Director's Report – Emily Wharton



Board Meeting ReportsMarch 9, 2021Director's Report – Emily WhartonOn February 16th, we presented to the House Education Appropriation Subcommittee regarding our SFY22 state appropriation request. We are hopeful that the committee will agree with the Governor in supporting our full request. Copies of the handouts can be found at: Rehabilitation Services Administration has selected Iowa for VR grant monitoring in calendar year 2021. This will happen virtually between September 13th and 24th. More information will be made available as we get closer to these dates. I presented at the Des Moines University Grand Rounds on February 4th. I shared information on blindness, IDB and how medical professionals can better work with their patients who are blind. I was very appreciative of the insights and stories my colleagues shared they gave the 226 doctors and medical students in attendance real life examples that show how they can provide better care to their patients. This will hopefully also increase awareness of IDB services. Our Communications Team, which is comprised of a member from each area of the department, has been enhancing our ongoing 200% Accountability initiatives by leading twice a month discussions centered around improving our understanding and communication. It is our intention to build and maintain a culture that is welcoming to all and focused on serving our clients and patrons. We have continued to dedicate time at each quarterly all staff meeting to improve our ability to recognize our biases, have crucial conversations, and continue the process of becoming an agency that is based on truth rather than power. This initiative began in July. In December, we formed a client and staff safety workgroup comprised of two members from the Orientation Center, Education and Training, Independent Living, VR Counseling, and Leadership teams. A section from our original purpose document is below. We are meeting every two weeks and will be sharing drafts of procedures internally and with the Commission Board as they are drafted and iterated. Any questions regarding this process can be directed to me at emily.wharton@blind.state.ia.us. Client and Staff Safety WorkgroupIDB is committed to a workplace free of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. We know that preventing sexual harassment and misconduct requires ongoing training, increased awareness, honest dialog, a commitment to continuous growth and the removal of barriers. We understand that there is no such thing as perfect safety, but providing training, raising awareness, establishing boundaries and communicating openly about those boundaries minimizes the risk of inappropriate behaviors occurring and eliminates any that might occur as quickly as possible. We are creating a workgroup of staff who have direct contact with IL and VR clients. Our goal is to give each client and staff member the tools needed to build an environment that does no harm and empowers clients to achieve their goals. Objectives:To increase awareness.To create policies and procedures where necessary and improve policies and procedures where possible.To provide an avenue for addressing issues. To find resources and provide guidance/training.Promote inclusivity and transparency in alignment with our goal of creating an agency based on truth rather than power.CFO – Cheri MyersFederal Grant Update:I have enclosed the Grant Report as of 01/31/2021. The required Federal 425s were filed by the 12/31/2020 deadline and the first RSA 17 was filed by the 01/31/2021 deadline. The Indirect Cost Rate Agreement has been submitted and has been forwarded to a negotiator.The purchase of a new server has been approved by OCIO; and we have entered into an agreement with a vendor and the process of replacing the server has begun under Sara Willeford’s direction. The contract to repair the ramp on the north side of the building has been awarded as has the contract for the repair of the main elevator. The work is scheduled to coordinate around building activities.Budget Report:I have enclosed a budget report on State FY21 through 01/31/2021. The report included report compares year to date to the annual budget based on state fiscal year. The Department of Administrative Services price increase after the budget was finalized in causing that line to be over budget this year. Gifts and Bequests As of January 31, 2021 for FY2021Total revenue for FY2021 to date is $64,115.18Total expenditures for the fiscal year are $279,169.99As of 01/31/2021 the current balance is $3,912,876.83Other:The audit for FY19 was completed in late September and there was a finding in capital assets and accumulated depreciation. To resolve this IDB capital assets have been entered into the I/3 accounting system. The FY20 audit has begun and I am working with the auditor. I have been attending the National Rehabilitation Leadership Institute virtual meetings.My Accounting Technician 2, Jennifer Kern has resigned as of 03/04/2021. I am currently recruiting her replacement. My new Accounting Clerk 2, Jenny Gries has started and graduated the Orientation Center. Currently recruiting for a temporary Accounting Clerk 2 to help out during the next couple months.Education and Training Team – Helen StevensEmployees:Kaitlyn Kelly began employment as a Youth Services Worker December 14. She has a degree in Leisure, Youth and Human Services from UNI and her experience includes working as a Member Recruiter/Girl