Virginia Dept of Rehabilitative Services

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Annual Review Report

FY 2009

Virginia Dept of Rehabilitative Services

Issued by the U.S. Department of Education
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
Rehabilitation Services Administration
September 01, 2010

I. Introduction

The State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Program is a state-federal program that has been established to assist individuals with disabilities, particularly those with significant disabilities, to achieve high quality employment outcomes in integrated settings. In FY 2009, the VR program assisted — individuals with disabilities nationally to achieve employment. Qualified VR counselors employed by state VR agencies work together with individuals with disabilities to develop a plan of services leading to an employment outcome consistent with the individual's abilities, interests, and informed choice. The services provided by the VR agency can include but are not limited to the following: counseling and guidance, assessment, vocational training, post-secondary education, assistance with living expenses, transportation, personal assistance services, and job placement. The VR program is supplemented by the State Supported Employment Services program which provides services to individuals with the most significant disabilities who require on-the-job and other supports to maintain employment. Through informed choice and in partnership with the VR program and the broader rehabilitation community, individuals with disabilities are able to maximize their potential and reach the goal of employment in their local communities.

Section 107 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (the Act), requires RSA to conduct annual reviews and periodic on-site monitoring to determine if a state is complying with the provisions of its state plan and with the standards and indicators established under Section 106. This report contains the following information:

• State goals and priorities
• Individuals in the VR agency
• Outcomes
• Agency staffing patterns
• Financial data
• Compliance with standards and indicators
• State policies and procedures/guidance materials
• Activities conducted by the SRC
• Status of appeals

Please note that this report is written in nontechnical language for the general public and in some cases detailed categories have been collapsed. See Appendix A for statutory and regulatory definitions and reporting requirements. Appendix B contains a guide for technical users on how to find the source data for the tables in this report.

II. Virginia Dept of Rehabilitative Services (DRS)

This report presents information about the performance of the Virginia Dept of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) beginning on October 1, 2008 and ending on September 30, 2009 (FY 2009). It is based on data submitted to RSA by DRS as of September 01, 2010.

Each state designates a state agency to administer the VR program. The Act provides flexibility for a state to have two state VR agencies - one for individuals who are blind and one for individuals with other types of disabilities, typically referred to as a general agency. Combined agencies serve individuals with all types of disabilities. DRS is a general agency. All national averages are based on agencies of comparable type; for general agencies, national averages are based on other general and combined agencies.

Table 1. Program highlights for FY 2009

Description / Number
Total funds expended on VR and SE / $76,774,595
Individuals whose cases were closed with employment outcomes / 3,214
Individuals whose cases were closed without employment outcomes / 2,936
Total number of individuals whose cases were closed after receiving services / 6,150
Employment rate / 52.26%
Individuals whose cases were closed with supported employment outcomes / 1,100
New applicants per million state population / 1,403.17
Average cost per employment outcome / $3,170.65
Average cost per unsuccessful employment outcome / $1,706.22
Average hourly earnings for competitive employment outcomes / $9.62
Average state hourly earnings / $22.93
Percent average hourly earnings for competitive employment outcomes to state average hourly earnings / 41.95%
Average hours worked per week for competitive employment outcomes / 29.77
Percent of transition age served to total served / 44.20%
Employment rate for transition population served / 48.60%
Average time between application and closure (in months) for individuals with competitive employment outcomes / 22.30
Performance on Standard 1 / MET
Performance on Standard 2 / MET

A state VR agency must implement an order of selection when it does not have enough fiscal and/or personnel resources to fully serve all eligible individuals. An order of selection is a list of priority categories from which eligible individuals are selected for services. Eligible individuals are assigned to priority categories based on the significance of their disability. When selecting individuals for services, first priority is given to individuals with the most significant disabilities. DRS is on an order of selection. As of September 30, 2009, there were 1,785 individuals on the waiting list.

