Arkansas Department of Career Education Arkansas Rehabilitation ...

nation rivaled only by North Carolina. This statistic reflects the growing percentage of Hispanic
consumer responses and consumers receiving VR services, which are reflected in the RSA 911
data.
Because the CSNA is a vital tool for strategic planning in the VR process, ARS is committed to
utilizing the information contained therein as a platform on which to provide targeted VR
services to Hispanics living with disabilities within the state.
Implications and Recommendations for Planning
The following recommendations are derived from needs, concerns and issues identified from
CSNA results and are presented for consideration for both short and long-range planning and
further study.
1. Public Relations, Marketing, Information, Outreach and Referrals
Data from the Consumer Survey and RSA-911 data are consistent in identifying referral
sources. The majority of referrals come from educational institutions or self-referral/word-ofmouth
and 25% of referrals are from "other" sources. Reported referrals from the medical
community, community-based programs, and One-Stop Centers are extremely low, as low as
1%. Focus group participants, family members, and most stakeholders report having limited
knowledge or understanding of the nature and scope of ARS services. Thus, there remains a
critical need to educate the community, programs and agencies to facilitate access and referral
of appropriate individuals with disabilities to ARS, emphasizing minorities, those with
developmental disabilities and chronic mental illness. New outreach strategies will be
developed reflective of growing numbers in Arkansas’s Hispanic population.
2. Job Development, Placement and Employment
An analysis of data from the Consumer Survey, Counselor Survey and RSA-911 data clearly
demonstrate a need in Job Development, Placement and Employment. Consumers reported
the most desirable outcome of their rehabilitation program is "education and training" (80%)
and "employment" (70%). Consumer respondents also said the service not provided or of
insufficient quality/quantity is "employment, finding a job." Based on information from these
surveys, one can assume there is a need for improving system-wide approaches to jobdevelopment,
placement services and employment, including Supported Employment.
3. Transition Services/Program
Presently, ARS operates two approaches to Transition services. One is a transition services
pilot project operating in six school districts in Crittenden, Jefferson, Pulaski and Washington
counties. The second is a more traditional approach of Field Program services and provided
by VR counselors throughout the state. The CSNA reveals some issues and concerns are
being raised in regard to both the pilot project and the traditional transition programs. Only a
small number of schools receive services and outcomes vary from school to school. Another
critical issue affecting both programs is the varying responses from different school districts.
Many school districts or schools within a district do not want transition or VR counselors to
provide services. Additionally, CSNA findings indicate there is a varying level of
appreciation of the pilot project among ARS managers and counselors throughout the state.
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