Experience Specialist for the Girl Scouts. Veronica Coulthard began employment as a Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher December 28. She has a degree in Elementary Education from Graceland University, and has worked for several years as a special education teacher.Matt Nemmers transferred to the role of Business Enterprises Program Counselor January 22. We are currently completing interviews to hire a Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher to fill his former position.Joe Goode resigned his position as a Rehabilitation Technology Specialist effective February 22 in order to move closer to family. We are still accepting applications to fill his position.We have hired eleven staff members to work the 2021 LEAP program. Their names will be shared in the June report as we are still waiting on most of their offer letters.Pre-Employment Transition Services: Small group youth events continue to be held in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. Some of the activities these events have included relate to cane travel, home management skills, and using technology.We began a virtual youth event called Zoom Kaboom that takes place every Sunday evening. Topics have included goal setting, using seeing AI, presentations from NFBI and ICUB about consumer groups and getting involved, as well as presentations on different career opportunities.15 youth have applied so far to participate in this year’s LEAP program. Applications close March 15.Vocational Rehabilitation Teachers and Rehabilitation Technology Specialists continue to work with youth, in-person and remotely based on each student’s needs, to meet their blindness training goals.Young Adult Transition Program:The school year is progressing well. Students continue to demonstrate growth.Students have been participating in job shadows to learn more details about jobs they are interested in.Students have also been working a lot on communication and conflict resolution skills.Client Training:Approximately 100 clients are currently receiving services from a Rehabilitation Technology Specialist. Approximately 150 clients are currently receiving services from a Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher. Vocational Rehabilitation Teachers and Rehabilitation Technology Specialists continue to meet with clients in-person or remotely based on which method best fits the training needs of the client.Terri Wilcox continues to lead support groups both in-person and via the ICN conference line.We have13 clients scheduled to participate in our next Self Week session the week of March 14. Students will still be housed at the Renaissance De Moines Savery Hotel to assist with social distancing.Applications are still being accepted for the May session.Total direct services recorded as provided to clients by VR Teachers, Rehabilitation Technology Specialists, YATP or LEAP staff members during program year 2020, which began July 1, 2020: 1,750. These services include: Disability Related Skills Training, Job Readiness Training, Rehabilitation Technology, Pre-ETS Job Exploration and Counseling, Pre-ETS Work Based Learning Experiences, Pre-ETS Counseling on PSE Enrollment Opportunities, Pre-ETS Workplace Readiness Training, and Pre-ETS Instruction in Self-Advocacy. While this number is still significantly lower than the number of services provided at this point in program year 19, it is higher than the total number of services provided in all of program year 18. The most noteworthy difference between this year and last year, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is the significantly fewer students who participated in LEAP and other youth programming. This is not anticipated to improve until this fall.The increase in services as compared to program year 18 is a direct result of increasing the number of Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher positions over the past two years.Independent Living Program - Kimberley BarberSilverKite.us PartnerIn February, Jen Kulik, founder and CEO of SilverKite.us (), had a conversation with me about engaging a potential partnership with our Independent Living (IL) program to sponsor a benefit to raise funds for our IL program possibly later this year. SilverKite.us uses the arts as a tool to promote creative engagement in all stages of life, bridge generations, and work towards eliminating the effects of loneliness. Through their innovative, award-winning programs and services?they strive to promote joy, build relationships, and strengthen communities - one connection at a time. This company has received the intergenerational innovational award from Generations United at its biennial global conference in 2019. Over the next couple of months, I will be reaching out to our Iowa consumer partner leaders about this project and to ask for their input or to appoint someone to provide input to plan, then I will reach back out to Jen for additional planning. Of recent, I received a commitment from ICUB’s President Carrie Chapman to assist with this most important collaboration. We appreciate this commitment. Jen also suggested her intent would be to open any participation to her customer-base at the time of the event in order to expand the collaborative and financial benefit to our IL program. This is truly and exciting opportunity. University of Iowa Partnership UpdateOur Independent Living (IL) program is partnering with the University of Iowa Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Derrick