III. Individuals in the VR program

The following table profiles individuals in the DRS VR program. This table provides the following:

• Applicants - the number of individuals who were applicants on October 1, 2009, plus those who applied for services in FY 2009
• Individuals served - the number of individuals who received services during FY 2009
• Closed after receiving services - the number of individuals whose cases were closed after receiving services during FY 2009. These fall into two groups:
• Closed with employment outcomes
• Closed without employment outcomes after receiving services

Table 2. Caseload statistics

Category / Number / Percent increase or decrease from prior year
Applicants / 12,810 / -2.2%
Individuals served / 17,701 / -4.5%
Closed after receiving services / 6,150 / -12.1%
Closed with employment outcomes / 3,214 / -19.9%
Closed without employment outcomes after receiving services / 2,936 / -1.6%

The following section focuses on the 6,150 individuals whose cases were closed in FY 2009 after receiving services: by disability, special population, SSI recipients, and SSDI beneficiaries.

A. By disability

This table provides the number of individuals by type of disability whose cases were closed after receiving services in FY 2009 and provides percentages for each type of disability category based on both agency totals and national statistics.

Table 3. Individuals whose cases were closed after receiving services by disability for DRS

Category / Number / Increase or decrease from prior year / Percent of agency total / National average for general/ combined agencies
Visual impairments / 33 / +4 / 0.54% / 3.10%
Physical disorders / 912 / -365 / 14.83% / 26.27%
Communicative impairments / 313 / -76 / 5.09% / 10.65%
Cognitive impairments / 2,507 / -240 / 40.76% / 27.80%
Mental and emotional (psychosocial) disabilities / 2,385 / -169 / 38.78% / 32.19%
Total / 6,150 / -846 / 100.00% / 100.00%

Refer to Appendix B for information on how the disability categories are computed.

B. Special populations

Two groups merit particular attention because of their unique VR needs: those of transition age (ages 14-24) and those over 65. This section provides statistics for these special populations.

Table 4. Special populations served

Special population / Number / Increase or decrease from prior year / Percent of agency total / National average for general/ combined agencies
Transition age (14-24) / 2,718 / -171 / 44.20% / 33.82%
Over 65 / 21 / -22 / 0.34% / 1.86%

C. SSI recipients and SSDI beneficiaries

The following table shows Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries.

Table 5. SSI recipients and SSDI beneficiaries

Category / Number / Increase or decrease from prior year / Percent of agency total / National average for general/ combined agencies
SSI recipients / 1,316 / -321 / 21.40% / 19.23%
SSDI beneficiaries / 1,266 / -61 / 20.59% / 19.08%

D. Services provided to individuals

The following table provides information on the number of individuals who received specific VR services in FY 2009.

Table 6. Services provided

Category / Individuals served 2009 / Increase or decrease from prior year
Assessment (purchased only) / 1,090 / -629
Placement (purchased only) / 0 / no change
Treatment of physical and mental impairments / 2,721 / -616
Postsecondary education / 362 / -126
Other training and education / 1,425 / -330
Assistance with living expenses / 1,115 / -390
Transportation / 2,323 / -323
Personal assistance, reader, or interpreter services / 176 / -29
Rehabilitation technology services / 37 / -14
All other services / 3,983 / -501

IV. Outcomes

The following section focuses on outcomes in various ways: type of employment, disability, special populations, SSI recipients, and SSDI beneficiaries. For this section, "achieved employment" is defined as individuals who obtained employment after receiving services. See Appendix A for the definition of employment outcome and for criteria for closing cases (34 CFR 361.5(b)(16) and 361.56). Of the individuals whose cases were closed after receiving services from DRS in FY 2009, 52.26% or 3,214 achieved employment, compared to the national average for general and combined agencies of 55.64%.

A. Competitive employment

Of individuals who achieved employment, 91.44% or 2,939 achieved competitive employment, compared to the national average for general and combined agencies of 94.77%. Competitive employment means employment at or above minimum wage in an integrated setting. See Appendix A for the definition of competitive employment. See 34 CFR 361.5(b)(11).

