Quarterly Reports are presented to the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind during their quarterly meetings.
Quarterly Report, FFY 2024, 1st Quarter
October - December 2023
Presented to the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind
March 8, 2024
CONTENTS
- Independent Living Blind Skills Services
- Business Enterprise Program (BEP)
- Customer Services
- Orientation and Training Center Highlights
- Regional VR Highlights
- Agency Communications Report
- Financial Report
- Human Resources Update
INDEPENDENT LIVING BLIND SKILLS SERVICES
PARTICIPANTS SERVED (FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR (FFY) 2024 Q1)
| Program | FFY 2023 |
|---|---|
| Adults under 55 | 8 participants exited |
| Adults age 55+ | 173 participants exited |
| Total Participants during FFY 2024, Q1 | 181 participants exited |
CUSTOMER AND CASE TRENDS (FFY 2023 versus FFY 2024)
| Trend | FFY 2023, Q1 Exited Participants Only |
FFY 2024, Q1 Exited Participants Only |
|---|---|---|
| All exited participants | 192 | 181 (5% increase) |
| Participants under age 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Participants over age 100 | 1 | 1 |
| Participants who identify as a minority | 14% | 10% |
| Homeless Participants | 2 | 0 |
| Participants who have multiple disabilities | 33% | 40% |
| Participants with incomes $30,000 or less | 58% | 63% |
| Cost per case average | $650 | $800 |
FFY 2024 PRELIMINARY OUTCOMES
Most popular Assistive Technology categories of devices provided:
- Handheld magnifiers
- Writing guides and/or pens
- Large print address books, calendars, notepads, and other paper products
- UV filters and sunshades for glare
- Stand magnifiers
**In addition, 20 participants received cell phone and tablet app demonstrations to see if a cell phone or tablet and apps for people with vision loss or blindness would be beneficial.
Participants who feel more independent and more confident in maintaining their current living situation:
Out of the 159 participants with successfully closed cases in FFY 2024 to date, 151 or 95% reported being more confident in their current living situation and that their independent living skills have improved.
Counties without participants served: Benton, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Skamania, Wahkiakum, and Whatcom.
TAMERA'S SUCCESS STORY
Tamera is a determined 76-year-old woman living with her beloved dog in King County. In the summer of 2022, Tamera lost all her vision after experiencing giant cell arteritis. After spending time recovering in the hospital, Tamera returned home and realized she needed help adjusting to this major life change. Though she had friends, family, neighbors, and caregivers to support her, Tamera wanted to learn the skills to maintain her independence. With that, she reached out to Independent Living Blind Services (IL) to get the assistance she needed.
Once she connected with the IL provider in her area, Tamera told them that her main goal was to learn how to navigate around her home. When they first began working on orientation with vision loss, Tamera frequently bumped into objects and doorways and had difficulty accurately placing herself within her house. Her IL provider taught her a few techniques, such as using landmarks to map her home and using trailing techniques to identify these landmarks by feel. They also worked on safely walking up and down the stairs and making sure Tamera was comfortable walking necessary routes when she was home alone, like from her bedroom to the bathroom or kitchen. After a few sessions—and Tamera asking her family and friends to let her figure out her location on her own, Tamera’s orienting skills significantly improved. In the summer of 2022, Tamera’s confidence in moving around her home was restored; Tamera and her IL provider decided to bring her case to a close.
Over time, Tamera’s balance and sense of space continued to improve significantly. In the summer of 2023, Tamera knew she was ready to tackle the outdoors, so she contacted her former IL provider to get more help. This time, her goal was to be able to take her dog for walks around her neighborhood. Tamera and her IL provider started close to home, first getting used to making her way to her mailbox. This allowed Tamera’s IL provider the opportunity to introduce some orientation techniques before straying too far from her home. The IL provider instructed Tamera on counting her steps, using touch-based landmarks, and using the sounds of the street to align herself with the sidewalk.