Willis, to address technology training needs of our IL program clients outside of the parameters of the capacity of our IL program. As we know our IL program serves intergenerational Iowans who meets eligibility based on blindness, severe vision loss, or deaf-blind guidelines with the majority of IL consumers being 55 years and older within our program. For those individuals we serve under 55 years old, they have a secondary disability in combination with severe vision loss, blindness or deaf-blindness and have expressed that they are not interested in pursuing vocational rehabilitation service training, but would benefit from our IL program services. Our IL program has finite financial resources so we elect to focus our finite resources to serve program applicants and consumers in order to maximize their ability to access our core IL training and services with the anticipation that services will allow those served to gain the positive philosophy of blindness and basic core IL skills to remain in their home and community. We also recognize that many IL consumers come to the IL program with technology training needs and requests; however, due to our finite financial resources we have a very narrowed scope of technology training services that we can offer. We are unable to actively create, deliver, and update any new technology training initiatives including tech-savvy information, video and audio training tutorials with accompanied video caption, transcripts including quick reference sheets or “cheat sheet” as our IL teachers coin; that could be delivered to IL consumers and accessed by IL teachers. We also recognize that assistive technology evolves very quickly so any developed materials whether audio, video, or resource materials such as those “cheats sheets” would need to be reviewed and some updated regularly; likely every six to eight months, to ensure the information is current for any end-user. Program consumers make technology requests outside of the parameters of our IL technology policy on a regular basis; however, based on some of the requests made to-date there are limited sources that we can turn to that adequately meet the training requests made. Our proposal is to potentially create a tech program similar to Elder Tech Academy () out of Silicon Valley which would deliver Independent Living Assistive Tech program services specifically to consumers of our program as well as our program staff. Here is what we have proposed:Proposed process:Assess tech needs.Recommends technology.Consumer purchases technology, unless already has appropriate technology available.Pairs interested blind Iowa consumers needing training with tech-savvy high school or junior college students, or other qualified tech-savvy blind consumers with the goal of furthering their understanding of and skills needed with mobile and other assistive technologies for the blind. The program may pair individual with qualified on-board staff or volunteer; or defer to one or more of the types of trainings as outlined below.Types of Training:One-on-one technology academy training, available to IL consumers;Offer seminars, that is, 90 minutes to 3 hours to include lecture and interactive exercises, available to IL consumers and IL teachers;Offer 1 to 2 day workshops available to both IL consumers and IL teachers;Offer personal instruction, by appointment (phone, Zoom, FaceTime, etc.) with IL consumers;Special events as calendared by the academy (ex. tech vendor show); available to IL consumers and IL teachers;Create, deliver, and update new technology training initiatives including tech-savvy information, video and audio training tutorials with accompanied video caption, transcripts including quick reference sheets or “cheat sheet;” available to IL consumers and IL teachers.There is more to this grant proposal including naming several potential partners such as Iowa consumer groups, Library for the Blind, other State agencies, private partners, just to name a few, Ultimately, we will have to work in collaboration with the University to see if a grant for this project exists and what if any requirements are involved. In the meantime, if you would like to be kept posted of any progress on this project prior to your next meeting feel free to contact me or Emily.Advertising CampaignIt’s too soon to tell yet through our campaign efforts “If You Can't See Something, Say Something” is effectively working since we just launched that campaign mid-January in northwest Iowa. We are now rolling out this campaign in other areas of the state to let Iowan’s know Iowa Department for the Blind is open for business and we are here to help. As we were launching the above-mentioned campaign, a radio station manager of Coloff Media that we had contact with invited our IL program to run Public Service Announcements (PSAs); in increments of 30 and 45 seconds respectively. We have secured one blind consumer to read our PSAs and are in progress of making the ask for one or two more to record the PSAs. These PSAs will reach the Cedar Falls and surrounding areas covered by four different radio stations. Later, Coloff Media will invite us to interview with them to talk about our program-agency. We look forward to having that conversation. Independent Living Teacher VacanciesFollowing the retirement of one of our IL teachers from north central Iowa and one IL teacher from eastern Iowa who has decided to move forward to pursue other personal interests, we have made a job offer to Connie Mendenhall, who accepted our offer, to start employment in our eastern Iowa corridor. Connie will begin her employment with our agency on March 31st. A second contingency job offer was made to another job candidate for the vacancy left by the IL teacher who retired. We are awaiting a response from that candidate this week.?Independent Living Senior Integration We are in progress of planning our IL Senior Integration training for June 20 through 25, 2021. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) received updated planning numbers for COVID-19 vaccine allocations from the CDC. IDPH is?working through the distribution details with the revised vaccine allocation from CDC. As this progresses, Al Bickell and I believe that by June the vaccine distribution will continue to follow the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations, we are hopeful this will be a safer time to hold this training. Given this and barring changes in any Iowa public safety mandates and/or any environmental changes here at our agency, we will remain hopeful to hold this training on the above named date.Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Report and Statistics – Sarah WillefordLibrary Updates:Update to Library ApplicationThe National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) has long made its services available to people with reading disabilities. Up to now, however, a doctor of medicine or osteopathy was required to certify that an applicant’s reading disability was “the result of organic dysfunction.” This requirement was a high bar for potential patrons to hurdle, and network libraries had urged NLS to relax it. A 2016 Government Accountability Office report on NLS also noted that it is now widely accepted that a medical diagnosis is not necessary to determine if a person has a reading disability.Before implementing this change, NLS needed Congress to amend the eligibility language in its authorizing legislation. This was accomplished in the 2018 Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act and the 2019 Library of Congress Technical Corrections Act. The final regulatory step was publication of the new language in the Federal Register, which was done this winter.Certifying/Competent authorities now include:Professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or private welfare agencies, such as: Educator, social worker, caseworker, counselor, rehabilitation teacher, certified reading specialist, school psychologist, superintendent, or librarian.Doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, Ophthalmologists, Optometrist, registered nurse or therapist.Our library’s application has been updated to reflect these changes made by NLS.Youth Library ProgramsOur new Braille Babies program for children 0-4 years old and their parent/caregivers began in January. The goal of this program is to get little hands and fingers exploring books, tactiles and more while providing engaging structure and learning. Each program introduces new braille letters, a concept and parent tips. Recorded versions of the program will also be available on the library blog.The Braille Challenge was held during the month of February. Testing for students was held during a remote testing window of February 1, 2021 – February 28, 2021.? Sixteen students participated in this year’s challenge. A virtual Opening Ceremony was held on February 1st to kick-off the challenge and a virtual Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 27th at 10:00 am. Three virtual parent session were also held on BARD, Bookshare, braille technology and information about our youth library. Adult Library ProgramsThe Library has collaborated with the State Library of Iowa to provide monthly continuing education webinars for public librarians. Our library’s staff provides a one-hour webinar each month on topics such as; BARD, our library services, Universal Design in Learning, accessibility, screen readers and braille. Webinars began in January 2021 and will continue each month throughout the year. We have also created a Public Library Resource Knowledge Base for public libraries on the library blog, which contains resources, articles, and activities on topics such as braille, accessibility and Universal Design.The library launched a College and Career Commons knowledge base on the library blog. The Knowledge Base is in the beginning stages and will feature resources and information on; career exploration, preparing for college and jobs, finding a job and maintaining and advancing your job.The library held its first Adult Winter Reading Challenge using an online program to log the participant’s reading minutes. Participants went to iowablindreads.?to register and create an account. After reading 7,500 minutes between?January 4 – February 28, 2021, they were entered to win a Winter Reading Themed Gift Basket. The library will be using Readsquared for future adult and youth programs.Upcoming Library Programs and EventsApril is National Volunteer Month and the library would like to thank and acknowledge our many volunteers during that month who generously donate their time and efforts to the library.? The library has many behind the scenes volunteers who help with narrating books, braille transcription, editing, shelving and processing books and much more!? And each year we have hosted the Elizabeth Perowsky Volunteer Luncheon to honor our volunteers for the work they have done throughout the year.? We have not been able to do an in-person