Table 7. Average hours worked per week and average hourly earnings, competitive employment

Category / Competitive employment
Average hours worked per week / 29.77
National average for general/ combined agencies hours worked per week / 31.57
Average hourly earnings / $9.62
National average hourly earnings for general/ combined agencies / $11.20

B. By type of employment

Individuals can achieve a variety of employment outcomes:

• Employment without supports in an integrated setting is work performed in an integrated setting for earnings below, at, or above the minimum wage.
• Employment with supports in an integrated setting is work performed in an integrated setting for earnings below, at, or above the minimum wage by individuals with significant disabilities who require ongoing support services to maintain employment.
• Self-employment refers to work for profit or fees including operating one's own business, farm, shop, or office.
• Business Enterprise Program (BEP) is a state-federal program that establishes small business or vending facility entrepreneurial opportunities under the Randolph-Sheppard Act for individuals who are legally blind.
• Homemaker refers to men and women whose activity is keeping house for persons in their households or for themselves if they live alone.
• Unpaid family worker is an individual who works without pay on a family farm or in a family business.

See Appendix A for the definitions used in the RSA-911 for reporting purposes.

Table 8. Employment outcomes by type of employment

Type of employment / Number / Percent of agency total / National average for general/ combined agencies
Employment without supports in an integrated setting / 2,031 / 63.19% / 85.60%
Employment with supports in an integrated setting / 1,100 / 34.23% / 9.77%
Self-employment / 43 / 1.34% / 2.24%
BEP / 4 / 0.12% / 0.05%
Homemaker and unpaid family worker / 36 / 1.12% / 2.14%

Table 9. Average hours worked per week and average hourly earnings by type of employment

Type of employment / Average hours worked per week / National average for general/ combined agencies hours worked per week / Average hourly earnings / National average hourly earnings for general/ combined agencies
Employment without supports in an integrated setting / 31.84 / 32.46 / $9.71 / $11.35
Employment with supports in an integrated setting / 25.15 / 22.68 / $8.15 / $8.05
Self-employment / 22.49 / 28.71 / $15.62 / $13.34
BEP / 31.25 / 37.40 / $10.51 / $14.83
Homemaker and unpaid family worker / 0.00 / 0.00 / $0.00 / $0.00

C. By disability

The following tables provide the number of individuals who achieved employment in FY 2009, employment rates, average hours worked, and hourly earnings by disability. Employment rate is the percentage of cases closed with employment outcomes compared to all cases closed after receiving services.

Table 10. Employment outcomes by disability

Disability / Number / Percent of agency total / National average for general/ combined agencies
Visual impairments / 16 / 0.50% / 3.81%
Physical disorders / 441 / 13.72% / 24.93%
Communicative impairments / 230 / 7.16% / 14.91%
Cognitive impairments / 1,366 / 42.50% / 28.24%
Mental and emotional (psychosocial) disabilities / 1,161 / 36.12% / 28.10%
Total / 3,214 / 100.00% / 100.00%

Table 11. Employment rates by disability

Disability / Employment rate / Change from prior year / National average for general/ combined agencies
Visual impairments / 48.48 / -3.24 / 68.35
Physical disorders / 48.36 / -1.52 / 52.82
Communicative impairments / 73.48 / -0.56 / 77.95
Cognitive impairments / 54.49 / -6.12 / 56.54
Mental and emotional (psychosocial) disabilities / 48.68 / -6.41 / 48.57

Table 12. Average hours worked per week and average hourly earnings by disability

Disability / Average hours worked per week / National average for general/ combined agencies hours worked per week / Average hourly earnings / National average hourly earnings for general/ combined agencies
Visual impairments / 31.63 / 24.21 / $11.40 / $9.52
Physical disorders / 27.02 / 31.51 / $10.60 / $12.02
Communicative impairments / 30.97 / 33.47 / $10.42 / $13.79
Cognitive impairments / 28.51 / 28.98 / $8.28 / $9.07
Mental and emotional (psychosocial) disabilities / 30.10 / 31.03 / $9.35 / $10.19

D. Special populations

Table 13. Employment outcomes for special populations

Special population / Number / Percent of agency total / National average for general/ combined agencies
Transition age (14-24) / 1,321 / 41.10% / 32.69%
Over 65 / 13 / 0.40% / 2.73%

