percent for women without disabilities. (Source: USDOL)

The challenge we face as a State could not be greater. High unemployment for people with disabilities contributes to our community’s high poverty level and a profound struggle to remain independent and integrated in the community. For State taxpayers—it means the growth of demand for taxpayer financed safety-net programs.

We respond to shrinking State resources and advocate to maintain services.

As the State Budget shrank in response to the continued economic downturn and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors retired, the possibility that an Order of Selection would be imposed grew. In the event of inadequate resources and high caseloads, vocational rehabilitation agencies are required to operate under an Order of Selection. This means that the State serves only those with the most significant disabilities and others are placed on a waiting list and advised of other employment resources.

Given the dramatic disparities in employment between people with and without disabilities and the crisis in disability employment, the Council strongly opposed moving into an Order of Selection. As a result, the Council as a whole, and through each of its Committees, advocated successfully in support of ACCES-VR’s request for the hiring of federally-funded vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors across New York State to avoid implementing an Order of Selection. The hiring of 18 VR counselors was ultimately approved. We will continue to advocate for staffing levels that will support the highest level of service delivery to ACCES-VR consumers and employers in New York State.

We recommended close collaboration with the SRC and ACCES-VR Operations regarding contract management and cost containment issues. For example, the Council’s Workforce Development Committee focused on the importance of ensuring that VR dollars are being used to maximal effect, in services of VR consumers. In this regard, the SRC worked with ACCES-VR to monitor and assess contract utilization. The Committee also advocated for VR contractors to have access to the new OS2- Medicaid Infrastructure Grant improved employment data system. The new OS2 data system will give employers access to the broadest labor pool possible when sourcing employment candidates.

At the same time, the Council was responsible for obtaining advice for ACCES-VR from national legal and policy experts on State Order of Selection policies and their impact on agency practices and outcomes. The Council advised ACCES-VR to include consumer complaint data as a criterion to help assess the need for implementing an Order of Selection.

While grappling with Order of Selection, the NYS Department of Education and the Board of Regents undertook the VESID reorganization. VESID became ACCES-VR under the ACCES division that now includes Vocational Rehabilitation, Adult Education, Independent Living, Workforce Development and Proprietary Schools. While Council members could appreciate the potential for new synergies, they also raised concerns about the impact of the reorganization that separated Special Education from VESID and placed it with General Education P-12 in the organizational scheme would have on transition from school to adult life for youth with disabilities.

Council members provided recommendations on ACCES-VR’s outcome data and recommended improvements in its community needs assessment protocols and consumer satisfaction surveys based on outcomes. Council members also focused on improving employment outcomes for people with the most significant disabilities who rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

We join in cross-agency collaborations focused on employment and disability.

In addition to focusing on advice to the Board of Regents, the State Education Department and ACCES-VR, Council members engaged in the cross-agency dialogue on the State’s Most-Integrated Setting Coordinating Council (MISCC). Current and former SRC members were also prominent in the work of the federally funded Medicaid Infrastructure Grant project that is focused on improving the coordination of the State’s disability employment activities.

We listen to the Community.

Throughout the year, Council members attended State Plan development public meetings to hear directly from ACCES-VR consumers and service providers. In addition, we participated in meetings with individuals and providers from the psychiatric disability community—learning from their experiences and the strategies they proposed.

On an on-going basis, Council members reviewed needs assessment and consumer satisfaction data. We ask difficult questions that have complicated answers.

We interpret these resources through the prism of our experiences as ACCES-VR consumers, advocates for people with disabilities, vocational rehabilitation providers, State agency partners and business leaders.

Facing forward.

In 2011, the SRC remains committed to our mission — the elimination of disparities in employment between people with and without disabilities. We will continue to work to ensure the vitality of vocational rehabilitation through a robust and productive dialogue with its community partners.

We invite you to join us. Attend a public meeting or forum in your community — dates of these meetings are available online at http://www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/src/meeting.htm. Apply for membership on the Council by forwarding your resume to the State Rehabilitation Council Membership Committee Chair at: accesadm@mail.nysed.gov.

Sincerely,
Susan M. Dooha, J.D., Chairperson

Summary of Council Activities

Advised ACCES on maintaining a predominate role for  vocational rehabilitation services within the State Education Department’s reorganization.