event to say thank you due to current restrictions.? Even with these restrictions we have volunteers who are still assisting our library in providing services and resources to our patrons all across Iowa.? We would love our library patrons to send a thank you message to our volunteers.? There are multiple ways you could do this.? You could send a card through the mail to the library, compose an email message, or leave a phone message.? All messages will be distributed to our volunteers.? We want to make sure our volunteers know how much we appreciate all the work they do and want to highlight in April everything they do throughout the year.Please send cards to the library or call 515.281.1387 to leave a voice message.Online and Social MediaLibrary BlogsTurning the Pages Library Blog. Find information on library services, programs and resources. Materials Center Blog. For educators and transcribers. Information on accessible educational materials, braille transcription, universal design and more. News. A monthly podcast by library staff about upcoming library events, programs, latest books and more.Library Chat. A monthly podcast by library staff where we review books and podcasts on all types of subjects.Braille Bits. A podcast reviewing each Braille Bits lesson and a discussion with a special guest about braille.Social MediaFollow Twitter, Like us on Facebook and check out the great resources on the IDB YouTube channel.Library Statistics: November 2020 – January 2021The data shows how many of each type of material was checked out to patrons by the library and other services provided to patrons.Library Patrons Added: 125Library Material CirculationTotal Circulation: 94,739Braille: 1,281Large Print: 316Digital Books: 90,352Magazine Issues: 2,618Digital Players: 172Library CollectionTotal Books Added to the Library Collection: 1,295Braille: 61Print/Braille: 41 Large Print: 51Digital Books: 1,142Instructional Materials Center Orders Received Total Orders Received: 4902020 – 2021 School Year: 4742021 - 2022 School Year: 16BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) UsageTotal Books Downloaded from BARD: 15,359Audio: 11,013Braille: 4,346Average Number of Patrons Using BARD: 532Newsline Service UsageCurrent Subscribers: 1,694New Subscribers: 4Telephone Calls: 8,304Web Sessions: 20,958“In Your Pocket” Deliveries: 19,571E-mail Deliveries: 7,391Iowa Newspaper Accesses: 72,920National Newspaper Accesses: 4,097International Newspaper Accesses: 889Blog UsageLibrary – Turning the Pages BlogVisitors: 863Views: 1,705Instructional Materials Center BlogVisitors: 591Views: 1,755Library PodcastsLibrary News Monthly Podcast: 3 producedListens Online: 412Sent Out on Cartridges: 2,037Library Chat Podcast: 3 producedListens Online: 221Braille Bits Podcast: 1 producedListens Online: 1,591Orientation Center Report – Al BickellOrientation Center Students7 total students in the center3 staff and 4 clients1 graduation in MarchFrom the center we currently have 4 students one of whom is scheduled to graduate in March.? We have 3 students scheduled to come in over the next couple months with more clients wanting to come in.? The apartments are going well and we are looking to pick up another apartment in April for a total of 5.? The students are commuting in each day and from the feedback received the students really like the apartments more than the dorms in the building.? The staff in training numbers are still higher than normal, but much lower than they have been as we are moving people through.? Currently there is 3 staff in training, and we expect this number to stay fairly constant, at least for the next few months.? ?In addition to starting to build numbers in the center again, we really want to start doing more activities.? It is more difficult with many of the activities that we do to keep social distance, but we are looking for alternatives and are moving to a model of splitting up in to smaller groups to assist with this.BEP & Facilities – Kathy RoatBusiness Enterprises Program (BEP)BEP Counselor Roxanne “Roxy” Huffaker completed her Orientation Center training and is back in the field as of March 1.BEP Counselor John Wallace left to become an entrepreneur in the skilled trades. Matt Nemmers has transferred within IDB to fill this role. Matt brings the ability to teach computer skills to vendors, which is important to online ordering and effectively using cashless payment telemetry to minimize expenses and increase sales. Matt also has owned vending machines and worked in the industry, so he has been able to jump right in and help train vendors on repairs.The latest relief act included a Randolph-Sheppard Financial Relief and Restoration Payments (FRRP) Appropriation of $20 million dollars, with each state being allocated a portion based on the number of BEP vendors in September 2019. Iowa’s portion, to provide financial relief to vendors and pay for administrative costs of doing so, is estimated at approximately $201,568. In order to receive the relief money, the Elected Committee of Blind Vendors (ECBV) and IDB must, through discussion, develop a consensus around a formula for distributing the funds among vendors with losses, the documentation to support RSA approved losses, and administrative fees. Informal discussion began in February prior to a February 23 ECBV meeting devoted to the topic.There have been three subcommittees of ECBV and BEP staff, producing updated Profitability Guidelines, a Credit Card Policy, and work on a