Table 14. Employment rates for special populations

Special population / Employment rate / Change from prior year / National average for general/ combined agencies
Transition age (14-24) / 48.60% / -8.24% / 53.79%
Over 65 / 61.90% / -3.22% / 81.77%

Table 15. Average hours worked per week and average hourly earnings for special populations

Special population / Average hours worked per week / National average for general/ combined agencies hours worked per week / Average hourly earnings / National average hourly earnings for general/ combined agencies
Transition age (14-24) / 28.89 / 30.41 / $8.42 / $9.49
Over 65 / 20.85 / 22.07 / $6.44 / $10.58

E. SSI recipients and SSDI beneficiaries

Table 16. Employment outcomes for SSI recipients and SSDI beneficiaries

Category / Number / Percent of agency total / National average for general/ combined agencies
SSI recipients / 567 / 17.64% / 14.51%
SSDI beneficiaries / 643 / 20.01% / 16.09%

Table 17. Employment rates for SSI recipients and SSDI beneficiaries

Category / Employment rate / Change from prior year / National average for general/ combined agencies
SSI recipients / 43.09% / -7.49% / 42.00%
SSDI beneficiaries / 50.79% / -1.58% / 46.93%

Table 18. Average hours worked per week and average hourly earnings for SSI recipients and SSDI beneficiaries

Category / Average hours worked per week / National average for general/ combined agencies hours worked per week / Average hourly earnings / National average hourly earnings for general/ combined agencies
SSI recipients / 21.67 / 22.27 / $7.51 / $8.44
SSDI beneficiaries / 22.35 / 22.56 / $8.36 / $9.44

V. Agency staffing patterns

The table below provides the number of agency full-time equivalent (FTE) staff in each category, as compared to the prior year and national average for general and combined agencies. See Appendix A for the definitions used in the RSA-2 for reporting purposes.

Table 19. Staffing patterns

Type / FY 2009 / Increase or decrease from prior year / Percent of agency total / National average for general/ combined agencies
Administrative staff / 120 / +7 / 18.49% / 13.17%
Counselor staff / 305 / +25 / 47.00% / 43.60%
Support staff / 186 / +8 / 28.66% / 38.72%
Other staff / 38 / +7 / 5.86% / 4.52%
Total staff / 649 / +47 / 100.00% / 100.00%

VI. Financial data

A. Funds available

The financial resources available to DRS to provide VR services to individuals with disabilities in FY 2009 are shown in the following table. The sources of funds are:

• Final federal VR grant award.
• Nonfederal expenditures (or match) - the state's share of specific program expenditures mandated by federal law. Currently, the state is required to contribute a minimum of 21.3% match for that portion of total expenditures subject to the match requirement. For FY 2009, Virginia was required to contribute a minimum of $18,204,527 and contributed $1,254,128 more than that amount.
• Program income - income generated as a result of activities carried out by the VR program, the majority of which consists of reimbursements from Social Security for individuals who achieved employment and were SSI recipients or SSDI beneficiaries.
• Carryover - in addition to the FY 2009 federal VR grant award and the nonfederal match provided, the funds available were supplemented by $1,016,920 in additional federal funds carried over from the prior fiscal year (FY 2008), program income received and expended during this year, and program income carried over from the prior fiscal year (FY 2008).
• Federal supported employment program grant.

Table 20. Funds available

Category / FY 2009 / Increase or decrease from prior year
Final federal VR grant award / $58,408,579 / +3,268,840
Nonfederal expenditures (Match) / $17,062,295 / +2,138,833
Program income / $2,509,183 / +636,274
Carryover / $1,016,920 / +958,177
Federal supported employment grant award / $602,496 / +1,006
Total / $79,599,473 / +7,003,130

B. Funds used

In FY 2009 DRS used $76,774,595 for its VR program, an increase of 2.33%. Compared to the prior year, the use of funds for administration increased by 15.08% and the use of funds for all client services increased by 0.54%. Of the funds used for client services, 79.07% was used for services provided directly by the agency and 20.93% was used for services purchased from other providers.