During the course of 2010, the Council engaged with ACCES-VR on a wide range of concerns:

• Advised on need to ensure that coordination between Special Education and ACCES-VR for youth transitioning to adult life continues after reorganization;
• Communicated the need to ensure that new ACCES leadership is thoroughly familiar with the VR and IL mission and the needs of New Yorkers with disabilities.

Urged the State Education Department to take necessary actions to avoid an Order of Selection.

• Tracked vocational rehabilitation counselor caseloads;
• Advocated for waiver of the State hiring freeze for federally funded counselors;
• Provided policy advice from a national expert on the Order of Selection policies of other states and collaborated with ACCES-VR in developing criteria for determining whether an Order of Selection would be required;
• Engaged in advance discussions with ACCES-VR on contract management and cost containment decisions.

Worked with ACCES-VR to increase the effectiveness of the data tools it used to measure performance and sought improvements in the quality of ACCES-VR’s information.

• Reviewed and commented on the ACCES-VR needs assessment;
• Suggested that ACCES-VR develop stable long-term data sources that allow for trend analysis over time;
• Supported consumer participation in development of the Supported Employment Information Directory to provide for better matches between consumers and providers;
• Reinforced ACCES-VR’s development of a report card/service directory and its availability to consumers to facilitate informed choice;
• Requested advance quarterly updates on contract utilization.
• Reviewed the findings of ACCES-VR funded demonstration projects intended to increase employment, (e.g. City University of New York Linking Employment, Academics and Disability Services and Model Transition Projects).

Recommended training for ACCES-VR counselors to improve effectiveness with people who are underserved.

• Recommended training based on the “We Can Work” campaign for counselors;
• Supported collaboration with organizations representing the community of people with psychiatric disabilities;
• Addressed concerns about the lack of racial/ethnic and linguistic diversity in the ACCES-VR counselor population;
• Proposed that the concerns of groups identified in public forums as unserved and underserved (students transitioning from high school; people with psychiatric disabilities; people who are Deaf or Deaf/Blind) be brought to the attention of the State’s interagency forum on the employment of people with disabilities—the Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council (MISCC) Employment Committee.

Sought out “best practices” in the employment of people with disabilities and considered their implications for ACCES-VR:

• Reviewed Customized Employment proposal;
• Identified confidentiality concerns associated with a new cross systems data sorting job search system (OS2) in the Office of Mental Health Medicaid Infrastructure Grant;
• Requested New York State Workforce Investment Board provide representation on the SRC, consistent with federal requirements;
• Supported dissemination of materials/curricula developed by the Model Transition Program to transition programs across the State

Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee Report

Gain a better understanding of the community’s needs.

In 2009, the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) provided draft guidelines in support of the State’s Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA) process. The Council’s Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee collaborated with ACCES-VR on the development of a needs assessment plan.

The Committee focused on building a strong foundation of core needs assessment measures coupled with more in-depth analysis of unserved and underserved groups. Approaches included the following:

• Identification of assessment activities currently in place to address critical concerns and improve service needs in other areas.
• Analysis of regional data to highlight the tremendous variation in demographics across the State.
• Exploration of data sharing opportunities with existing ACCES-VR partners; Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Mental Health (OMH), Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).
• Analysis of data with specific focus on individuals attending ACCES-VR orientations who elect not to complete applications for services. For example:
  • Monitor disparities between the employment outcomes and the percentage of that population served to identify underserved populations.
  • Percentages of people served that resulted in unsuccessful closures.
• Identification of stable data sources for long term accessible information.

The Committee recommended that Consumer Satisfaction Surveys examine open cases in addition to closed cases. This will help ACCES-VR understand consumer perspectives and needs at each stage of their experience with ACCES-VR (after eligibility determination, assessment, IPE development, and goal achievement). We focused on plain language, examining the consistency of responses, and explored opportunities to analyze the data by being able to link responses to other available data outcomes.

We recommended that ACCES-VR identify ways to improve outcomes for people with disabilities who rely on SSI and SSDI. We focused here because ACCES-VR’s data clearly show that these individuals earn less in average wages when employed.

Strategies to improve employment outcomes for SSI and SSDI beneficiaries included:

• Increase use of services focused on work-related benefits counseling and planning;
• Identify services that correlate with successful outcomes;
• Analyze the consumer satisfaction data for closed cases to better understand the experiences of SSI and SSDI beneficiaries; and
• Use other sources of information such as wage reporting data and surveys of District Managers and VR Counselors.
• Consider how the Partnership Plus and the Ticket to Work programs present opportunities to improve employment for this group.