Once Tamera was comfortable going out and collecting her mail independently, she and her IL provider started widening their route so that she could take short walks around her neighborhood. In between sessions, Tamera practiced this route alongside a neighbor. Over time, Tamera’s IL provider said that her route to the mailbox was flawless, and Tamera began taking her dog on short, independent walks while remaining oriented. Tamera and her IL provider brought this case to a close, with the reminder that she could always call to get more instruction if she had other goals to meet in the future. At the end of their time together, her IL provider praised Tamera, saying “she has never taken her eye off the prize of being independent, even if it has taken longer or been harder.”
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM (BEP)
FACILITIES UPDATE
BEP is finally on the move again, exciting times ahead and a lot more work to go. We opened the first two micro markets at the beginning of October. They are located at OB-2 Café and the Dome Deli café space. A big milestone for the Agency, program, and operators. Shortly thereafter, OB-2 café completed its 6-month construction process, was quickly set up for operation and training began coupled with a grand opening on October 31st. After three years of being closed due to COVID, this newly refreshed café known as Chin Don Bistro began offering fresh meals and coffee service to the State employees on the main capital campus in Olympia.
On October 13-14, BEP held their annual All State training event at OB-2 to showcase the new café to all our vendors in the program as well as many guests. The event was very hands-on this year with training in new kitchen equipment, menu adaptations, micro market shopping experience and operations practice, in-depth talks from industry experts and more. We had a partial day with Executive Director MacKillop and Asst. Director Wheeler onsite to participate in the activities. All said, it was a great way to start the new federal year of record.
In late November and early December, the Dome Deli completed its construction process, and the BEP team began a fast paced set up and owner readiness to prepare for re-opening and the pending Legislative session forthcoming in January. We had some challenges along the way, yet a solid agency-wide focus got us to the finish line.
Not to be overlooked, we were still heavily involved in budget work, designing future sites, learning new technologies and equipment operations all the while supporting all our other open facilities as best possible. A key partner in all of this was our project management firm Integrated Solutions Group under the guidance of Dana Whitford.
If the above wasn’t enough to do, we successfully partnered with an industry leading company known as Northwest Food Alliance to assist us with many of the tasks needed to set a vision for success in motion. Their leader Chef Tom French came onboard to help us make manage the training of our owners, developing menus, teaching new day-to-day management tools and processes needed to effectively execute a new café. He spent countless hours onsite teaching the new staff and working alongside the owners to put it all in motion. We have come a long way as a group and are very proud of all the hard work.
TRAINING AND POTENTIAL NEW VENDOR UPDATE
We are planning to re-work the training program more to match many of the goals found in the rebuild project, newfound success with micro markets, and create a more attractive VR process. This is a big undertaking and with help from Asst. Director Wheeler back onboard with us full-time, we have started the journey. BEP Manager, Jim Hemmen, continues to collaborate with his peers across the industry to seek additional resources.
STAFF UPDATE
The BEP team, as you can see, is very busy and operates as a high-performance team these days. It seems we are finding our stride or just plain so busy to slow down; we haven’t realized hundreds of hours are being crammed into short work weeks and it’s time to find a balance. In time it will come for now, we are enjoying a bit of the bright light of the dream coming true. BEP is on the rise!!.
