Presented: December 13, 2024
Independent Living Blind Skills Services
Customers Served (Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024 Q4)
Exited Customers Only.
| Program | FFY 2024, Q4 |
|---|---|
| Adults under 55 | 62 |
| Adults age 55+ | 722 |
| Total Customers during FFY 2024, Q3 | 784 |
Customer and Case Trends (FFY 2023, Q4 versus FFY 2024, Q4)
Exited Customers Only.
| Trend | FFY 2023, Q3 | FFY 2024, Q3 |
|---|---|---|
| All exited participants | 802 | 784 (2% decrease over 2023) |
| Customers under age 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Customers over age 100 | 5 | 9 |
| Customers who identify as a minority | 13% | 15% |
| Homeless Customers | 7 | 2 |
| Customers who have multiple disabilities | 35% | 42% |
| Customers with incomes $30,000 or less | 56% | 63% |
| Cost per case average | $ 715 | $ 820 (12% increase over 2023) |
FFY 2024 Preliminary Outcomes
Most popular Assistive Technology devices provided to customers:
- Handheld and stand magnifiers
- Writing guides and/or pens
- Large print address books, calendars, notepads, and other paper products
- Glare filter sunglasses
- Adapted kitchen equipment
* In addition, 89 customers received cell phone and tablet apps demonstrations to see if a cell phone or tablet and apps for people with vision loss or blindness would be beneficial.
Customers who feel more independent and more confident in maintaining their current living situation:
Out of the 681 Customers with successfully closed cases in FFY 2024, 639 or 94% reported being more confident in their current living situation and that their independent living skills have improved.
Counties without Customers served:
Ferry, Garfield, and Wahkiakum
Federal Fiscal Year 2024 Satisfaction Survey Comments
A client of Phoebe Au’s said:
She was great! I will absolutely recommend the program to others. Phoebe was attentive to what I needed, and very honest in her assessment in what I was doing right or wrong, and how to correct it. She was a wonderful, wonderful guide. It's a great service! I had no idea that this was a service that that was available to blind people. I had no idea what I was doing, and I recommend her highly. She has added more joy to my life; I can go outside and walk with a cane without worrying. The freedom I feel now being able to just walk around the block. I forgot how much I missed it, when I was afraid to cross the street. I didn't realize before that I was depressed, and I feel so much more independent. I feel so lucky to have gotten Phoebe as my provider.
A client of Lilac Services for the Blind said:
I saw no path forward but the people at Lilac guided me into truth. I was lost in a forest of depression, stagnant and rotting. To many, I was a lost cause. The people at Lilac attempted to help me, and that alone helped tremendously. They're always timely. Always here to help. To all with ears to hear, I will praise the IL Program. The services were all I could hope for.
Maggie's Success Story
Maggie is a 47-year-old woman living in Okanogan County who, in the winter of 2023, was going through a difficult time. Dealing with the aftermath of her parent’s passing, Maggie’s depression and anxiety worsened to the point where she was rarely able to leave her home. The frustration Maggie felt with her daily struggles getting things done due to her vision loss was amplified as her world was limited to her residence. Maggie felt like she was stuck in a loop; her inability to accomplish things around her home fed into her anxiety, which in turn exasperated her depression and agoraphobia that led to her isolation. Having connected with Independent Living (IL) Blind Services a few years ago when she was new to vision loss, Maggie reached out to the IL program for help.
When Maggie reunited with her IL provider, she expressed that her top priority was to be able to go through boxes of paperwork in her living room. As her vision loss progressed, she kept accumulating more paperwork that she was unable to sort through on her own. Maggie told her IL provider that the increasing number of boxes cluttering her living space was adding to her feelings of anxiety and helplessness.
With this in mind, Maggie’s IL provider demonstrated a text-to-speech device called the ClearReader+. When you set a paper with typed text down in front of a ClearReader+, the device will read it aloud to the user. Maggie was thrilled to learn about this assistive technology option, and that she would finally be able to go through her paperwork independently. Maggie’s IL provider sent in a request to the IL Special Device Lending Program to loan her a ClearReader+ that Maggie could keep in her home until it was no longer needed.