Encourage Consumer Choice in the Development of the Supported Employment Information Directory.

ACCES-VR’s existing Supported Employment Information Directory has been piloted in some areas of the State. It is primarily designed for use by Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors when working with consumers in deciding employment referrals to supported employment service providers.

The Committee suggested the Supported Employment Information Directory be made available to consumers as a resource when choosing among service providers. The Committee proposed the following key questions as ACCES-VR created a tool for consumers engaged in making choices about providers.

• In what context do the services get delivered? What else does the organization do?
• What population does the vendor have the best success with? Do they serve youth? What ages?
• Can the Information Directory be expanded to include more demographic information about the success of the provider relative to disability, age, type of jobs developed?
• Can information about occupations or jobs developed be included? What type of jobs/placements does the agency tend to make? (This may help both the counselor and the consumer make a better match between skills and jobs).
• Can ACCES-VR get consumer input?

The Committee would like to move data collection and quality improvement efforts from an emphasis on regulatory compliance to a focus on the use of data to gauge the impact of ACCES-VR services on people’s lives.

Planning and Policy Committee Report

Shape the policies that guide the ACCES-VR consumer experience.

The Council supports ACCES-VR in ensuring that current policies meet the needs of consumers in preparing for employment. The Planning and Policy Committee actively worked with ACCES-VR on the following new vocational rehabilitation policies:

• Assessment
• Limited English Proficiency
• Youth in School
• College
• Substance Use Disorders
• Supported Employment.

The Committee participated in the development of related materials to clarify these policies for ACCES-VR consumers and vocational rehabilitation counselors.

The Committee continues to assist with planning and participation at public hearings. This year some of the areas of discussion included:

• A review of the US Government Accountability Office funding formula report and the potential impact of new funding methods;
• Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council (MISCC) Employment reports and their relationship to vocational rehabilitation;
• Progress on priorities identified in the ACCES-VR State Plan;
• ACCES-VR reorganization within the State Education Department;
• Review position paper “A 21st Century Approach to Enhancing Supported Employment Outcomes” to consider implications for ACCES-VR; and
• Model Transition Project results, and how to preserve and promote the identified best practices.

The Committee considered the implications of an Order of Selection and strategized on how to avoid its imposition. The Committee engaged other State partners in discussions about the implications of an Order of Selection. It examined the potential impact of State hiring freezes imposed on ACCES-VR’s federally funded vacancies. It worked with ACCES-VR on the identification of red flags to be considered in determining if an Order of Selection should be imposed.

The Committee collaborated with the Council’s Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee in evaluating the results of the comprehensive needs assessment. Together the two Committees created a strategy for incorporating their findings into the State Plan and ACCES-VR policies and priorities.

Workforce Development Committee Report

Meeting employer needs and labor market demand.

In its effort to drive greater employment outcomes for ACCES-VR consumers, the Workforce Development Committee refined its charter to place greater emphasis on employer considerations. In this way, the deployment of VR and IL resources may be more strategically aligned with labor market demand for qualified employees. A critical component of this effort was to request representation of the State Workforce Investment Board on the State Rehabilitation Council as mandated by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-220).

The Committee endorsed and provided ACCES-VR with feedback on two important initiatives that DOL engage the employer community and broaden employment opportunities for ACCES-VR consumers of service.

• The Committee collaborated with Cornell University staff to identify areas of employer interest and developed an outline of reliable resources to assist companies recruit, accommodate and integrate employees with disabilities. This essential employer information is now available on the New York Makes Work Pay website: http://www.NYMakesWorkPay.org.
• The Workforce Development Committee’s efforts to drive employment outcomes were also highlighted through its partnership with the National Employment Team (The NET). The NET is a national consortium that promotes business relationships with State administered vocational rehabilitation programs.

Significant results to date include:

• Full-time employment outcomes at Walgreens’ Empire State Building store in New York City. Both ACCES-VR and the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH) are in discussions with Walgreens to expand this program across New York State in 2011.
• Relationship development with CVS Caremark in Elmira, NY to learn about CVS’ hiring practices and to connect CVS with Cornell University’s Disability is Diversity training program. The ACCES-VR team is now briefing local VR providers on CVS’s employment processes to prepare consumers for opportunities at this business. ACCES-VR has made several referrals to CVS for management positions.
• Relationships development with the NYS American Red Cross Blood Services resulted in the first placement of a Collections Tech/Phlebotomist in Rochester, NY.