CUSTOMER SERVICES
SNAPSHOT OF PERFORMANCE COMPARISON: [Q1 FFY23 vs Q1 FFY24]
- New VR Applications [86 vs 80]
- VR Participants Receiving Planned Services [843 vs 864]
- Students with a Disability served [246 vs 235]
- Competitive Employment Outcomes [24 vs 21]
- Average Hourly Wage FFY24 Q1 [$24.82 vs $31.17]
EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
Successful placements made this quarter:
| Job Title | Employer | County / Region |
|---|---|---|
| Social Workers | Selkirk Neurology | East / Spokane |
| Administrative Services Managers | Wa. State Dept. of Services for the Blind | South / Thurston |
| Massage Therapists | Massage Envy | South / Multnomah |
| Social Workers | Entrust Community Services | East / Yakima |
| Teachers and Instructors | Portland Community College | South / Clark |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing |
Angeles Mill Works and Lumber Co., Inc. | South / Clallam |
| Sales Managers | Auto Zone | South / Pierce |
| Human Resources Specialists | Community Health of Central Washington | East / Yakima |
| Food Preparation Workers | Nisqually Market | South / Thurston |
| Chiropractors | Kragt Warren, D.C. Chiropractor | East / Adams |
| Massage Therapists | Langley Equine Studies | East / Grant |
| Stock Clerks and Order Fillers | Grocery Outlet | South / Pierce |
| Sales and Related Workers | Self-employed | South / Clark |
| Customer Service Representatives | Family Promise of Spokane | East / Spokane |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career / Technical Education |
Shelton Public Schools | South / Thurston |
| Retail Salespersons | Saint Michaels Medical Center | South / Kitsap |
| Sales and Related Workers | Walmart | East / Benton |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | Aberdeen School District | South / Grays Harbor |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Special Education |
Saint Anthony Elementary School | North / King |
| Instructional Coordinators | Tye Memoir Writing | South / Kitsap |
| Teachers and Instructors | Kittitas School District | East / Kittitas |
Age ranges
- Percentage of participants age 55 and older who exited with employment outcome: 45%
- Eldest with employment outcome: Age 89 – College Teacher (Retention case)
- Youngest with employment outcome: Age 20 – Retail Sales
ORIENTATION AND TRAINING CENTER HIGHLIGHTS
PROGRESS TOWARDS STRATEGIC INITIATIVE 1 – TELLING THE DSB STORY
OTC SPOTLIGHT
Annette Nettles is a fearless individual who has overcome numerous challenges throughout her life. In the 1970s, she found herself as a newly divorced mother of two young boys, facing uncertainty and discrimination as she pursued her college education to create a better future for her family. Annette's passion for learning led her to pursue a career as a dietitian, which involved taking numerous challenging chemistry courses. A professor at the college noticed this and encouraged her to pursue a different degree. While in college, Annette took the initiative to secure an internship by reaching out to a company specializing in plating solutions. Impressed by her drive and skills, she was offered a full-time position as a process engineer upon graduation. Annette's dedication and hard work allowed her to climb the ranks within the company, eventually landing a managerial role in the engineering department. Throughout her career, Annette has worked at a total of four different companies, showcasing her adaptability and resilience.
Eventually, Annette went back to college to earn another degree and started her own church. For eight years, Annette dedicated her time and energy to her ministry, bringing hope and comfort to her congregation. However, as her vision loss progressed, Annette found it challenging to manage the church's day-to-day operations, and it became a growing concern. Despite her love and passion for her calling, Annette made the difficult decision to close her church.
In May 2022, Annette participated in an Intensive Week at OTC, finding solace and optimism in the realization that life after vision loss can offer more than just stagnation. This transformative experience inspired her to enroll as a residential student at OTC in the following term. Annette felt restricted in her career options due to limitations in her computer skills, transportation, and social interaction as a person with vision loss. The OTC program offered solutions and guidance on how to overcome these obstacles and continue pursuing fulfilling careers. Seminars were held to discuss these changes, including fear of the unknown. The program also provided practical advice on personal hygiene, professional dress, and simplifying wardrobes to navigate safely.
OTC holds a special place in Annette's heart, as she believes that its value lies in the effort one invests in it. At times when she struggled with pain and challenges, she relied on the support and encouragement of others to persevere. OTC provided her with not just accommodation and structure, but also valuable information and a sense of community, fostering growth and empowerment.
By the time Annette graduated the OTC, she felt inspired, empowered, and encouraged to continue forward. The program not only provided her with a foundation to pursue her career but also allowed her to start her own business - People to People. The business's name reflects its mission to support and uplift others, with services that include education, web design, and accounting. Annette has already established a business license and website; and is presently working on QuickBooks and YouTube to provide additional value to her clients. Overall, the OTC program empowered Annette to pursue her passions and continue contributing to society.
PROGRESS TOWARDS STRATEGIC INITIATIVE 2 – DSB EXPERTISE
- OTC staff continue to attend various training opportunities to either improve their knowledge and expertise in the areas they teach, or to learn about DSB policies.
- In late October, many OTC staff attended in the Washington Council of the Blind Convention in SeaTac, WA.
- In December, OTC staff conducted their annual Staff Retreat, discussing the direction of the Center and planning for 2024.
PROGRESS TOWARDS STRATEGIC INITIATIVE 3 – EMPLOYMENT AT EVERY LAYER
- This quarter’s Life In Action Days (LIADs) included a career focused tour of the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library during which WTBBL staff explained their job roles and education necessary to obtain these roles
- Additional LIADs included shopping, a tactile art workshop featuring John ‘Coyote’ Halliday, and rock climbing.
- On October 14th, many OTC staff and students attended Seattle’s White Cane Day event. Attendees walked from historic Pike Place Market to the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library (WTBBL). A reception was held at WTBBL. Attendees learned about local and national resources that promote blind independence.
- In mid-October, OTC held their fall Intensive Workshop week. Those who attended were pleased with their experience.
- In December of 2023 one student, Annette Nettles, graduated from the OTC.
VR HIGHLIGHTS – NORTH REGION
READY TO EXPLORE NOW
Abbie R., Vision Rehabilitation Specialist in the Seattle office, worked with a participant who started their journey with DSB with no independence in travel outside of the home, no independence in the kitchen or around financial management. This client was feeling unsure about what was possible for him. He was very used to people jumping in and doing things for him, which caused him to lack independence and rely heavily on others to do daily and basic tasks. She began adaptive skills training for him to gain more independence within the home, by doing laundry, cooking, and cleaning. From here they moved to cane training and as this client obtained skills with the cane he determined he really had an interest in a guide dog. He had always loved dogs, but felt that after losing all of his sight he could not take care of a dog well since he was not able to travel outside or see what the dog was getting into.
As he developed his training they both agreed he was ready to apply for a guide dog. Abbie suggested he attend as many guide dog webinars as possible for him to ask all of the questions he had and to talk with other guide dog handlers. He was very excited to get the process going. They continued to work on O&M routes and goals as they completed his application. After all of his hard work and attending the Orientation and Training Center’s Intensive Workshop Week he felt extremely confident in his O&M skills. This client went from traveling only when being guided at all times to being on his way to getting a Guide Dog at the Oregon Guide Dogs for the Blind in Boring with great cane and orientation skills!
He is looking forward to pursuing a whole new world of employment that he did not see as possible before receiving services from DSB. He has changed his vocational goal recently after building more confidence with his abilities, and is interested in pursuing self-employment with the Business Enterprise Program.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE BENEFITS EMPLOYER, TOO
Roberto C., Assistive Technology Specialist in Seattle, provided a job site evaluation for a participant in January at High Point Community Center in West Seattle which is run by the City of Seattle. The participant needed help with magnification to access her work computer as well as a Point of Sales (POS) machine they use to process payments. He was able to provide training to the participant on how to magnify her computer screen and applied large-print labels for her keyboard. He was also able to make accommodations on the POS computer that apply only to the participant, something that was very important as the POS is shared with other employees. The participant’s supervisor was very impressed, as they were unaware of the accommodations that are available to improve accessibility. They would like DSB to talk about their services during one of their quarterly meetings for managers.
DSB GAINS AN EMPLOYEE
Christy Youssef, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in the Seattle office, shares her own personal DSB success story.
After nine years of job hunting and holding different positions since completing my master’s degrees, I am now one year into this wonderful opportunity, as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) at DSB. It has been a long, arduous journey of highs and lows in my employment journey. I am grateful to those who supported and encouraged me along the way to keep focused on my goal. My family, close friends, and my DSB VRC encouraged me to keep applying to job opportunities and cheered me on with each interview. They kept their faith in me when nothing moved beyond the interview phase. My family, friends, and supporters spent countless hours helping with preparation for interviews, critiquing my resumes and cover letters, and even determining the best camera location for virtual interviews.
My DSB Counselor was always supportive and encouraging and helped me obtain a job as a smoking cessation Health Coach. As a Health Coach I gained valuable skills, confidence, and experience in motivating diverse individuals to reach their health goal of quitting tobacco. Although I was recognized for my efforts by supervisors, received positive feedback from participants, and helped people to better their health and lives, smoking cessation was not where my passion and interest lay. When thinking about my long-term career goal I wanted a career in the vision loss community, and to directly use my personal and educational background.
Obtaining two master’s degrees in visual disabilities and social work took years of hard work and dedication and I longed to use the education in a disability related career. As a person with congenital vision loss, from Retinopathy of Prematurity, my passion is to support those in the same community as I have a unique perspective as a participant and a trained professional. I am honored to serve and support DSB participants to achieve their vocational goals fitting their interests and skills just as I have been given the opportunity.
Thank you for the opportunity to impact the lives of others and give back. To all who feel their efforts may not be worth it, do not give up! Your hard work, perseverance and diligence will pay off! Thank you to DSB North Region staff for believing in me. I look forward to many more years at DSB!
BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT SUCCESS
Gil C., Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in the Seattle office, had a recent participant who actively participated in his VR partnership with DSB. DSB had referred him to a Community Rehabilitation Provider (CRP) to assist him with job placement services but in the end, our Business Engagement Manager, through their contact at DVA helped him secure a full-time position as an Accountant at Dept. of Veterans Affair (DVA). Gil wrote a Scheduled A letter to ensure that the participant is permanently hired in his role. DSB also provided a number of VR services at his workplace which included tools and equipment (and training) needed, ongoing communication between VRC and customer, transportation support/reimbursement, computer training, and mobility training with a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist.
BEP OPERATOR MAKING IT WORK
Gil C. shared another success story about helping a participant with his Business Enterprise Program operations. DSB was very involved in providing all the necessary VR services to support him, and worked closely with Jim H and the BEP team who provided extensive support, advice, and guidance along the way. In the end, their café is thriving despite the COVID pandemic which left the downtown core with a reduced number of workers. The operator has come up with rotating menus to offer customers to entice them to keep coming back. After monitoring his business for six months, he and Gil will move forward and refer his BEP case for a successful closure. He has expressed his gratitude for all the support DSB gave including services from the Vision Rehabilitation Specialist, the AT Specialist, and Rehab Technician on Gil’s team. It has been a good learning experience throughout.
GRATITUDE FOR MAUREEN
Maureen R., Vision Rehabilitation Specialist in the Seattle office, shared the following testimonial received from one her recent participants.
“2023 started off pretty rocky for me. Although I was happy with my career and social life, my visual impairment was bringing anxiety into things that previously gave me so much joy. Travel, social gatherings, and independently walking around Seattle started to become increasingly more difficult for me. This impacted my self-esteem, confidence, and overall positivity. As someone who strives to always look at the cup as half full, it hurt me that my positivity was fading, and I knew i wanted to find a way to empower myself again. This is when I decided to reach out to DSB for mobility training and support as my vision loss progressed. While there are obviously still anxious times, I can’t even begin to explain how much working with the DSB team has helped me embrace my disease, and find a new sense of confidence and independence. My work with Maureen, especially, has been incredibly fulfilling and has changed my perspective about my disability. There is so much more I can do and live than I thought I could, thanks to the mobility training that Maureen has provided me. After working with her, I was able to walk independently in the dark for the first time in over ten years. The amount of freedom and liberation I felt doing that is indescribable and I am so incredibly grateful. I will always remember the start of this journey and will always have a special place in my heart for DSB.”
AGENCY COMMUNICATIONS REPORT
PROGRESS TOWARDS STRATEGIC INITIATIVE #1.2 TARGETING THE DSB MESSAGE
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Promotion of NDEAM which began on October 1, including:
- Press release distribution to more than 90 media outlets statewide
- 50 Facebook posts with a Combined Organic Reach of 1,311.
- 39 LinkedIn posts garnering 1,393 Organic Unique Impressions.