After leaving the device with Maggie for a few weeks, her IL provider stopped by to check in on her. Maggie was quick to pick up the ins and outs of the ClearReader+ and was proud of her progress; she had gone through all of the paperwork that had been overwhelming her for months. Having accomplished her main goal, Maggie and her IL provider agreed to close her case with the reminder that she could always come back to the IL program if she had new goals in the future. During their last visit, Maggie’s IL provider saw her anxiety had “notably lessened.” The IL provider observed that “the ClearReader+ gave Maggie the independence and feeling of control that she had lost.”
George's Success Story
George is a tenacious and community-oriented man in his 60s. In the winter of 2023, George and his partner moved to a new home. Before the move, George’s age-related macular degeneration had been worsening, but he was able to get around the environment he was familiar with. The move disrupted his mental map and routines, and George knew he needed extra help. Having previously accessed Independent Living (IL) Blind Services in 2016, George called his former provider to resume their lessons.
During their first appointment together, George expressed that he would like to be able to keep track of his appointments, write checks, and better connect with friends. He’d also like to be able to monitor his health; with diabetes, George needed to keep a close watch over his blood sugar levels. While George’s partner typically handled his appointments, health, and finances due to his vision loss, George wanted the skills to take care of these things himself. With this, George’s IL provider gave him a large print calendar to keep track of important dates, a writing guide to ensure he could fill out checks properly, and a talking glucometer that reads blood sugar readings aloud. The IL provider left these devices with George to practice using with a note that they’d follow up on his progress during their next appointment.
When the IL provider next called George, he was experiencing difficulties. George had separated from his partner who did not support his growing independence. While George was supported by his church community, he had to drastically cut down costs to remain in his home. As George navigated his separation, he told his IL provider he’d like to take a break from services until he was more settled.
Nine months later, George reached out to his IL provider again. With support from the church and his family, George could get internet service again and was ready for the assistive technology training they had put on hold. George’s IL provider got him an iPad from the IL Special Device Lending Program. After setting up the device with accessibility features and George’s contact list, the IL provider taught him how to use Siri to answer questions, message friends, and read web pages aloud. George was amazed at how user-friendly the iPad could be, with easy magnification options to accommodate his fluctuating vision.
When George’s IL provider called to follow up on his progress with the iPad, he was enthusiastic. He was able to use the device to read, do his banking, send messages to friends and family, and ask Siri all sorts of questions that came up if he had any trouble. George said the iPad and training had been “life-changing!” Having regained a sense of financial, medical, and social independence, George and his IL provider agreed that they should bring his case to a close with the reminder that the IL program would always be here if he needed further support.
Business Enterprise Program (BEP)
Facilities Update
BEP continues to forge ahead with updating needed equipment, and making minor design adjustments to the remaining facilities on our to do list. We are rapidly designing the new NRB café with an architect team and feel confident in the process as well as hitting our budget. The food trailer arrived as specified and looks fantastic. In the next quarter we will embark on developing an operational plan with potential sites for assignment. This is a large undertaking to create a new model for the program's future. We are 2+ years into the refresh project and the program is starting to show signs of what it can be. Progress may not meet everyone’s timeline or original vision. However, no start up business ever goes 100% to plan; the important fact is we are steady to the plan.
Our industry partner Northwest Food Alliance continues to be an important ally to us. They are keeping focus on menus, training, management development, product sourcing and sustainable practices for all our owners. All of which are critical to business success in today’s climate. Additionally, we brought on a business coaching organization to help our owners and future self-employment candidates identify key needs for successful leadership and business ownership.
Training and Potential New Vendor Update
The BEP team meets regularly with Asst. Director Wheeler to map out our goals around VR engagement, curriculum updates and future opportunities for the program.
We are currently active in updating all our vending agreements to capture all sites serviced and track the much-needed revenues from the machines. This is a large task and is spear-headed by Julia Longacre, our program specialist.
The team also engaged with the elected vendor committee to plan a robust All State meeting set for October. So far, the experience has been very collaborative, and the agenda proposed will be very aligned with all stakeholders’ goals for growing and sustaining BEP.
