Prosperous Economy

The Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program enables Washington State residents who are blind or visually impaired to get or keep a job by developing skills, independence, and self-confidence. Through a federal Rehabilitation Services Administration formula grant, DSB provides comprehensive and individualized services to meet each participant's needs towards achieving the individual’s career goal. Services include vocational and adjustment to blindness counseling; assessment and training in the adaptive skills and technologies of blindness; procurement of needed tools and devices; supports for post-secondary education; job readiness training; assistance with small business development and business launch; transportation supports; assistance with job search, development, and placement; assessment and recommendations for workplace accommodations; and workplace trainings & follow-up services to ensure a good and stable employment outcome. The DSB Vocational Rehabilitation program provides career exploration and work experience for students with a disability as early as necessary in order to provide exposure, self-advocacy, independence skills and overall readiness to transition seamlessly into higher education or career directly after high school. Through the Pre-Employment Transition Services, students with a visual disability incorporate workplace expectations, and career options. The Washington State business community is also a customer of DSB’s Vocational Rehabilitation services. DSB VR provides technical assistance and consultation to businesses around reasonable accommodation processes, accessibility of work tools, and guidance on how to create a disability-friendly workplace environment to foster a workplace that values the diversity of its talented workforce. Visual disabilities exist across all known demographics: race; ethnicity; economic status; gender; gender-orientation; rural/urban location; age. DSB serves the broadest diversity of individuals in providing state-wide services that are at no-cost to the user. DSB’s Vocational Rehabilitation services also support to Telephonic Reading Services. Telephonic Reading Services provides reading services to blind individuals through the use of phone lines. The service is operated by the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland, and is mandated by RCW 74.18.045.

The Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) provides a continuum of services for Washington State residents who have experienced vision loss. DSB’s Independent Living (IL) program provides Washington State residents who are blind, low vision or deaf blind the adapted methods and tools to be able to continue living in their homes, re-engage in their community, and regain meaningful life activities. Service providers provide devices and instruction in alternative blindness techniques, including home maintenance and kitchen safety, travel with the use of a cane, and adapted methods to read, write and manage household & fiscal management. Services are provided in the individual’s home environment. By regaining independence through the adaptive skills and tools of blindness, many individuals are able to avoid or delay a decision to transition to assisted living or nursing facilities. Visual disabilities exist across all known demographics: race; ethnicity; economic status; gender; gender-orientation; rural/urban location; age. DSB serves the broadest diversity of individuals in providing state-wide services that are at no-cost to the user. While more people acquire a visual disability as they age, the Independent Living program serves all ages. The average age of DSB IL program participants is typically mid-80’s. Census data indicates that around 147,000 Washingtonians over age 21 have a significant enough vision loss to benefit from DSB’s Independent Living program. The IL program serves an average of 1,200 clients annually. The IL program is distinguished from the Vocational Rehabilitation program in that those served through the IL program do not seek (or don’t yet believe they are capable of) work. If employment is the end-goal, then an individual is served through the Vocational Rehabilitation program. It is often through the initial skills gained by participating in the IL program that a person who has experienced a vision loss realizes they are actually capable to work again.

The Department of Services for the Blind’s Business Enterprise Program (BEP) provides opportunities for qualified legally-blind adults to operate successful food service businesses in government buildings. Types of food service businesses include vending, snack/gift shops, espresso stands, delis, and cafeterias. These opportunities are provided through the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act. To be eligible for the BEP Training Program, a candidate must: be legally-blind, hold U.S. citizenship; have an aptitude for entrepreneurial business management; receive a referral from a Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) Vocational Rehabilitation counselor; and meet legal criteria for operating a business supported by federal law. DSB provides: required training to become a BEP licensee for operating and managing a food-service facility; the essential pieces of food service equipment and small wares for each BEP facility; assistance to the new operator in opening up the facility; and ongoing technical assistance and guidance. Funding for this program is generated through vending machines in government buildings and overhead is provided through General Fund–State dollars.

This activity provides administrative support and business management for the Department of Services for the Blind. Administrative functions include budgeting, accounting, federal grants management, personnel, facilities management, information technology, and the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind.