The Model State Plan In Action

1. The Model State Plan In Action Panel Presentation by Pat Tomlinson, Patty Conway, Bedarius Bell, Hank Passi, Pamela Hill, Susan Lascek, Barbara Bryant.

2. 5th Edition: 1973; 1977; 1980; 1990; 2008

3. Preface Guiding Principles Acronyms Chapter 1. People with Hearing Loss Chapter 2. The Vocational Rehabilitation Process Chapter 3. Personnel Development and Standards Chapter 4. Transition Services Chapter 5. Communication Chapter 6. Technology and Accommodations Chapter 7. Partnerships and Interagency Agreements Chapter 8. Independent Living Skills Chapter 9. Future Directions References 2008 Table of Contents

4. What’s New in the 5th Edition • Comprehensive application of the VR process to all subpopulations. (Deaf; Deaf-Blind; Hard of Hearing; & Late-Deafened) • Model for Program Assessment and Strategic Planning • Models of effective organizational structures. • Staff personnel standards (knowledge, skills & abilities) recommended for serving all target populations.

5. What’s New in the 5th Edition • Reliable & up-to-date population data by subpopulations. • RSA disability code clarification for coding accuracy. • Communication technology options & impact on work. • Importance & benefits of creative partnerships. • Transitioning & life skills training. • Challenge to do business differently.

6. Assessment Strategy & Strategic Planning Assign a Lead Person to Develop the Assessment Plan & Present it to Agency Senior Management Team to Gain their Commitment & Go Ahead CH 1 – POPULATION CH 2 – VR PROCESS CH 3 – PERSONNEL & STANDARDS CH 4- TRANSITION SRVS CH 5 – COMMUNICATION ACCESS CH 6 – TECH. & ACCOMMODATIONS

7. Patty Conway • Developing Specialized Services for Consumers who are • Hard of Hearing and Late-Deafened • Bedarius Bell • Using the Consumer Satisfaction Survey • as a Basis for Strategic Planning • Craig (Hank) Passi • Program Reassessment and Strategic Planning as a New SCD • Susan Lascek • Is the MSP Impacting VR Programs for • Consumers who are Deaf-Blind? • Pamela Hill • The Georgia Experience • Barbara Bryant • Colorado’s Progress Toward Its MSP Mission Today’s SCD Panel

8. Developing Specialized Services for Consumers who are Hard of Hearing and Late-Deafened Patty Conway

9. KY Office of Vocational Rehabilitation • 1994 - Comprehensive assessment of VR services to all consumers with hearing loss using MSP assessment model. • 1995 -Strategic plan development and implementation based on assessment results. • On-Going assessment & improvement of services.

10. Assessment Results • Lack of signing skills of staff serving deaf consumers. • Lack of knowledge of how to serve hard of hearing/late deafened consumers. • Low numbers of hard of hearing/late deafened consumers served/rehabilitated compared to the population.

11. Assessment Results • Inconsistency in services to deaf-blind consumers. • Poor job satisfaction of some VR staff responsible for serving various consumers with hearing loss. • Poor consumer satisfaction related to communication skills of VR staff, communication options and available services.

12. Strategic Plan Components • Redesign of existing staff structure to better serve all subpopulations of consumers with hearing loss. Consumer’s communication preference determines which staff person serves them. Uses sign language - RCD or non-signing – Communication Specialist. • Specialized training to staff about specific sub-populations – hard of hearing/late deafened, deaf-blind, LFD, deaf. • Training in the Rehab Process and casework for each sub-population;

13. Strategic Plan Components • Training of Managers supervising staff about various sub-populations of persons with hearing loss. • Revised/improved policies procedures. (hearing aid purchases, assessment of consumers’ communication needs, hearing assistive technology, etc.) • Improved office and service accessibility for all consumers with hearing loss. (deaf counselors serving deaf consumers, use of ALDs with hard of hearing consumers, etc.)