Staff Update
The BEP team continues to be active in supporting operators in the field as well as providing technical assistance to the changing business climate in government buildings. The fast pace shared in past reports has not changed much, yet the team is putting a greater focus on how we can redefine our work to better align with the Agency initiatives on how we impact our customers and to serve them better.
Business Relations
Three trainings offered this quarter:
In July, DSB Business Relations provided training on the new team and what they are providing to the agency. Each Business Relations specialist was introduced, and the Business Relations team spoke about the different services that we will provide to the agency.
In August, Kam Green presented to DSB about the Art of Communication. Kam spoke about how to identify your communication style, and how to communicate that. She spoke about communication plans, and had staff identify their own communication style.
In September, Ron Brooks from Accessible Avenue presented a training course on Careers in Transportation Advocacy. He spoke about the different opportunities in the transportation field for individuals with disabilities and spoke about the careers that are out there.
Job Fair held in September:
On September 12th, DSB partnered with DVR to put together a Career Fair.
There were 45 Employers recruiting for quality jobs that pay living wages, including:
- 9 Federal Agencies (Schedule A)
- 13 State/City/County Agencies
- 23 Businesses and Community Partners
Attendance results
- 295 job seekers pre-registered for the event
- 160+ job seekers attended and checked in at the registration desk
When asked "How did you hear about the event?",
- 62 people listed DVR
- 44 people listed DSB
- 54 people said WorkSource
This event was promoted through different DVR & DSB offices, CRPs, Community Partners, WorkSource, and LinkedIn. KIRO News ran a press release about the event.
Job Club started
At the end of June we started a job club for College Graduates. This job club served nine individuals who had just graduated from college programs. Throughout the program’s lifespan, three individuals have gone back to work, with the others gaining valuable job search skills. The program has received multiple emails praising the program and asking DSB to continue funding it.
The NET Conference
DSB's Business Relations team, Carl Peterson, Juan “JC” Alvarado, and Josh Resnick attended the NET National Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina in September. The team was able to network and meet with the Business Relations teams from a number of other states.
DVR/DSB Collaboration Meeting
Business relations staff from DVR and DSB met to talk about opportunities for collaboration and working together. Guest speaker, Labor Economist Paul Turek, spoke about different opportunities available in the workforce. The offsite was hosted at DSB’s Seattle office, and a tour of the Orientation and Training Center was provided for DVR staff. After completing a reflective evaluation exercise together, the consistent message that emerged is that there is an interest in doing more of this, and a number of staff wrote that this event should happen again as it was very valuable time spent together.
Services to Customers
Snapshot of Performance Comparison: [FFY23 Q4 vs FFY24 Q4]
- New VR Applications [317 vs 339]
- VR Customers Receiving Planned Services [1,117 vs 1,123]
- Students with a Disability served [223 vs 210]
- Competitive Career Outcomes [104 vs 100]
- Average Hourly Wage FFY24 Q4 [$30.35 vs $37.35]
Employment Outcomes
Successful outcomes made this quarter, including job retention cases:
| Job Title | Employer | Wage | Hours | Region/County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Counselors | Therapeutic Health Services | $ 36.06 | 40 | North/King |
| Social Workers, All Other | Valley Cities Behavioral Health | $ 23.71 | 40 | North/King |
| Software Developers | F5 Inc | $ 67.63 | 40 | North/King |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center | $ 33.12 | 40 | North/King |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | The Village Bistro | $ 16.00 | 4 | East/Benton |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | Safeway | $ 16.28 | 20 | East/Yakima |
| Registered Nurses | Virginia Mason Memorial | $ 50.00 | 40 | East/Yakima |
| Instructional Coordinators | Self-employed | $ 50.77 | 40 | North/King |
| Surveyors | Azure Green Consultants, LLC | $ 45.00 | 40 | South/Pierce |
| Physician, All Other | CHC of Snohomish County | $ 104.49 | 12 | North/King |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | Safeway | $ 16.53 | 35 | South/Thurston |
| Sales Representatives, Services, All Other | ACE Hardware | $ 111.00 | 10 | East/Asotin |
| Mental Health Counselors | Peaks and Valleys Healing | $ 36.92 | 25 | East/Chelan |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other | Highline Community College | $ 28.94 | 40 | South/Thurston |
| Community and Social Services Specialists, All Other | Washington State Department of Services for the Blind | $ 33.21 | 40 | South/Clark |
| Customer Service Representatives | City of Seattle Parks and Recreation | $ 24.92 | 17 | North/King |
| Agricultural Workers, All Other | Bob's Boy, Inc | $ 16.28 | 40 | East/Douglas |
| Project Management Specialists | United Healthcare | $ 48.08 | 40 | North/Snohomish |
| Sales Representatives, Services, All Others | Ace Hardware | $ 21.00 | 35 | East/Stevens |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | Stow Partners | $ 13.61 | 30 | North/Snohomish |
| Building Cleaning Workers, All Other | Snoqualmie Entertainment Authority | $ 19.49 | 32 | North/King |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | Galapagos Charter School | $ 20.00 | 40 | East/Chelan |
| Nurse Practitioners | Lifeline Connections | $ 68.00 | 29 | North/Snohomish |
| Computer and Information Systems managers | $ 108.17 | 40 | North/King | |
| Cashiers | Safeway | $ 16.83 | 20 | North/Whatcom |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | Microsoft | $ 156.25 | 40 | North/King |
- Percentage of Customers aged 55 and older who exited with employment outcome: 38%
- Eldest with employment outcome: Age 78 – Instructional Coordinator (job retention case)
- Youngest with employment outcome: Age 22 – Building Cleaner Worker
Orientation and Training Center Highlights
Interview with OTC graduate, Charles Marsh
Share about your journey to the OTC. How did you find the program?
Charles: The whole thing started when I was referred to Washington Services for the Blind from my low vision clinic. I was told that they could probably help me where others couldn't. So I applied to the DSB and I heard about the OTC from my VRC Karla.
What made the OTC interesting and seemed like it was a good fit for you?
Charles: Karla shared how seeking employment would be harder without independent living skills. For somebody who is blind or going blind slowly, these are things can be very difficult to figure out. Just basically living, how to use computer skills, how to use assisted tech, those kind of things. She shared that the OTC is a great program and that there was a huge success rate and preparing people for going to work. And I was like, let's go for it.
What were some of the impactful experiences you had at the OTC?
Charles: I think every class was a huge impact! I think one of the most impactful things I learned is that if I get myself into a place where I’m trying to do something and get frustrated, I can get myself into a tizzy, and then I'm not learning anything and taking in any new information. For example, in mobility, I learned it was my fear that keeping me from being able to do any problem solving and learning that problem solving was the most important skill in navigating. Also, I had grown very frightened about trying to cook without hurting myself. Home Economics had a huge impact. I use the skills I learned today when I cook in my own kitchen.
I was trying very hard to be brave and independent when I needed to be interdependent. So, there's more huge impactful things that happened in my life.
How has attending the OTC affected your vocational rehabilitation?
Charles: If I hadn't gone I wouldn’t have exposure really to it. If OTC hadn't been there, I wouldn’t have found my passion and all around without enough confidence, my day to day to pursue that. I am currently enrolled for the winter session for my first year and special education to get my bachelor's.
What would you to like to share with someone who doesn't know anything about the OTC?
Charlie: The OTC is such a valuable resource. I think that it's well rounded and that it takes a holistic approach at preparing somebody to go out and be able to either get educated or obtain a job. If a person doesn't have the basic skills to live, which is one of the things that you all teach there, they're not going to have the ability to think about anything else.
I can constantly share my gratitude not just to the staff here, but those people within the government that are setting aside money and funding that allowed me to be there. I'm very grateful, very, very appreciative, and I have every intention of using the investment they gave me and becoming successful and thank you.
