department of health and social services division for the visually impaired joint finance committee...
TRANSCRIPT
Department of Health and Social ServicesDivision for the Visually Impaired
Joint Finance Committee HearingFiscal Year 2012
Robert L. Doyle, IIIDivision Director
Monday, February 28, 2011
Delaware Health and Social Services
Overview & Accomplishments
Mission “ Working in partnership with Delawareans who are blind or visually impaired empowering them to be self-sufficient”
3,031 Identified Blind/Visually Impaired Delawareans on the RegistryYoungest is 7 months oldOldest is 109 years old
Leading Causes of BlindnessMacular Degeneration (34.45%)Glaucoma (7.94%)Diabetes Related Vision Loss (7.89%)
Delaware Health and Social Services
Overview & AccomplishmentsDVI Employs 113 individuals
35 Percent of our total employment base are blind/visually impaired individuals
Revenues/Funding SourcesState General Fund Appropriations $3.20MVarious Federal Grants $2.02MOther Appropriated Funds (Donations, DIB & BEP) $2.90M
Delaware Health and Social Services
Overview & AccomplishmentsDVI Provides a Continuum of Services from Birth to Death
Programs include:EducationIndependent Living ServicesTechnology AssistanceOrientation and MobilityLow Vision Evaluation and TrainingVocational RehabilitationDelaware Industries for the BlindBusiness Enterprise ProgramInstructional Material Center
Delaware Health and Social Services
Overview & AccomplishmentsEducation• 255 students are currently being served by teachers for the visually
impaired and County Resource room staff• Provide consultation to families of infants, toddlers, and school age children• Provide consultation to school personnel on student needs and
accommodations• Provide instruction in reading Braille• Provide instruction in the appropriate use of Assistive Technology in the
classroom• Conducts learning media assessments• Conducts functional vision assessments• Aids in the identification of rehabilitation technology• Advocates on behalf of students for the Individualized Education Plan
Delaware Health and Social Services
Overview & Accomplishments
Independent Living Services
Provides:• Independent Living Skills Training• Low Vision Services• Sensitivity/Vision Simulation Training• Training to individuals, groups & organizations
Delaware Health and Social Services
Overview & AccomplishmentsVocational Rehabilitation
• Provided a variety of services over the last twelve months to 258 Job Seeking Consumers (27.9% increase).
• Assessments, Financial Assistance, Rehabilitation Technology, Job Placement, Vocational Counseling, Job Retention and other services.
• Increased employment outcomes by 71% in FFY 2010 in the following employment areas: Teacher, Electrician, Global Product Line Manager, Pharmacist, Web Designer, Produce Clerk, and Mess Hall Attendant to name a few.
• Three non-profit organization partnerships resulting in 4 newly created positions.
Delaware Health and Social Services
Overview & AccomplishmentsDelaware Industries for the Blind
Employment options for the blind and visually impaired throughDelaware Industries for the Blind require various skill levels:
Leadership/SupervisoryCustomer Service RepresentativesProduction of Promotional ProductsJanitorial ServicesEngravingEmbroideryMarketing/SalesCall Center Services
DIB achieved ISO 9000 Certification in Fall 2010
Delaware Health and Social Services
Overview & AccomplishmentsBusiness Enterprise Program
Provides entrepreneurial opportunities for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Cafeteria Operation Management FFY10 Sales $755.4K• Vending Machine Operations FFY10 Sales $1.06M • Expanding into further markets
Delaware Health and Social Services
Overview & Accomplishments
Instructional Materials Center
Provides instructional materials to students and the visually impaired community in alternate formats.
FY 10Braille - produced 18,733 pagesLarge Print - produced 58,799 pagesAudio – produced 106 tapes
Delaware Health and Social Services
Trends and Performance Measure Indicators
89%98% 95% 96% 98%
0%
50%
100%
Percent of Consumers Satisfiedwith DVI Services
Delaware Health and Social Services
2.46 2.18 2.47 2.50 2.70
0.001.002.003.004.00
FY 08 FY 09 FY 10 FY 11 FY 12
Delaware Industries for the Blind Gross Receipts (in millions $)
Trends
Delaware Health and Social Services
Trends
INCREASED TECHNOLOGY DEMAND
Increase in requests for:• Web-based reading material• Digital books for downloading (changing technology)• Scripting to make state and business computer systems work
with Assistive Technology Software programs like Jaws and Zoom Text
Delaware Health and Social Services
FY 12 Governor’s Recommended Budget
Base adjustments• ($32.6) Reducing summer coverage of 2 - 12 month teachers;• ($105.1) Switch to NSF one Teacher Salary; • $78.9 Switch to GF one Teacher Salary;• ($18.8) Switch to 50% NSF for Casual/Seasonal;• ($40.0) Complement Reduction for vacant Admin Specialist I
position.
Delaware Health and Social Services
Challenges
Identifying blind and visually impaired Delawareans who
are unknown to DVI.
Increasing awareness of the medical professionals to
register patients with the Division for inclusion on the blind
registry.
Delaware Health and Social Services
Challenges
$1,034.7$789.7 $755.4
$1,195.0 $1,119.2 $1,067.0
$0.0
$500.0
$1,000.0
$1,500.0
█ BEP Cafeteria Sales
█ BEP Vending Sales
Delaware Health and Social Services
Challenges
Increasing the awareness of Employers (public and private) to the
Abilities of Blind/Visually Impaired Workers.
Overcoming some attitudinal dispositions about hiring blind/visually
impaired Employees.
Scripting to make state and business computer systems work with
Assistive Technology Software programs like Jaws and Zoom Text.
Delaware Health and Social Services
Thank You!