Table 21. Funds used

Type of funds / FY 2009 / Increase or decrease from prior year / Percent of agency total / National average for general/ combined agencies
Administrative / $10,630,207 / +1,392,984 / 13.85% / 10.45%
Total all client services / $66,144,388 / +357,913 / 86.15% / 89.55%
Agency-provided services / $52,302,950 / +4,159,901 / 68.13% / 43.76%
Purchased services / $13,841,438 / -3,801,988 / 18.03% / 45.79%
Total funds used / $76,774,595 / +1,750,897 / 100.00% / 100.00%

Unused funds of $5,040,207 were available for carryover to FY 2010.

C. Expenditures on services

Of the $66,144,388 used on client services, 0.00% or $0 was used on services to groups. The following table provides the remaining expenditures on services provided to individuals, whether purchased or provided directly by DRS.

Table 22. Services provided to individuals

Service / FY 2009 / Increase or decrease from prior year / Percent of agency total / National average for general/ combined agencies
Assessment, counseling, guidance, and placement provided by DRS personnel / $52,302,950 / +4,159,901 / 79.07% / 43.87%
Assessment (purchased only) / $856,622 / -523,609 / 1.30% / 6.25%
Placement (purchased only) / $0 / no change / 0.00% / 3.89%
Treatment of physical and mental impairments / $1,262,961 / -425,954 / 1.91% / 6.60%
Postsecondary education / $894,016 / -222,047 / 1.35% / 8.95%
Other training and education / $1,214,530 / -556,724 / 1.84% / 14.45%
Assistance with living expenses / $621,740 / -157,491 / 0.94% / 2.13%
Transportation / $947,072 / -224,781 / 1.43% / 2.40%
Personal assistance, reader, or interpreter services / $699,345 / -144,528 / 1.06% / 0.86%
All other services / $7,345,152 / -1,546,854 / 11.10% / 10.90%
Total expenditures on services provided to individuals / $66,144,388 / +357,913 / 100.00% / 97.64%

Of the $66,144,388 used on client services, 0.23% or $149,545 was used on rehabilitation technology services.

VII. Compliance with standards and indicators

RSA monitors and evaluates the agency's ability to meet or exceed standard performance measures. The standards are divided into two major content areas that encompass seven indicators. Each state agency's data is computed and measured against the standards and indicators on an annual basis. In order to meet Standard 1, an agency must meet or exceed the required performance levels for four of the six indicators, including two of the three primary indicators. In order to meet Standard 2, an agency must meet or exceed the required performance level for Indicator 2.1. The table below indicates that in FY 2009 DRS met or exceeded the required performance level for indicators in Standard 1. DRS met or exceeded the required performance level for Indicator 2.1.

Table 23. Standard 1: Did the state agency assist eligible individuals to obtain, maintain or regain employment?

Indicators / RSA minimum performance level / FY 2008 / FY 2009
1.1 How many more or fewer individuals achieved employment? / Greater than or equal to prior year / -265
Did not meet / -798
Did not meet
1.2 Of the individuals whose cases were closed after receiving services, what percentage achieved employment? / 55.80% / 57.35%
Met / 52.26%
Did not meet
1.3 (Primary Indicator) Of the individuals who achieved employment, what percentage achieved competitive employment? / 72.60% / 92.47%
Met / 91.44%
Met
1.4 (Primary Indicator) Of the individuals who achieved competitive employment, what percentage had a significant disability? / 62.40% / 98.41%
Met / 99.35%
Met
1.5 (Primary Indicator) What is the ratio of the average hourly wage of individuals who achieved competitive employment to the average hourly wage of all employed individuals in the state? / 0.520 / 0.420
Did not meet / 0.420
Did not meet
1.6 What was the increase or decrease in the percentage of individuals who achieved competitive employment who had their own income as a primary source of support at closure compared to the percentage who had their own income as a primary source of support when they applied for VR services? / 53.00 / 50.32
Did not meet / 50.43
Did not meet

Table 24. Standard 2: Did the state agency ensure that individuals from minority backgrounds have access to VR services?