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)
During the period of January 2024 through September 2024, DSB's Pre-ETS program continued to engage in the diligent work of providing transformational opportunities for exploration in transition skill building with students. Work has been focused on the growth of the program by expanding services both in scope as well as geographically throughout the state. In addition, attention is on building year-round offerings that complement the summer legacy programs to offer additional ways for students to explore the Pre-ETS programs.
Expanding the Pre-ETS Offerings
Pre-ETS has launched new programs to build skills in the areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Artificial Intelligence, mental health, audio engineering, adaptive sports, recreation, leadership, community service, the culinary arts and many others. More community providers have been added in the areas of Orientation & Mobility, as well as instructors who support independent living instruction for youth. Pre-ETS has taken the first steps towards understanding and establishing programming for students who are Deaf-Blind and for students with additional support needs. These are two areas of growth that have been identified through feedback and other surveys. Progress in these areas will be shared in future reports to the SRCB.
Expanding Pre-ETS Partnerships
Pre-ETS is focused on maintaining collaborations with existing community partners in addition to looking for new areas to create opportunities. The program is excited about steps taken with the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) to expand opportunities for students through paid work-based learning experiences for students and additional skill-building workshops. The program was delighted to be invited and to participate in the restart of the Blind Youth Consortium with other partners across the state for transition-aged youth. We also were very thankful for the opportunity to present at the PNWAER conference in the Spring of 2024 on supporting students’ mental health needs, and recognizing the mental health needs as a provider to students.
Students and Families Attend Consumer Group Conventions
Pre-ETS continued its partnership with the National Federation of the Blind of Washington (NFBW) by facilitating a youth track at their annual state convention to introduce students to new transition skills, and the importance that a consumer group can play in their success. We look forward to another well-attended youth track with NFBW next year and are gearing up for another great youth track workshop with the Washington Council of the Blind (WCB) this October. We remain committed to traveling with students to the national consumer conventions each summer. Each year alternates between the NFB and ACB groups. Pre-ETS students and families had an amazing experience in Orlando for the NFB this year and are looking forward to attending the ACB convention in Dallas next year.
Student Voices Help Drive the Program
The PRE-ETS team has engaged in new trainings and professional skill-building to improve efficiency and proficiency as a team in supporting students, families, and partners. Feedback received from partners, students and families is used ongoing to improve the Pre-ETS programs and the way they are delivered. There is excitement around the work being done to invite students and their ideas into our programs through work-based learning experiences and working on workshops alongside our staff. As students are encouraged to elevate their voices and ideas to drive the direction of the Pre-ETS program, it will truly be meeting students where they are at and exploring their ideas and insights. Youth is a culture that we strive to understand and the best way to do that is to make them a part of the process.
Engagement Beyond the Summer Months
In addition to the new programming, Pre-ETS continues to improve and expand its legacy summer workshops like YES 1 (Youth Employment Solutions), YES 2, and the 3T (Transform, Transition, Thrive) Academy. This year's YES 1 program, offered in partnership with WSSB, wrapped up during the month of July. A major and exciting change is coming to this summer program. It is moving away from a set program curriculum that all participants receive, into a program designed specifically to each student entering the YES 1 program. This greater flexibility will ensure that students are not spending time on learning skills that they already have and instead maximize their participation in new learning areas that are specific to their goals and aptitudes. It's understood that a student who participates in YES 1 may not be ready for YES 2. Opportunities have been developed for students to return to the program for a 2nd year with different goals and expectations. This will allow them to complete learning the skills they need to be ready to attend YES 2.
YES 2 Students Learned Skills from Comedy Improv
It's exciting to report that the YES 2 program in Seattle this past summer was another resounding success. This year, students were provided with a variety of new work-based learning opportunities to choose from when designing their participation in YES 2 alongside their residence at the YES 2 house. A highlight of the program was the addition of a community partner who specialized in improvisation training. Students engaged in comedy improv to hone their skills for real-world scenarios, such as interviewing for jobs, on the job etiquette, and other social scenarios that can prepare them for success in their chosen pathway. It was a big hit, and everyone had lots of fun seeing the creative ways students engaged in this type of training.