Goals for 2011

State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation

The Council will continue to advise ACCES-VR on Goals and Priorities related to the State Plan. It will ensure that the needs of unserved and underserved populations remain a focus and work to improve the quality of ACCES’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program. It will help ACCES-VR adapt to change by working closely with ACCES-VR to develop new policies and monitor their impact.

Order of Selection

The Council will work to avoid the imposition of an Order of Selection in collaboration with ACCES-VR. It will monitor data to determine whether and how an Order of Selection must be instituted. If despite these efforts, an Order of Selection is implemented in New York, we will ensure that its impact on quality service delivery is monitored, analyzed and minimized.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The Council will continue to promote partnerships and collaborations within the State Education Department, the workforce development community and other governmental and/or constituent organizations (e.g. New York State Rehabilitation Association, New York State Independent Living Council, NY Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council).

Underserved Populations

The Council will continue to work with ACCES-VR on identifying and addressing the needs of underserved, economically disadvantaged, ethnic and disability groups.

Efficiencies and Resources

The Council will work with ACCES-VR to implement strategic cost savings while protecting consumer access to individualized and comprehensive services. The Council also remains committed to supporting ACCESS-VR in securing sufficient resources during challenging times that result in integrated employment opportunities for New Yorkers with disabilities.

Consumer Success

Mr. Y…
“From facing challenges –
to working at the Embassy.”

Mr. Y was referred to ACCES-VR from a sheltered workshop that had been his only work experience in the United States. Mr. Y emigrated from Hong Kong in China with only a 6th grade education. He initially had substantial challenges to obtaining employment, including a lack of competitive work history or references, transportation issues and a mental health diagnosis. Mr. Y shared with his ACCES-VR counselor, that he had a strong work ethic and skill sets that would benefit an employer. His stated goal was to find part time employment in a field that required minimal contact with the general public. After meeting with his VRC to discuss vocational options, Mr. Y felt his interest and comfort zone would be in the hospitality industry. His counselor made a referral to Transitional Living Services for supported employment services where the employment specialist worked with Mr. Y to assist him in his job search. This help included and was not limited to: assisting Mr. Y with filling out applications, understanding what was expected by the employer and going with him on interviews at Mr. Y’s request.

On 4/13/10, Mr. Y was interviewed at Premier Restaurants at Embassy Suites for a dishwashing position and Mr. Y was hired. In just a few days on the job with the assistance of his TLS employment specialist, Mr. Y mastered his key work responsibilities. According to his supervisor from Premier Restaurants at Embassy Suites, Mr. Y is a great employee! He has a strong work ethic, is dependable, reliable and very productive. Mr. Y enjoys his job, Embassy Suites increased the diversity of their workforce, and Mr. Y has made friends with his co-workers and credits much of his success to the assistance he received from ACCES-VR and TLS. Mr. Y takes great pride in actively pursuing and securing what he considers to be a perfect match for his interests and abilities. He is working locally at work he enjoys and is a contributing member of his community.

Mr. D… “On the cutting edge.” Entrepreneur / Business Owner – Barber

Mr. D. originally applied for ACCES-VR services in 2004, after successfully completing a substance abuse program. At the time, he was on parole and had a spotty work history. While serving time, Mr. D worked to change his life – earning his GED® and taking classes in barbering. Mr. D. found that he really enjoyed barbering. When he returned to the community, he sought ACCES-VR sponsorship to become a licensed barber. Mr. D. completed the training program in 2006 and ACCES-VR found him a job in an existing barbershop.

Several years later, Mr. D. re-applied for ACCES-VR services after a disabling hip injury forced him to leave his job. Although he had difficulty standing and walking, Mr. D. liked being a barber and wanted to open his own shop. After talking it over with his ACCES-VR counselor, Mr. D. developed a business plan that incorporated suggestions from ACCES-VR’s “Business for Self” Committee. The Plan was approved by ACCES-VR and Mr. D opened his home-based business, Dickerson’s Barber Shop, in 2008. Since then, Mr. D. has grown the business and with additional ACCES-VR assistance, moved his business to a store front.

Mr. D was nominated for and received the 2010 Statewide Entrepreneurial Award presented by the New York State Board of Regents and New York’s Governor.

Employers Testimonials

Wegmans

"Wegmans is proud of our partnership with ACCES-VR and the agencies it serves. We look forward to continuing our tradition of hiring persons with disabilities. It's so often said that employment opportunities improve the quality of life for your clients. We think your clients improve the quality of ours."

