The PaRC at Work in 2008 (Accomplishments)

1. PaRC members participated in the following educational development opportunities during the year:

The PaRC Chair attended the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) 2008 Spring Conference in Bethesda, MD from April 19 - 23, 2008.
Specific training for State Rehabilitation Councils (SRC) was covered. The new web based training modules for training members of SRCs was demonstrated.
The PaRC Vice Chair attended the State Rehabilitation Council Forum from May 14 - 16, 2008 in Orlando, FL.
The Rehabilitation Services Administration provided this training through Georgia State University. This training focused on the history of the Rehabilitation Act, VR principles and policies, the role of the SRC, the state plan, the statewide needs assessment and consumer satisfaction.
Three members participated in the PA Association for Rehabilitation Facilities (PARF) annual conference in September 2008. Two members were invited to participate as panelists for one of the training modules on government resources for careers in the arts for persons with disabilities.
A presentation on the State Workforce Investment Board by Dr. Robert Garraty, Executive Director of the State Workforce Investment Board was given at the August Full Council meeting.
Members of the legislative committee attended The National Rehabilitation Associations' Governmental Affairs conference in Alexandria, VA in March 2008.

2. The PaRC voted on February 6, 2008 at their Full Council meeting to join the National Coalition of State Rehabilitation Councils (NCSRC). Participation in this national organization will keep the PaRC informed about national issues pertaining to vocational rehabilitation, best practices, trainings, etc.

3. The council developed and approved the State Plan attachment for FY 2009, in consultation with vocational rehabilitation. Highlights of this plan include:

Encouraging local workforce investment boards to extend their recruitment efforts to increase the number of persons with disabilities on their local boards.
Consultation and coordination with the State Workforce Investment Board representative on the council through quarterly reports.
The forming of a workgroup consisting of OVR, Workforce Development, and PA CareerLink staff to address the coordination of services needed to support our aging working population.
Continued efforts by OVR, PaRC, Citizen Advisory committees and other stakeholder groups to improve attendance at public meetings in the state in districts that are not well attended.
The PaRC asks to be involved in the development of all plans, policies and procedures with OVR.
The PaRC asks OVR to survey all their customers, especially those with closed cases, or those found ineligible for services.
Members will continue to participate at OVR public hearings across the state to explain the role of the PaRC with OVR and the local citizen advisory committees and for potential recruitment of new members as well as an opportunity to hand out the customer satisfaction survey.
The PaRC continues to encourage OVR to work to hire qualified rehabilitation counselors especially trained to meet the needs of aging workers, the deaf and hard of hearing, intellectual disabilities, returning veterans and those in transition.
The PaRC requests OVR to continue to work on their job classifications structure, so that intermediate level case load duties can be completed by persons without a master's degree to ease counselor overload.
The council recommends that OVR develop recommendations and coordinate additional employment services for returning veterans that go beyond those provided by the veteran's administration. The PaRC would like to participate in the development of these services.
For OVR to be an active participant with the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation in their initiative to develop a partnership with the national business community.
Recommends that OVR custom tailor outreach to specific disability groups such as deaf and hard of hearing, mental illness and cognitive disabilities and to rural areas and underserved populations.
The PaRC recommends that OVR provide training for customers, employers and service providers on the new Comprehensive Workforce Development System website.

4. PaRC Advocacy with Workforce Development and the Equal Opportunity Commission

Over a third of members this year have participated in one or more of their local Workforce Investment Board meetings in their districts to learn more about the boards and to educate the boards about issues related to employment for persons with disabilities.
The council has strengthened their relationship with the State Workforce Investment Board by starting a dialogue with the executive director.
Staff from workforce development and the equal opportunity commission participate on committee conference calls with PaRC members.

5. Legislative Advocacy

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 and the Workforce Investment Act. Members attended the National Rehabilitation Association conference in Alexandria, VA to keep current with national trends and priorities in vocational rehabilitation. Members 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. Members also developed and delivered position papers to twenty six state legislators in Harrisburg, PA in May 2008.

6. The PaRC developed and distributed the PaRC Annual Report to the Governor, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Pennsylvania Legislators, and other interested parties.

7. As required, the council conducted an annual Customer Satisfaction survey. Members participated in twenty OVR State Plan Public meetings educating customers and conducting a customer satisfaction survey. Thirty-nine surveys were returned to the office. Responses received aid members in developing a report, whereby recommendations will be written into the State Plan attachment. Overall survey results are below. A copy of the Customer Satisfaction Survey summary can be obtained by contacting the PaRC office.

Delivery of Services -- VR services are delivered in a timely professional manner and I am made aware of my rights and responsibilities as a VR consumer. Overall 80% Positive
Vendor Relations -- VR provides customers with choice of qualified vendors to provide the products and services needed for a customer to become employed consistent with his or her goal. (hearing devices, tty, wheelchair, assistive technology) Overall 70.95% Positive
Training -- VR provides training that is necessary for a customer to secure employment in his or her chosen vocational goal consistent with strengths priorities and concerns. Overall 70.97% Positive
Communication & Sensitivity -- VR is open, responsive and knowledgeable to my needs and the needs related to my particular disability. Overall 68.94% Positive
Transition -- VR is knowledgeable about transition services that promote movement from school to post secondary school activities and is responsive to my employment and/or educational goals. Overall 52% Positive

8. The PaRC and OVR collaborated on the Statewide Needs Assessment Survey. The needs assessment aids OVR in determining the future needs of persons with disabilities in the state. An ad hoc workgroup has been developed between OVR and the PaRC to meet this requirement.

9. The PaRC Website (www.parac.org) continues to be a useful resource for members and the public. This year the Customer Satisfaction Committee had their survey available on the website for customers to download. In collaboration with OVR, the Statewide Needs Assessment was also available on the internet via the PaRC website. The website also serves as a place for individuals to go seeking information on disability issues. The PaRC office staff handles many emails and phone calls per year requesting information, phone numbers, etc. The PaRC homepage and other resources pages have been redesigned to be more user friendly.

10. The Council continued its recruitment efforts to maintain an experienced and diversified membership. Four new members were appointed and one member was reappointed to their second term on the Council this year. A young adult representative and individuals who can represent business/labor/industry are still needed. Geographically, members are needed from the Northeastern and central part of the state. The council through the Executive committee developed and printed a recruitment poster to aid in recruitment efforts. Members and staff distributed the posters in their local regions as well as to Centers for Independent Living and Citizen Advisory committees. OVR assisted in distributing the posters to their district offices.

11. Members participated in the following stakeholder workgroups: Governor's Committee on Employment for People with Disabilities, State Independent Living Council, and the Advisory Committee for Persons Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

12. Increased networking, both statewide and nationally on conference calls with various organizations. Council continued to strengthen their relationship with the Department of Labor and Industry and OVR.

The council's legislative position papers are included in this report on the following pages.