HD82 - Structure and Management Options for Virginia Industries for the Blind Program
Executive Summary: There are approximately 5,000 legally blind individuals of working age currently living in the Commonwealth. Of the blind individuals whose numbers have been documented, national statistics show that about seventy percent of those who are of working age are unemployed. Barriers to employment are varied and include blatant discrimination, inadequate or no rehabilitation, including special education in the schools, lack of job search and life training skills, low quality or absence of placement activities, public and private insurance disincentives, and multiple handicaps in addition to blindness. The Virginia Industries for the Blind is a program overseen by the Virginia Department for the Visually Handicapped. The Industries is an enterprise of two industrial workshops, located in Richmond and Charlottesville, which provides industrial training and work as well as a variety of services to blind individuals. For some workers, training is transitory for a return to the competitive marketplace, but for others it is an appropriate long-term placement work activity. Workshop employment is but one step on a continuum of services needed by legally blind and visually handicapped persons. Services provided to blind clients include job and equipment modification; work training; various types of diagnostic evaluation; development of appropriate programs to meet the specific needs of each client; job placement, including competitive employment; and follow-up evaluation. Since these types of services, which are necessary to ensure that the needs of blind workers are met to enable them to lead productive and independent lives, are not provided by traditional industrial employment, profitability of the Industries is not the only indicator of its success. The Joint Subcommittee dealt with a variety of issues and problems which were identified by the public and the Industry with regard to its operation. In response to these issues and suggestions for change, the Joint Subcommittee made a number of recommendations. A detailed explanation can be found in the body of this report. The Joint Subcommittee recommends that: • The Virginia Industries for the Blind program remain a vital part of the Virginia Department for the Visually Handicapped. Separation of the program from the agency is not seen to be a viable option at this time due to a number of budgetary and funding constraints and because first consideration must be given to meeting the need for services to blind citizens of this Commonwealth. Consolidation with workshops which provide services to other handicapped individuals is not a viable option for the same reason. • Marketing specialists be employed to work with each Industry facility to enhance product development and increase sales. Such increases can positively affect the profitability of the Industry as well as allow for expansion which would translate into additional jobs for blind clients in need of employment. • Advisory boards be created for each Industry facility. These boards, although not policy-making boards, would be comprised of members of the business community who could provide advice on business trends, the labor market, product lines, and other valuable technical information. The board could also serve as a network of public relations for the rest of the community. In addition to providing such guidance, the board would also be given the opportunity to comment on policies and budget considerations with regard to the Industries. • The General Assembly reinstate funding to the Department for the Visually Handicapped for the Industries program which would enable it to meet rehabilitative and vocational goals outlined by the Department and the Joint Subcommittee. Although required by the General Assembly to spend down its reserve fund since 1984 to make up for shortfalls in revenue, the Industries provides unique services to blind and visually impaired individuals which enable them to lead independent lives, but such additional services in a labor-intensive operation such as the Industries deplete the profit margin when compared to a regular business. In the future, the General Assembly should continue to fund the Industries as other sheltered workshops based on a budget proposal submitted by the Department. It should be the policy of the General Assembly to recognize that the provision of services to the visually handicapped, as well as other disabilities, is a priority issue and should not be subjugated to dependence upon the profitability of a workshop entity. Although profitability is admirable and should be the ultimate goal of any such manufacturing facility, it cannot be the ultimate determinant in the provision of services. • The Department continue renewed efforts to place eligible clients into competitive or supported employment positions. • The Department hire two vocational specialists to provide rehabilitation services as well as work adjustment, transitional work, and training to blind, visually handicapped, and multiple-handicapped blind persons. These services are necessary to enable individuals to move from the workshops into competitive employment. Emphasis must be placed on the needs and abilities of the client rather than the financial status of the Industries or any other service-provision entity. • The Department continue its implementation of a cost accounting system. Approval has been received for such a system change and recruitment for an accounting manager is under way. The Joint Subcommittee views this change as a positive effort to provide better information on production efforts as well as to allow greater flexibility in accounting and production decisions which could enhance profitability. • The Department continue to evaluate the establishment of satellite workshops which would extend employment opportunities for blind and visually impaired Virginians to other areas of the state. Industry facilities are currently located in Richmond and Charlottesville, but they serve only a portion of the blind population who may be desirous or capable of industrial employment. • The joint subcommittee be continued in order to meet one time during the interim to evaluate the implementation of recommended changes. |
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