Lynne Moore
Wegmans Buffalo / Upstate

 

 

Friendly's

"Our Friendly's in Ithaca has recruited employees through ACCES-VR for over eight years. We hired several individuals. They proved to be very dedicated. Some of the reasonable accommodations that were developed, such as a color coding system to insure timely rotation of food items and a task sheet for the custodian, were so effective that they are now standard practice at area Friendly's locations."

Kristy Saggiomo
Friendly’s Ithaca – Kessler Family, LLC
Central NY

 

 

Motivators Promotional Products

Motivators, Inc. is extremely happy to be associated with ACCES-VR. We hired two individuals and they are extremely good workers and a great addition to Team Motivators. I highly recommend ACCES-VR and look forward to a long relationship.

Ken Laffer,Ceo
Motivators, Inc.
"Branding Opportunities that Work"

 

 

Data Reflects Success and Need for Improvement

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR ACCES-VR CONSUMERS IN INTEGRATED SETTINGS FFY 2006 TO FFY 2010

• During FFY 2010 ACCES-VR experienced a slight decrease in employment outcomes in integrated setting. A challenging economy and uncertainty about future growth were factors that contributed to the decrease in hiring and employment outcomes.
• With overall employment outcomes down slightly, ACCES-VR experienced a slight increase in employment outcomes without supports for FFY 2009 outcomes.
• With overall employment outcomes down slightly, ACCES-VR also experienced a decrease in employment outcomes for individuals that require ongoing supports (e.g. Supported Employment.

ACCES-VR PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
FFY 2006 TO FFY 2010

			Ind 1.1	Ind 1.2	Ind 1.3	Ind 1.4			Ind 1.5	Ind 1.6	Ind 2.1
	employment outcomes	employment outcomes previous year	change in employment outcomes	percent with employment outcomes after services	percent of competitive employment outcomes	percent of competitive Employment with significant disabilities	average VR wage	average State wage	ratio of average VR wage to average State wage	difference between self-support at application and closure	ratio of minority service rate
Required level			(>=0)	(>=55.8%)	(>=72.6%)	(>=62.4%)			(>=.52)	(>=53.0)	(>=.80)
FFY 2006	12,956	13,292	-336	57.1%	95.1%	97.6%	$10.04	$26.29	0.38	64.8	0.87
FFY 2007	13,198	12,956	242	58.5%	94.4%	98.0%	$10.37	$28.29	0.37	63.7	0.87
FFY 2008	13,236	13,198	38	59.8%	94.7%	98.4%	$10.54	$28.89	0.36	63.0	0.89
FFY 2009	12,151	13,236	-1,085	52.8%	94.4%	98.3%	$10.55	$27.59	0.38	61.1	0.87
FFY 2010	12,092	12,151	-59	45.9%	95.4%	98.2%	$10.70	$28.54	0.37	59.8	0.87
* preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics state wage data used for FFY 2010 for Ind 1.5 (data as of Jan, 2011)

Indicator 1.1 calls on VR agencies to maintain the number of employment outcomes from the previous year.
Result: Indicator 1.1 not met. ACCES-VR experienced a slight reduction of 59 total employment outcomes in comparison to 2009.

Indicator 1.2 calls on VR agencies to achieve successful employment outcomes for 55.8 percent of consumers following sponsorship in training and services.
Result: Indicator 1.2 not met. ACCES-VR missed the performance indicator by 9.9 percent.

Indicator 1.3 calls on VR agencies to achieve competitive employment outcomes in a minimum of 72.6 percent of all employment outcomes.
Result: Indicator 1.3 met. ACCES-VR exceeded the percentage of required competitive employment outcomes by 22.8 percent.

Indicator 1.4 calls on VR agencies to ensure that the majority of competitive employment (62.4 percent) is made up of consumers of service with significant disabilities.
Result: Indicator 1.4 met. ACCES-VR met and exceeded the percentage of competitive employment outcomes achieved by consumers with significant disabilities by 35.8 percent.

Indicator 1.5 calls on VR agencies to achieve on average 52 cents for every dollar earned hourly by all employed individuals in the State.
Result: Indicator 1.5 not met.

Indicator 1.6 calls on VR agencies to achieve a minimum performance level of 53 indicating the difference in the percentage of individuals who at program entry reported their income as the largest single source of support, and the percentage that reported their personal income as the largest single source of support at program exit.
Result: Indicator 1.6 met. ACCES-VR exceeded the percentage of individuals with the capacity for self support by 6.8.

