PaRC at Work in 2004

Increased educational development opportunities for PaRC members. During FY 2004, the PaRC welcomed speakers to its business meetings to address a variety of disability-related topics including:
- Social Security Administration, Work Incentives and Ticket to Work.
- Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD).
- Assistive Technology Act
- OVR study on issues relating to minorities and under represented populations.
In consultation with vocational rehabilitation, developed and approved the State Plan Attachment for FY 2005. Highlights of this plan included: Continued efforts by the PaRC to increase communication with OVR and the OVR Board,
- An overall emphasis on the importance of consumer input, including: recommendations that VR outreach to Consumer Advisory Councils (CACs), and a recommendation to increase and expand advertisement of VR meetings which are open to the public and allow opportunity for public comment, and
- Special focus on the availability of PaRC members as a resource to assist VR in addressing issues such as CareerLink (one-stop) accessibility, and physical and technological accessibility of government services for persons with disabilities.
Outreached directly into the disability community in Eastern and South Central Pennsylvania, and evaluated customer satisfaction with VR services by holding two Public Forums. The forums provided an informal atmosphere where VR customers could discuss issues of concern such as:
- Communication with VR staff,
- The overall delivery of VR services to persons with the most significant disabilities, and
- Community awareness of the availability of VR services. The results of the Forum were provided to OVR, and will be used to facilitate discussion at meetings of the OVR Customer Satisfaction Committee workgroup, which were held in FY 2004. The PaRC was an invited participant in this workgroup.
Participated with OVR in the revision and implementation of VR policy, which directly impacts individuals with disabilities in Pennsylvania who wish to attend college as part of their vocational rehabilitation plan. As part of this effort, the PaRC was asked to participate in the OVR college policy workgroup. We look forward to continued participation on this workgroup during FY 2005. Members reviewed OVR's revised mission statement and made comments and recommendations.
Monitored, identified and responded to federal and state legislation and or public policy that affects persons with disabilities, particularly those items that will impact employment. Position papers were written on the following legislation that was due for reauthorization: the Rehabilitation Act, the Workforce Investment Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Assistive Technology Act. Members attended the National Rehabilitation Association conference in Alexandria, VA to keep current with national trends and priorities in vocational rehabilitation. Members also traveled to Washington, D.C. and presented the twenty-one Pennsylvania legislators with the council's position papers to educate them on the importance of the public vocational rehabilitation program.
Collaborated with the OVR Board and other stakeholder workgroups at the annual retreat to develop the OVR strategic plan for the upcoming year
The Council continued its recruitment efforts to maintain an experienced and diversified membership.