Road to Success, August 2005

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

Road to Success, January 2005

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

Road to Success, October 2005

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

Road to Success, November 2005

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

Road to Success, December 2005

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

Road to Success, December 2005

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

Road to Success, February 2006

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

Road to Success, March 2006

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

Road to Success, May 2006

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

Road to Success, April 2006

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

Annual Infrastructure Report, 2007

Major maintenance; health, safety, loss of use; and Americans with Disablities Act deficiencies at the Capitol Complex and statewide for twelve agencies and divisions participating in the Vertical Infrastructure Program in collaboration with the Governor's Vertical Infrastructure Advisory Committee, including the Department of Administrative Services; the Department of Commerce, Alcoholic Beverages Division; the Department of Corrections; the Department of Cultural Affairs; the Department of Education, including Iowa Public Television and Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services; the Department of Human Services; Iowa Law Enforcement Academy; the Department of Public Safety; Terrace Hill; Iowa Veterans Home and Iowa Workforce Development. The advisory committee meets on a monthly basis to review the progress of the work and to make recommendations on procedures and priorities. Additional information on major maintenance projects is available in the advisory committee's Eighth Annual Report to the Governor, dated December 15, 2006.

Performance Report for Fiscal Year, 2005

I am pleased to present the performance report for the Iowa Department for the Blind for fiscal year 2005. This report is provided in compliance with sections 8E.210 and 216B.7 of the Code of Iowa. It contains valuable information about the services the Department and its partners provided for Iowans during the past fiscal year in the areas of vocational rehabilitation, library services, and resource management. Major accomplishments of the year included new food service opportunities in the Randolph-Sheppard program, extensive remodeling of the Adult Orientation and Adjustment Center, and continued national prominence in vocational rehabilitation as measured by the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration, which on June 13, 2005 released data on federal standards and indicators for the year ended September 30, 2004. Earnings ratios and the percentage of employment for vocational rehabilitation clients of the Department remain among the best in the nation. This is corroborated by a report released in September, 2005 by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which tested and summarized datasets compiled by the U.S. Department of Education for the nation’s 80 vocational rehabilitation agencies. Overall, we met or exceeded 26 of 32 results targets included in this report. Key strategic challenges, developments, and trends are also discussed in the "Department Overview" that follows. Sincerely, Allen C. Harris Director, Iowa Department for the Blind

Performance Report for Fiscal Year, 2006

I am pleased to present the performance report for the Iowa Department for the Blind for fiscal year 2006. This report is provided in compliance with sections 8E.210 and 216B.7 of the Code of Iowa. It contains valuable information about the services the Department and its partners provided for Iowans during the past fiscal year in the areas of vocational rehabilitation, library services, and resource management. Major accomplishments of the year included successful administration of a federally-funded mentoring program (Pathfinders) that matches young adults ages 16-26 who are blind or visually impaired with mentors who also have vision loss, installed a state-of-the art digital recording studio in the library, and continued national prominence in vocational rehabilitation. Earnings ratios and the percentage of employment for vocational rehabilitation clients of the Department remain among the best in the nation, as measured by the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration, which on July 3, 2006 released data on federal standards and indicators for the year ended September 30, 2005. Overall, we met or exceeded 15 of 20 results targets included in this report. Key strategic challenges, developments, and trends are also discussed in the "Department Overview" that follows. Sincerely, Allen C. Harris Director, Iowa Department for the Blind

Performance Report for Fiscal Year, 2007

I am pleased to present the performance report for the Iowa Department for the Blind for fiscal year 2007. This report is provided in compliance with sections 8E.210 and 216B.7 of the Code of Iowa. It contains valuable information about the services the Department and its partners provided for Iowans during the past fiscal year in the areas of Vocational Rehabilitation, Independent Living, Library Services, and Resource Management. The Department determines its competitive success in a number of ways. We look at the federal standards and indicators to learn our ranking in relation to the performance of other public rehabilitation agencies. We compare our library's production and circulation figures with those from previous years to determine trends. We set our own standards for success by looking at such factors as the number of successful case closures, average hourly wage at case closure, skills training provided, and compliance with regulations. Results show that the Department is working positively toward achieving its strategic goals of increasing the independence and productivity of blind Iowans and improving access to information for blind Iowans. Major accomplishments of the year included the selection of our Library as the only agency authorized to distribute educational materials using the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) to students in Iowa. Our Independent Living program received the Shining Star award at the Governor's Conference on Aging for its work with and outreach to older blind Iowans. The Department, the Iowa Braille School, and the Department of Education implemented new cooperative efforts to improve the coordination and delivery of services to blind and visually impaired students in Iowa. Finally, earnings ratios and the percentage of employment for vocational rehabilitation clients of the Department remain among the best in the nation, as measured by the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration, which on June 27, 2007 released data on federal standards and indicators for the year ended September 30, 2006. Overall, we met or exceeded 11 of 16 results targets included in this report. A discussion of the Department's services, customers, organizational structure, and budget appears in the "Department Overview" that follows. The success of the Department's programs is evident in the success achieved by blind Iowans. It is reflected in the many blind persons who can be seen traveling about independently, going to their jobs and to the community and family activities in which they participate. Sincerely, Allen C. Harris Director, Iowa Department for the Blind

Performance Report for Fiscal Year, 2008

I am pleased to present the performance report for the Iowa Department for the Blind for fiscal year 2008. This report is provided in compliance with sections 8E.210 and 216B.7 of the Code of Iowa. It contains valuable information about results achieved because of the services that we and our partners provided to blind and visually impaired Iowans during the past fiscal year in the areas of Vocational Rehabilitation, Independent Living, Library Services, and Resource Management. We determine our competitive success in a number of ways. We look at the federal standards and indicators to learn our ranking in relation to the performance of other public rehabilitation agencies. We compare our library's production and circulation figures with those from previous years to determine trends. We set our own standards for success by looking at such factors as the number of successful case closures, average hourly wage at case closure, skills training provided, and compliance with regulations. Results show that the Department is working positively toward achieving its strategic goals of increasing the independence and productivity of blind Iowans and improving access to information for blind Iowans. Major accomplishments of the year included:  The selection of our Library as one of eight libraries to receive the new digital talking book machines and books in digital media from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Priority for distribution of the machines is given to Library patrons who are veterans.  The Department, the Iowa Braille School, and the Department of Education have been promoting the new expanded core curriculum as part of their continued efforts to improve the coordination and delivery of services to blind and visually impaired students in Iowa.  The Department's five-year grant funded Pathfinders mentoring program ended this year. A total of 49 blind youths aged 16-26 were paired with successful blind adult mentors. Assessments of the program clearly showed that participation in the program had a measurable positive effect on the youth involved.  Finally, earnings ratios and the percentage of employment for vocational rehabilitation clients of the Department are among the best in the nation, as measured by the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration's standards and indicators for the year ended September 30, 2007. Overall, we met or exceeded 13 of 18 targets included in this report. A discussion of the Department's services, customers, and organizational structure, and budget appears in the "Department Overview" that follows. Information pertaining to performance results appears in the final section of this document. The success of the Department's programs is evident in the success achieved by blind Iowans. It is reflected in the many blind persons who can be seen traveling about independently, going to their jobs and to the community and family activities in which they participate. Sincerely, Karen A. Keninger, Director Iowa Department for the Blind