- Requested proclamations from the State of Washington and 12 localities.
Fall Town Hall Meeting
Promotion of October 18 event, including:
- Press release distribution to more than 90 media outlets statewide
- Calendar of Event postings to more than 50 outlets statewide.
- Email distribution to EVE and other stakeholders
White Cane Safety Day
- Support of Washington Talking Book and Braille Library event.
PROGRESS TOWARDS STRATEGIC INITIATIVE #1.3 TELLING THE STORY FOR THE HIGHEST IMPACT
Website Refresh Project
Began project to rebrand and redesign website to make it more relevant for clients, easier to access needed information, and to ensure site meets the needs of clients and the citizens of the state. Scheduled completion: September 2024.
Major project activities this quarter:
- Secured delegated authority for project funding.
- Met with representatives from WaTech and external vendors.
- Reviewed project proposal.
- Kickoff meetings with stakeholders.
- Recruited project Core Team
- Weekly Core Team meetings though duration of project
- Monthly Sponsor meetings through duration of project
PROGRESS TOWARDS STRATEGIC INITIATIVE #2.1 ENHANCE AGENCY CAPACITY AND CORE COMPETENCIES
Leadership Team
- Monthly meetings, trainings, and discussions.
Data Governance Team
- Developing training and communications to inform staff on improving the Agency’s Records Retention efforts.
- Subject matter guide during Data Retention Labs.
PROGRESS TOWARDS STRATEGIC INITIATIVE #2.2 ENHANCE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND SUCCESSION
Communications Office Knowledge Transfer
- Ongoing updates to Communications “How-To” Desk Manual to share and preserve knowledge of office duties and activities.
- Working with HR staff to rewrite DSB position announcements to increase appeal and click-through on non-governmental job boards and social media
- Reviewed and updated state Plain Talk Policy template for agency use.
ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS
Website Analytics Overview
Website use overview:
| Metric | Definition | Current | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Users | Number of unique individuals who visited the site | 5,389 | +667 |
| New Users | Individuals visiting the site for the first time | 5,024 | -758 |
| Sessions | Number of times a user is active engaged with the website. | 4,715 | -3,278 |
| Page Views | Number of pages looked at | 16,952 | -28 |
Channels
How people found the website:
| Type | Definition | Users | Percent | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic Search | Used Google, Bing, or another search engine to find the site. | 3,393 | 6,296% | -116 |
| Direct | Typed in the URL. | 1,690 | 31.36% | -624 |
| Referral | Clicked a link on a different website. | 242 | 4.49% | +26 |
| Social | Clicked on a link from a social media platform. | 48 | .89% | -90 |
| Email/ Unassigned |
Clicked on a link embedded in an email message. | 11 | .20% | +11 |
| Organic Shopping |
Clicked on a non-ad link on shopping sites like Amazon or eBay. |
5 | .09% | +5 |
Technology
Type of device used to view the website (per session):
| Technology Used | Users | Percent | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop | 3,337 | 61.92% | -598 |
| Mobile Phone | 1,890 | 35.07% | -149 |
| Tablet | 89 | 1.65% | +6 |
| Smart TV | 1 | .02% | +1 |
Top Ten Web Pages
| Page | Views | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Home | 4385 | NA |
| Independent Living | 662 | NA |
| Our Services | 561 | NA |
| Contact Us | 494 | NA |
| Request Services | 488 | NA |
| Events | 454 | NA |
| Seattle Office | 436 | NA |
| Careers | 385 | NA |
| Search | 362 | NA |
| Aids and Devices | 320 | NA |
Online Referral Forms
| Type | Users | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Self-referrals | 88 | -21 |
| Physician referrals | 35 | +2 |
Analytics