14. Results of Improved Services • Consumer satisfaction. • Counselor satisfaction & improved recruitment of qualified staff. Attracted more staff who are deaf themselves or fluent signers. • Some general counselors (non-signing) trained to serve hard of hearing/late deafened. • Increased productivity (300% increase in successful employment outcomes of HH/LD cases from 1995-2006).

15. Obstacles • Lack of mid-management support and training. • Limited training resources (in-state and out-of-state). • Staff turnover and training of new staff. • Lack of technical assistance at regional/national level.

16. Using the Consumer Satisfaction Survey as a Basis for Strategic Planning Bedarius Bell

17. Program Reassessment and Strategic Planning as a New SCD Craig (Hank) Passi

18. Is the MSP Impacting VR Programs for Consumers who are Deaf-Blind? Susan Lascek

19. Helen Keller National Center Act Serving Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults Section 201 under the Rehab Act Purpose: • Provide specialized intensive services • Train family members • Train professionals • Conduct applied research

20. Challenges to Service Delivery 1. Definition: Deaf-Blind Person: May not self-identify as Deaf-Blind Agency: Must identify as Deaf-Blind in order to offer full array of service options – consumer choice Coding – 911 Disability Codes = 08 HKNC – North Central Region – Laura J. Thomas – June 28, 2007

21. Challenges to Service Delivery 2. Inconsistent Service Delivery System A. Who is responsible and for what? SCDB? SCD? SCB? General? RCD? RCB? B. What is the policy? Is it up-to-date? C. Does staff have Skill, Knowledge & Support? D. HKNC role? 3. Limited resources: funding; professionals HKNC – North Central Region – Laura J. Thomas – June 28, 2007

22. TRADITIONAL STRATEGIES THAT WORK Training – for people who are deaf- blind Training – for professionals HKNC – North Central Region – Laura J. Thomas – June 28, 2007

23. CREATIVE STRATEGIES THAT WORK Statewide Deaf-Blind Needs Assessment Champion within the system Commitment from the top Strategic Planning Deaf-Blind Task Forces- include Deaf-Blind leaders and HKNC Regional Representatives Advisory Boards – include Deaf-Blind leaders Collaborative Committees – include Deaf-Blind leaders and HKNC Regional Representatives Professionals who are deaf-blind working within the state Mentoring of future Deaf-Blind leaders MOUs Strong Transition teams Hire & place qualified people who are deaf-blind

24. RESOURCES MODEL STATE PLAN FOR DEAF, DEAF-BLIND, HARD OF HEARING, AND LATE DEAFENED HELEN KELLER NATIONAL CENTER REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE WWW.HKNC.ORG

25. The Georgia Experience Pamela Hill

26. Colorado’s Progress Toward Its MSP Mission Barbara Bryant

27. Colorado’s Progress Toward MSP Mission State Coordinators of the Deaf National Forum Baltimore, Maryland

28. Survey • The chapter 9 questions became the survey questions. • Mutiple-choice answers with space for comments • RCD/RCHH measured their own skills. www.dvrcolorado.com

29. Committee • RCD/HHs volunteer to review survey • Identified areas that need improvement • Discovered weakness in services to individual who are hard of hearing • Identified appropriate training www.dvrcolorado.com

30. Barriers • Cost containment • No travel within the state • Wait list • People off the wait list • New Accounting Rules • Any Questions? www.dvrcolorado.com

31. Our charge for the future is to find creative ways to turn challenges into opportunities for continued quality & growth of vocational rehabilitation program & service excellence for consumers who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, & late-deafened. Our Charge for Future

32. Questions??We will all be at the entire forum & happy to talk with you.Also-contact information for the MSP authors is listed in your copy of the “MSP Snapshot”.

33. Want a copy of the MSP? www.lulu.com:80/content/2289052 Download for Free Purchase Print Book for $7.13 plus shipping and handling For a copy of this Power Point- send email to Pat- mandalay@comcast.net