Governor's Council on Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Disabilities

Executive Summary:

Vocational Rehabilitation Needs Assessment 2002

Introduction

Employers Survey

Client Applicant's Pre-Assessment Survey

Client Applicant's Post-Assessment Survey

Purchasing Job Development Services

Transition Services

Introduction:

In FFY 2003, the DSU, in collaboration with the Vocational Rehabilitation Council (now the Governor’s Council on Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Disabilities), completed an annual Consumer Needs Assessment and Satisfaction Survey. The DSU has reviewed the most recent regulations defining the Federal Evaluation Standard for Satisfaction Surveys found in the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. The survey was designed to obtain information in the following areas: 1) Employer Survey; 2) A Pilot Client Pre- and Post-Assessment Survey; 3) Purchasing Job Development Services; and, 4) Transition Services. The information collected will be used in developing VR program services.

The findings of this survey are found in Attachment 4.12 (a). Survey findings are as follow.

Employers Survey:

Employers rated the assistance of the rehabilitation counselor as either excellent (56.25%) or good (43.75%).

Client Applicant's Pre-Assessment Survey: (preliminary findings)

71% indicated an anticipated need for “Vocational/ Career Counseling”;
71% indicated an anticipated need for “Classes/ School Programs”;
67% indicated an anticipated need for “Training for a job”;
37% indicated the most important service as “Classes/ School program”;
29% indicated the most important service as “Training for a job”; and,
39% expressed the most important help they expected as “Learn about new job choices”.

Client Applicant's Post-Assessment Survey

No data available

Purchasing Job Development Services

This was a survey that examined other state VR programs about their purchase of job development and job placement services and included a comparison of job placement fee schedules and funding mechanisms. Findings indicate that the DSU's job placement fee schedule is similarly based on performance outcome measures and higher than the six states surveyed (Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Oregon and Alabama). These findings will be beneficial in ensuring Nevada job placement providers of the validity of the DSU's fee schedule structure and payment rates.

Transition Services:

Focus groups were used to obtain anecdotal information regarding the provision of transition service to students with disabilities in Nevada. General comments indicate:

A primary concern that schools provide more support and more information related to transition services to parents and students;

The provision of transition services earlier in the educational program, notably suggesting age 14 or during the freshman year of high school;

Initiation of transition service coordination with DSU programs earlier than the expressed normal initiation of VR services during the senior year of high school;

A general satisfaction with the VR services and counselors but statements suggest that VR counselors are “overworked and under- staffed”; and,

Several students expressed that their VR counselors did not provide adequate support in the selection of career goals.

Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Division
Council Staff / ODEP
1370 South Curry Street
Carson City, Nevada 89703-5146
(775) 684-3200
(775) 684-4186 Fax

E-Mail

Contact Webmaster