| Metric | Definition | Current | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Followers | The number of people/pages that follow the page | 567 | -13 |
| Total Reach | The number of people who had any content from or about the page enter their screen through unpaid distribution |
1,569 | +431 |
Top Five Facebook Posts
| Topic | Date | Reach |
|---|---|---|
| WE'RE HIRING! UEB Braille Instructor |
November 2 | 184 |
| WE'RE HIRING! Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor |
November 17 | 122 |
| WE'RE HIRING! OTC Assistive Technology Instructor |
December 18 | 117 |
| EVENT Startup Wizard Workshops |
November 20 | 104 |
| WE'RE HIRING! UEB Braille Instructors |
October 24 | 95 |
Analytics
| Metric | Definition | Current | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Followers | Number of people that follows the account | 362 | +32 |
| Impressions (organic) |
Number of views when an update is at least 50% on screen or when it is clicked, whichever comes first. |
872 | +1,879 |
| Impressions (sponsored) |
FOR PAID POSTINGS ONLY. Number of views when an update is at least 50% on screen or when it is clicked, whichever comes first. |
103,762 | +45,487 |
Top Five LinkedIn Posts - Organic
| Topic | Date | Reach |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment Event: Persons with Disabilities @ State Department - Civil Service | October 23 | 106 |
| Just 21% of people with disabilities were employed in 2022 - how employers can reduce hiring bias. Link to article |
October 13 | 89 |
| Inslee hosts public performance review of employment opportunities for people with disabilities |
December 6 | 82 |
| 6 ways to make hiring more accessible Expand the applicant pool and support higher rates of employment for people with disabilities. It's a win-win. Link to article |
October 31 | 78 |
| Clark County's 23rd Annual Celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month |
October 2 | 75 |
Sponsored LinkedIn Posts
| Topic | Date | Impressions |
|---|---|---|
| DSB is reopening its search for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRC) for our Seattle Office | December 19 | 40,220 |
| The WA State Department of Services for the Blind is hiring a new Orientation and Training Center Assistive Technology Instructor for our Seattle Office. | December 15 | 15,500 |
| DSB is searching for two Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRC4) for our Seattle office. | November 7 | 14,963 |
| DSB is searching for a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC4) for our Tacoma office. | December 7 | 11,655 |
| UEB Braille Instructor (In Training) job post The Washington State Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) is seeking Braille Instructor to join the interdisciplinary team at our Orientation & Training Center in Seattle, Washington |
October 20 | 113,65 |
| DSB is hiring a Birth thorough Age 13 (B-13) Specialist | December 5 | 9,516 |
OTHER COMMUNICATIONS EVENTS / MEETINGS / TRAININGS
- State Agency Communications Directors Meetings
Bi-weekly, Virtual - Access Spokane Hiring Event
Weekly planning meetings
October 3 - October 28 - Washington Talking Book & Braille Library
White Cane Safety Day Exhibition
October 14
FINANCIAL REPORT
Federal Fiscal Year 2024, through December 31, 2023
2024 STATE FISCAL YEAR – REVIEW THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2023 (IN THOUSANDS)
| Source | Allotment Authority |
Expenditures | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund - State | $ 5,124 | $ 448 | $ 4,676 |
| General Fund - Federal | $ 12,728 | $ 8,553 | $ 4,175 |
| Donations | $ 30 | $ 8 | $ 22 |
| BEP Remodel | $ 1,552 | $ 999 | $ 553 |
| BEP Operations * | $ 1,027 | $ 346 | $ 681 |
| Statewide Technology Pool | $ 526 | $ 0 | $ 526 |
| State Funds for Birth - 13 Program | $ 201 | $ 0 | $ 201 |
| State Funds for IL Program | $ 184 | $ 0 | $ 184 |
| Total | $ 21,372 | $ 4,624 | $ 16,748 |
* Allotment authority represents estimated revenue and GFS.