Confidentiality Agreement for ECBV approval. A training subcommittee has formed, is reviewing a draft, and will begin working on it in March.The 2020 version of the Operating Agreement and a 2021 Credit Card Policy, both discussed and voted on successfully by the ECBV, have been sent to RSA and are awaiting review.Of 100 new vending machines arriving since June 1, 2020, BEP has placed all but 13 vending machines statewide, a bit slower than anticipated due to transition in staff, below-zero temperatures and slower than expected return-to-work rates prompting re-evaluation of placement. Set aside 7% of net proceeds contributions started in May 2020. The set-aside amount reported by vendors through December is $19,983. BEP has added Alcoholic Beverages Division and Cedar Rapids Post Office Annex locations, is working on adding the Des Moines Municipal Service Center for mid-March, and has regained the Des Moines Police Department and City Hall. Two of these are run as third-party sites generating commission as best fits right now.In January, vendors and staff participated in twice the number of industry and upward mobility trainings than in the whole of 2020, and this emphasis to equip vendors and the team that serves them will continue. Free and low cost virtual presentations make this possible.Fifteen of 16 vendors are utilizing credit cards and 11 attended training on how to use the software associated with them effectively.FacilitiesThe replacement of a 16’ chimney is complete.The bid process for replacement of the ADA ramp and stairs as a major renovation is underway for a June 28 start date.Repairs to the main elevator have been awarded to O’Keefe and maintenance to Kone for 2021.A wall covering duct work has been built creating a nicer training space for YATP students. Phillip Tharp, custodian, resigned and IDB is considering contracting those duties and a second of three custodians should be returning shortly from a 12-week leave of absence.The building automation system software updates are awaiting installation of a new computer server, and the system app, Metasys, is being evaluated by IDBs Education and Training for accessibility.Vocational Rehabilitation – Keri OsterhausVR Position Vacancies and ChangesSharonda Goode’s last day of employment was on February 22, 2021. We are in the hiring process and plan to replace this position in central Iowa. Other counselors at the Department and the VR program administrator are assisting to manage cases in central Iowa during this transition. Travis Robinson has completed has training in the Orientation Center. He has moved forward to participating in additional training requirements as he prepares to serve clients in eastern Iowa.We are working with two students completing internships in the field of vocational rehabilitation. Ayo Davis-Yeboah is currently working toward her Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at Drake University. Alivia Nelson is working toward her Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling Education at St. Cloud State University.Vocational Rehabilitation Activities Train and Gain program: This is a three-month, structured job skills training session. This program is designed to assist clients to develop skills and confidence needed as part of the job search and hiring process. There are six participants in this session and participants in the program are actively searching for employment, completing applications, and interviewing for positions. Sessions have included topics such as Benefits Planning, Disability Disclosure, Completing a Job Search, Phone and Virtual Interviewing more. The curriculum is presented weekly on Thursdays. Employment: Our Business Engagement Specialist and VR counselors have been working to develop opportunities for employment with employers such as Maximus, Amazon, Wells Fargo, Nationwide and more. By collaborating with our vocational rehabilitation technology specialists, we have assisted with system accessibility for employers, which has led to employment success for IDB clients. Our vocational rehabilitation team’s focus is to assist clients to find employment that aligns with their skills, interests and abilities. In addition, our focus is to assist individuals to obtain employment that will allow for sustainability and financial security for clients. During this program year, the current average wage for a VR clients obtaining employment is $18.95 per hour; these individuals are working an average of 35 hours per week. For clients exiting in full time employment (35 hours or more), the average wage for clients is at $21.86/ hour. Individuals exiting at less than full time hours are earning an average of $10.72/hour.Local Area Planning: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) sec. 108 requires each of our local workforce areas to develop and submit a comprehensive 4-year plan, which identifies and describes the policies, procedures, and local activities carried out in the local area. The Iowa Department for the Blind has been working with the Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Iowa Workforce Development to develop and issue policy and guidance to our local areas. Our state policy team is hosting a series of training over the next few months to assist our local areas in developing their plans; this includes training on the use of labor market information and providing technical assistance to our local areas. ................
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