Indicator 2.1 is the ratio of the percent of recipients of VR services with a minority background relative to consumers without minority status exiting the program.
Result: Indicator 2.1 met. ACCES-VR exceeded the required ratio of minority consumers by .07 percent.

For additional background and discussion of RSA performance indicators, see the ACCES-VR State Plan at: http://www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/adult_vocational_rehabilitation_services/state_plan/about.htm.

SUMMARY YOUTH SERVED BY ACCES-VR
2009 / 2010

• The overall number of youth with disabilities (individuals who applied for ACCES-VR services prior to age 22) decreased by 3,279 individuals during 2010.
• Youth with disabilities make up 44.1% of the total number of consumers served by ACCES-VR (eligible and/or receiving services). In 2010, this represented 23,438 individuals.
• In FFY 2010, youth who achieved an employment outcome increased slightly over 2009 and represented 35.7% of all employment outcomes totaling 4,318 individuals. This is an increase of 116 individuals over the previous year.
• Even as employment for people with disabilities fell in New York and across the nation, employment outcomes for youth with disabilities increased slightly.

SUMMARY MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS SERVED BY ACCES-VR
2009 / 2010

• In FFY 2010, there was a decrease in the number of active mental health cases (10,156 or 19.1%) when compared to the number of active mental health cases in the previous year (11,717 or 19.5%).
• In FFY 2010, mental health consumers who achieved an employment outcome were 18.5% of all employment outcomes, representing 2,239 individuals. This is a slight decrease of 22 mental health consumers and is consistent with the modest decrease in employment outcomes for all consumers of service.

SUMMARY SSI / SSDI CONSUMERS SERVED BY ACCES-VR
2009 / 2010

• In FFY 2010, 26.7% of ACCES-VR consumers who receive services were supplemental security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries.
• In FFY 2010, of all ACCES-VR consumers of service who achieved an employment outcome 24.2% were also SSI or SSDI beneficiaries.
• The rate of successful employment outcomes for consumers in receipt of SSI/SSDI was consistent with all ACCES-VR consumers of service.

Characteristics of People Served

From October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010 ACCES-VR served:

• 53,113 active cases
• 5,791 pre-eligible cases
• 12,092 successful employment outcomes

ACCES-VR Demographics:

• The largest group (80%) were working-age adults between 20-64 of age.
• Individuals classified as “most significant disabled” represented over 55% of ACCES-VR’s caseload (n=58,731).
• 41% (n=43,709) of those served were of transition age (under the age of 22).
• 16% (n=16,883) of individuals served came to ACCES-VR after receiving special education services.
• 59% of consumers served were male and 41% of consumers were female.
• 32% of consumers reported having attended secondary school without receiving a diploma.
• 27% of consumers served were high school graduates or had equivalency degrees.
• 22% of consumers served had some form of postsecondary education.
• As outlined below, the ethnic and racial diversity of those who participate in ACCES-VR services reflect the unique diversity of the general population in New York State:
  • 29.5% Black or African-American
  • 13.9% Hispanic
  • 1.9% American Indian / Eskimo / Aleut
  • 2% Asian-American
  • 0.6% Pacific Islander

New York State Rehabilitation Council (SRC)

There are many ways to share your thoughts with the New York State Rehabilitation Council:

You can call
1.518.474.2925 (Voice)
1. 518. 474.5652 (TTY)
1.800.421.1220 (Relay)
1.800.222.JOBS (Toll free)

You can email
accesadm@mail.nysed.gov

You can write
Chair, NYS Rehab Council
One Commerce Plaza, Rm 1605
Albany, New York 12234

You can attend a meeting or a public forum:
All New York State Rehabilitation Council meetings and forums are open to the public. Meetings are conducted quarterly during the months of March, June, September and December. Dates and location of meetings are available online at: http://www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/src/

The Council invites you to apply for membership:
Council members are appointed by the Board of Regents. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Council, please submit in writing to the address above to the attention of the SRC Membership Committee Chair. Please include your resume.

About the cover

The artwork on the cover of this year’s State Rehabilitation Council Report was graciously provided by Ms. Eileen Stodut, an ACCES-VR consumer of services who is pursuing a career as a graphics designer.  The beauty, energy and passion of the work is a reflection of Eileen Stodut’s talents and is representative of the power VR consumers experience as a result of quality employment outcomes. Thank you Eileen for your contribution and inspiration.