2024 STATE FISCAL YEAR – FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2023 (IN THOUSANDS)
| Grant | Grant Funds |
SFY 23 Federal Expenditures |
SFY 24 Federal Expenditures |
Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Voc. Rehab. Basic Services - $1.4 million is for Pre-ETS set aside |
$ 10,472 | $ 8,382 | $ 2,090 | $ 0 |
| 2023 Voc. Rehab. Basic Services - $1.9 million is for Pre-ETS set aside |
$ 13,167 | $ 0 | $ 6,199 | $ 6,968 |
| 2023 Voc. Rehab. Basic Services | $ 3,906 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 3,906 |
| 2022 IL Older Blind | $ 677 | $ 677 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| 2023 IL Older Blind | $ 674 | $ 106 | $ 457 | $ 111 |
| 2024 IL Older Blind | $ 230 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 230 |
| Total | $ 29,126 | $ 9,165 | $ 8,746 | $ 11,215 |
2024 STATE FISCAL YEAR – TOTAL EXPENDITURES BY PROGRAM THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2023 (IN THOUSANDS)
| Program | Grant Funds Expended |
State Funds Expended |
Other Funds Expended |
Total Funds Expended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voc. Rehab Services Adults | $ 4,164 | $ 362 | $ 9 | $ 7,535 |
| Voc. Rehab Pre-ETS | $ 1,126 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 1,126 |
| Independent Living Part B | $ 0 | $ 100 | $ 0 | $ 100 |
| IL Older Blind | $ 254 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 254 |
| Birth through 13 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| State Only Funds for Non-Allowable Grant Charges |
$ 0 | $ 11 | $ 0 | $ 11 |
| Business Enterprise Program | $ 0 | $ 999 | $ 346 | $ 1,345 |
| Total | $ 8,544 | $ 1,472 | $ 355 | $ 1,0371 |
SPENDING TARGETS FOR PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES SET ASIDE
EXPENDITURES THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 (IN THOUSANDS)
| Federal Grant | Grant Amount |
Pre-ETS Set Aside |
Pre-ETS Spent Dollars |
Unspent Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FFY 2022 (ends 09-30-23) |
$ 10,472 | $ 1,571 | $ 1,571 | $ 0 |
| FFY 2023 (ends 09-30-24) |
$ 13,167 | $ 1,975 | $ 727 | $ 1,248 |
| FFY 2024 (ends 09-30-25) |
$ 12,243 | $ 1,836 | $ 0 | $ 1,836 |
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF DSB BUSINESS AND FINANCE?
- DSB has General Fund state dollars in the amount of $201,000 for SFY 24 and SFY 25 for a total of $402,000 to serve individuals from Birth through 13.
- DSB has received a onetime General Fund state dollar increase of $184,00 for SFY 24 and $367,000 for SFY 25 for a total of $551,000 for Independent Living services. This is in addition to the $636,850 in FFY 24 federal funding for Independent Living services.
- DSB received a transfer of $3 million in federal grant funds from Washington General for the FFY 23 VR grant. This also increases the Pre-ETS set aside requirement by $450,000.
- DSB and DVR agreed to allocate an additional 2% of the state’s FFY 24 VR grant to DSB which is an increase of $1,271,000.
- The FFY 24 VR grant has increased by 7% ($805,000).
- DSB transferred Supported Employment grants to Washington General starting with the FFY 23 grant.
- The FFY 24 federal budget has not been finalized but DSB has sufficient carry-over funding from FFY 23 as well as state funding to continue normal operations thru late spring of 2024.
HUMAN RESOURCES UPDATE
NEW HIRES
| Personnel | Job Title | Team | Duty Station | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Reynolds | VRC 4 | VR | Seattle | 02/01/2024 |
| John Costello | Reader / Driver | CS | Spokane | 01/23/2024 |
| Kali Kleven-Warren | OTC Braille Instructor | OTC | Seattle | 01/02/2024 |
| Tina Ailinger | East Region RAM | VR | Yakima | 01/01/2024 |
END OF SERVICE
| Personnel | Job Title | Team | Duty Station | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steffi Coleman | Vision Rehabilitation Specialist | VR | Yakima | 01/25/2024 |
| Jonathan Whitby | VRC 4 | VR | Tacoma | 01/15/2024 |
| Jaime Portillo | OTC Lead | OTC | Seattle | 12/22/2023 |
| Richard Newman | Reader / Driver | CS | Spokane | 12/11/2023 |
Previous Quarterly Reports
Fiscal Year 2024
- 4th Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 1st Quarter