3T Academy Supports Students Year-round
The 3T Academy, Transform, Transition, Thrive, (formally known as BRIDGE) wrapped up its final summer at Eastern Washington University in July. The 3T Academy has undergone some very exciting changes to address feedback surrounding the program, and to refresh its look and feel to encourage future participation. The biggest changes is that 3T Academy is now a year-round program and is no longer only a summer program held at EWU. Also, the program now supports students learning and exploration, covering not just 4-year university preparation and experiences but also 2-year college pathways, trade school programs, and credentialed programs. These changes reflect the program's commitment to the diversity in choice that our students have when exploring post-secondary education and training options. The 3T Academy meets virtually each month throughout the year, and offers quarterly field trips to rotating locations around the state to explore the different options that students can choose from when transitioning away from high school and seeking further education in the state of Washington.
New Workshop Success: Stronger Together
Pre-ETS kicked off a new annual weekend workshop in 2024 called Stronger Together. This opportunity is designed to focus on a new topic each year and to bring DSB staff, students, families, educators, community partners and providers all under one roof to share information with each other. The goal is to improve our collective understanding of one another, and to provide training and information for those in attendance to address all of our roles in students with disabilities and their transition from high school. This first year was a huge success, and we are already planning for Stronger Together 25, which will take place in May 2025.
Additional Authorized Pre-ETS Activities Added
Lastly, through consultation with DSB's fiscal team and developing a fiscal forecast for the Pre-ETS program, it was determined that the DSB Pre-ETS program in Washington State can begin to utilize dollars from the VR grant set aside to engage in Additional Authorized Activities to support and improve transition outcomes in the state for students who are Blind, Deafblind and who are Low-Vision. These additional activities range in topic and focus but are designed to provide training to DSB staff, educators, school administrators, community organizations, families and other individuals who support students with disabilities in their transition from high school. These activities also allow for the dissemination of information and data to assist in improving these transition outcomes. It is best to classify these types of activities as outreach and training opportunities. We have begun developing outreach opportunities that include training and information for partners across the state, and are excited to see those come to life in the near future.
Agency Communications Report
Brand and Website Rebrand Project
Completed project to rebrand and redesign website to make it more relevant for clients, easier to access needed information, and to ensure site mees the needs of clients and the citizens of the state. Site launched on September 18, 2024.
Launch Overview
Both brand and website were redesigned to make it easier and faster for people to:
- Discover DSB and all we offer
- Explore our services and programs
- Understand how we best fit their lives and goals
The brand and website redesigned to match the DSB mission
- Designed for people
- Tested over time
- Built to get better
The new DSB brand features
- Modernized logo with optimistic upward path
- New colors selected for maximum amount of contrast
- New typeface developed for optimal legibility
Feedback from real users
Received from participants in focus group.
- "It's very rare for any government website to be this easy to navigate, find the information you need, see the services they offer, and use a contact form...It kinda wants me make to move to Washington."
- "I really loved the design. I hire for design, so I love the color coordination. I think the website is built very beautifully."
- "Websites designed for visual people throw me off because there's so much stuff that screen readers like mine are picking up so much and it can be overwhelming. So, I like minimalist websites and I appreciate it."
- "DSB actually does a lot more than I thought. I feel more confident in referring my patient because I have better expectations of what services can be provided."
Submit feedback for the website so we can continue to improve at webmaster@dsb.wa.gov.
Online Analytics
Website Analytics Overview
The website update occurred on September 18. The information below covers all traffic to dsb.wa.gov pages, including new pages and pages that have been discontinued or renamed during the update.
