The COVID-19 pandemic threw us all a huge learning curve when it came to how we provide services to our customers in a safe and effective manner.
Over the past eighteen months at
State Services for the Blind (SSB) and
Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS), we’ve learned not only that many of our services can be delivered remotely, but that service often improves when delivered remotely because it removes physical barriers. However, we know that in-person services still matter, especially when it comes to bridging the digital divide.
That’s why, as our service model evolves, we will implement our core principles of equity, proactivity and flexibility in everything we do for our customers.
These core principles also apply to our partnerships with businesses and their needs. They include:
- Sharing vital information on in-demand careers with students and adults with disabilities
- Connecting Minnesota businesses to an untapped talent pool
- Partnering with businesses to provide disability-related information, resources and training
SSB’s Hybrid Approach
State Services for the Blind’s “we go to you” approach hasn’t changed since the pandemic, but in fact, it has been accelerated as we learned to adapt for our customers, whose goals range from access to independence to employment. Our hybrid service model is based on the customer needs and informed choice, whether that’s in home, in the community or virtual.
When it comes to adaptability, SSB’s Senior Services Unit was in fact one of the first government units in Minnesota to resume in-person services this past April.
Going forward, SSB’s priorities and future vision also include:
- Long-term recruitment and retention of diverse and skilled staff
- Community Partner collaboration around service delivery
- Increased and intentional outreach to underserved communities
- A focus on mental health
- Ramping up Aging Eyes Initiative within Senior Services to reach more seniors than ever before
VRS’s New Model of Services
VRS has also learned to adapt to our changing landscape from the pandemic, and we’re happy to share that our services are more available to clients than ever before. There is no waiting list for new customers looking for our services, and VRS is able to serve people with one or more functional limitations. VRS has also begun in-person services again at VRS, onsite or offsite by appointment only, and we will continue virtual or remote services if preferred by the individual served.
VRS’s mission is to empower youth and adults with disabilities to achieve their goals for competitive, integrated employment. And with that in mind, we plan to adapt our approach to a more person-centered service model as we eliminate barriers to service. This will include:
- Increasing our outreach and engagement to underserved populations and increasing collaboration with agencies and partners through E1MN.
- Increasing access and flexibility for parents and families as well as keeping categories of services open.
- Offering expanded service options for individuals with disabilities. We want to meet people where they are. That includes continuing to meet individuals at colleges, high schools, VRS offices, CareerForce locations, or partner offices as well as expanding to other community locations in which the individual feels comfortable, including their own home. We will also continue to offer remote or virtual meetings if preferred by the individual being served.
Along with our participants, we’ll also continue to partner with businesses to better connect VRS’s talented pool of job seekers to jobs. We will do this by:
- Having employer visits, tours and meetings to understand an employer’s specific hiring needs.
- Assisting employers with their recruitment needs by reaching out to our wide network of job seekers and coordinating with our partners to meet hiring needs.
- Providing no-cost training and consultation on creating a disability inclusive work environment, understanding who is covered/protected under the Americans with Disabilities (ADA), and recognizing an accommodation request and implementing reasonable accommodations.
While nearly half (48%) of people with a disability are employed in Minnesota, we still have a long way to go when compared to the employment rate of 85% for Minnesotans without a disability. As we implement this new person-centered approach to services at SSB and VRS, we’re excited to see the results and we hope to make a real difference in the lives of Minnesotans with disabilities.
