Amy Blalock

This annual report from the Virginia State Rehabilitation Council, in partnership with the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), reviews the accomplishments and provides recommendations for the coming year. Key priorities include improving employment opportunities and outcomes for individuals with disabilities through vocational rehabilitation services; reaching underserved communities by addressing barriers related to geography, language, and specific populations; expanding Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for students; fostering financial empowerment; and enhancing assistive technology services. The report emphasizes collaborative efforts and aims to ensure Virginians with disabilities achieve meaningful employment, self-sufficiency, and independence.

This document outlines Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center's commitment to assisting individuals with disabilities in gaining employment, emphasizing employment as a priority outcome. The strategic focus is on achieving excellence across four major areas: comprehensive evaluation and assessment services, assistive technology services, services for youth and transition, and neuro rehabilitation. The vision is to promote optimal independence and successful employment outcomes, establishing WWRC as a premier rehabilitation community.

The Dementia State Plan for Virginia outlines the Commonwealth's comprehensive response to the needs of individuals with dementia and their caregivers. It focuses on five strategic goals: coordinating quality dementia services to ensure capability, utilizing dementia-related data to improve public health outcomes, increasing awareness and creating dementia-specific training, providing access to quality coordinated care in the most integrated setting, and expanding resources for translational research and evidence-based practices. The plan aims to improve the lives of Virginians affected by Alzheimer's disease and related disorders through innovation and collaboration.

This Dementia State Plan outlines Virginia's comprehensive strategy to address the needs of individuals with dementia and their caregivers. It aims to create a dementia-capable Virginia by coordinating quality dementia services, utilizing dementia-related data for public health improvement, increasing awareness and providing specific training, ensuring access to quality coordinated care in integrated settings, and expanding resources for translational research and evidence-based practices. The plan envisions a system that delivers ethical, person-centered, and high-quality care across the disease continuum.

The committee discussed Pre-ETS programming, LTESS-EES data reports, system access, and the timeliness of report submissions. An update was provided on recommendations previously made by the committee and ESO updates, including CARF cost reimbursement. The first quarter spending report for SFY26 was reviewed, and the Commissioner provided an update on the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, including the impact of the federal government shutdown on VR services. The committee also discussed and supported a motion to raise DARS' allowable administrative cost rate for the LTESS/EES program.