| Metric | Definition | Current | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Users | Number of unique individuals who visited the site | 8,457 | +2,357 |
| New Users | Individuals visiting the site for the first time | 7,968 | +2,249 |
| Page Views | Number of pages looked at | 27,819 | +9,364 |
Channels
How people found the website:
| Type | Definition | Users | Percent | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic Search | Used Google, Bing, or another search engine to find the site. | 4,352 | 51.26% | +1,209 |
| Direct | Typed in the URL. | 3,662 | 43.13% | +1,303 |
| Referral | Clicked a link on a different website. | 328 | 3.86% | +147 |
| Organic Social | Clicked on a non-ad link from a social media platform, like Facebook or Twitter | 146 | 1.72% | +31 |
| Clicked on a link embedded in an email message | 0 | 0.00% | -1 | |
| Unknown | Google Analytics unable to confirm source. | 2 | 0.02% | +2 |
Technology
Type of device used to view the website (per session):
| Technology Used | Users | Percent | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop | 5,373 | 63.47% | +1257 |
| Mobile Phone | 2,940 | 34.73% | +656 |
| Tablet | 125 | 1.80% | +62 |
Top Web Pages
| Rank | Page | Views | Rank Last Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home | 5962 | 1 |
| 2 | Home * | 1467 | NA |
| 3 | Independent Living | 969 | 2 |
| 4 | Request Servies | 823 | 5 |
| 5 | Our Services | 809 | 3 |
| 6 | Events | 647 | 7 |
| 7 | Contact Us | 620 | 4 |
| 8 | Learn about our services * | 489 | NA |
| 9 | Seattle Office | 476 | 8 |
| 10 | Aids and Devices | 454 | 9 |
| 11 | Careers | 412 | 6 |
| 15 | Services for Students & Youth | 315 | 10 |
* New page created during website redesign.
Online Referral Forms
| Type | Users | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Self-referrals | 155 | +38 |
| Physician referrals | 74 | +11 |
Online requests for more information
New page created during website redesign
| Requesting information for: | Users | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Myself | 9 | NA |
| A friend or loved one | 13 | NA |
| A patient, client, or staff member | 17 | NA |
Analytics
| Definitions | Users | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Followers | The number of people/pages that follow the page. | 615 | +16 |
| Total Impressions | An impression is counted as the number of times a post is on screen for the first time. | 3,067 | -2307 |
| Total Reach | The number of people who had any content from or about the page enter thier screen through unpaid distribution. | 1,882 | -41 |
Top Five Facebook Posts
| Post/Content | Date | Reach |
|---|---|---|
| We're Hiring - Program Specialist 5 (Business Relations Specialist) | Sep.25 | 628 |
| It's #VisionRehabilitationWeek - June 10 - 16 | Jun 10 | 253 |
| We're Hiring! Rehabilitation Technician 2 | Aug 16 | 230 |
| The Administrative Assistant 4 (AA4) is a vital member of the Seattle Administrative Team... | Aug 7 | 194 |
| Are you a parent or teacher of a child who is Blind, Low Vision, or Deaf-Blind? | Jun 7 | 173 |
Analytics
| Definition | Users | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Followers | The number of people/pages that follow the page | 485 | +23 |
| Impressions (organic) |
Number of views when an update is at least 50% on screen or when it is clicked, whichever comes first. | 4,322 | +1,577 |
| 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. | 0 | -168,627 |
Top Five LinkedIn Posts - Organic
| Topic | Date | Impressions |
|---|---|---|
| We're Hiring - Program Specialist 5 (Business Relations Specialist) | Sep 25 | 574 |
| We're Hiring! Administrative Assistant 4 (AA4) | Aug 7 | 449 |
| We're Hiring! Rehabilitation Technician 2 | Aug 18 | 343 |
| It's #VisionRehabilitationWeek - June 10-16 | Jun 5 | 303 |
| Congratulations Tricia Eyerly | Sep 13 | 249 |
Sponsored LinkedIn Posts
| Topic | Date | Impressions |
|---|---|---|
| No sponsored posts this quarter. | -- | -- |
Communications Events / Meetings / Trainings
- State Agency Communications Directors Meetings
