Date: 08/27/2015
Final
Presentation by Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE BLIND
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01:09 PM -- Presentation by Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Steve Anton, Interim Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and LaVerne Dell, State Coordinator for Blind Services, came to the table to begin their presentation. Mr. Anton lauded the work of the committee and discussed the upcoming transfer of the program to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). Mr. Anton discussed his prior experience in disability determination. He then talked about the specific process of determining eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services. He described the process for counselors and clients as being interactive and noted that there is a presumption of eligibility for vocational rehabilitation. Mr. Anton discussed the prioritization of services. He described how a rehabilitation plan is created and then services are prioritized using a case management system. Through the system, counselors are able to view all cases and manage their workload and follow the needs of the case. Representative Primavera asked about the ability of counselors to understand the needs of the blind and having the required skills. Ms. Dell described the information provided to counselors when they take over caseloads that include blind clients. She described technology training and the need for continuous training given advances in technology that are always occurring. Representative Primavera asked about the waitlist and the order of selection process. Mr. Anton stated that Colorado uses order of selection and could institute a waitlist if required, but that there is not currently a waitlist. Representative Primavera asked about any policies or documentation that are available concerning the creation of the waitlist. Representative Danielson then asked about the waitlist and how long it took to resolve. She also asked about case outcomes and closures from the waitlist. Mr. Anton said that the cases were processed and the cases closed. Representative Primavera then asked about funding and why the state did not take advantage of all available federal funding. Mr. Anton stated that he was not there at the time and could not answer that question.