Bi-weekly, Virtual - Washington State Accessibility Community of Practice
Monthly, Virtual - Website Redesign Meetings
- Core Team – Weekly, Virtual
- Organizational Change Management – Weekly, Virtual
- Steering Committee – Monthly, Virtual
- PRSA Public Affairs and Government Summit
June 12 – 14
Seattle, WA - Association of Washington Principals/Washington Association of School Administrators Summer Conference
June 23 – 25
Spokane, WA
Financial Report
2024 State Fiscal Year - Review through September 30, 2024 (in thousands)
| Source | Allotment Authority | Expenditures | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund - State | $ 5,430 | $ 149 | $ 5,281 |
| General Fund - Federal | $ 16,520 | $ 5,270 | $ 11,250 |
| Donations | $ 34 | $ 0 | $ 34 |
| BEP Remodel | $ 3,372 | $ 152 | $ 3,220 |
| BEP Operations * | $ 1,110 | $ 147 | $ 963 |
| State Funds for Birth - 13 Program | $ 201 | $ 36 | $ 165 |
| State Funds for IL Program | $ 367 | $ 0 | $ 367 |
| Total | $ 27,034 | $ 5,754 | $ 21,280 |
* - Allotment authority represents estimated revenue & GFS
2024 State Fiscal Year - Federal Grant Funds through September 30, 2024 (in thousands)
| Grant | Grant Funds | SFY 24 Federal Expenditures | SFY 25 Federal Expenditures | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Voc. Rehab Basic Services - $1.4 million is for Pre-ETS set aside | $ 10,472 | $ 10,472 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| 2023 Voc. Rehab Basic Services - $1.9 million is for Pre-ETS set aside | $ 13,167 | $ 11,974 | $ 1,193 | $ 0 |
| 2024 Voc. Rehab Basic Services | $ 12,438 | $ 182 | $ 3,536 | $ 8,720 |
| 2022 IL Older Blind | $ 677 | $ 677 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| 2023 IL Older Blind | $ 682 | $ 682 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| 2024 IL Older Blind | $ 676 | $ 0 | $ 123 | $ 553 |
| Total | $ 38,112 | $ 23,987 | $ 4,852 | $ 9,273 |
2024 State Fiscal Year - Total Expenditures by Program through September 30, 2024 (in thousands)
| Program | Grant Funds Expended | State Funds Expended | Other Funds Expended | Total Funds Expended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voc. Rehab Services Adult | $ 4,725 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 4,725 |
| Voc. Rehab Pre-ETS | $ 422 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 422 |
| Independent Living Part B | $ 0 | $ 20 | $ 0 | $ 20 |
| Birth - 13 Program | $ 0 | $ 36 | $ 0 | $ 36 |
| State Only funds for Non-Allowable Grant Charges | $ 0 | $ 74 | $ 0 | $ 74 |
| Business Enterprise Program | $ 0 | $ 152 | $ 147 | $ 299 |
| Total | $ 5,270 | $ 357 | $ 147 | $ 5,774 |
Spending Targets for Pre-Employment Transition Services Set Aside - Expenditures through September 30, 2024 (in thousands)
| Federal Grant | Grant Amount | Pre-ETS Set Aside | Pre-ETS Set Aside Expended | 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 | $ 1,561 | $ 414 |
| FFY 2024 Estimated (ends 09/30/25) |
$ 12,438 | $ 1,866 | $ 473 | $ 1,393 |
What’s happening in the world of Finance?
- The Pre-ETS requirement is tracked at the state level to include DSB and DSHS/DVR’s expenditures. At the state level, the 15% requirement is met as DSHS/DVR exceeded their 15% set aside for FFY 2023. DSB will not revert unspent Pre-ETS dollars of approximately $414,000 but instead those dollars became available for the adult population.
- Federal Fiscal Year 2024 Reallotment funds were received in the amount of $1 million.
Human Resources Update
New Hires
| Personnel | Job Title | Team | Duty Station | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandy Hill | Reader-Driver | CS | Spokane | 07/11/2024 |
| Ronda Haun | Reader-Driver | CS | Seattle | 07/16/2024 |
| Debra Tarbart | DEI and Learning Experiences Program Manager | HR | Lacey HQ | 07/16/2024 |
| Amandeep Kaur | Administrative Assistant 4 | Admin | Seattle | 08/12/2024 |
| Heather Murphy | Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 4 | VR | Lacey | 08/19/2024 |
| Polly Abbott | OTC Braille Instructor | OTC | Seattle | 09/23/2024 |
| Katreina Lee | Administrative Assistant 4 | Admin | Seattle | 10/30/2024 |