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RSA-227 for FY-2025: Submission #1

Idaho
09/30/2025
General Information
Designated Agency Identification
Disability Rights Idaho
PO BOX 4113
Boise
Idaho
83711
https://disabilityrightsidaho.org
208-336-5353
866-242-3462
208-336-5396
Operating Agency (if different from Designated Agency)
Additional Information
Therese Varela
Therese Varela
208-586-2523
therese@disabilityrightsidaho.org
Part I. Non-case Services
A. Information and Referral Services (I&R)
33
187
3
10
101
8
342
B. Training Activities
14
545
a. Topics covered in the presentations are services available for students ages 18-21 who are entering into the workforce, alternatives to guardianship, and employment opportunities in the community.
b. To provide public awareness of employment opportunities in Idaho.
c. The attendees were potential clients of the Client Assistance Program as well as their parents. Most attendees were students ages 18-21 who were preparing to enter the world of employment.
C. Agency Outreach
The CAP participated in 13 outreach events throughout the year. Examples of materials created for these events include the creation of a brochure specific to Native American Tribal communities about CAP services. The CAP program also participated in outreach events in 3 different Native American Tribal communities.
D. Information Disseminated To The Public By Your Agency
1
1
0
5100
17
36000
This is the number of hits on the agency website.
E. Information Disseminated About Your Agency By External Media Coverage
none
Part II. Individual Case Services
A. Individuals served
0
13
13
0
1
B. Problem areas
0
4
1
2
1
4
0
0
0
1
C. Intervention Strategies for closed cases
10
0
1
0
0
1
0
12
D. Reasons for closing individuals' case files
12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
none
E. Results achieved for individuals
5
0
1
0
0
3
0
0
1
2
Lack of funding available to continue to pursue the case.
Part III. Program Data
A. Age
1
4
3
4
1
13
B. Gender
4
7
2
0
13
C. Race/ethnicity of Individuals Served
0
0
0
1
0
10
2
0
D. Primary disabling condition of individuals served
0
1
0
1
0
2
1
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
13
E. Types of Individuals Served
8
0
1
2
0
1
Part IV. Systemic Activities and Litigation
A. Non-Litigation Systemic Activities
1
New policies were written for service provision, in which the SRC assisted in the development, and provided policy revision before IDVR submission to the RSA for approval. CAP was involved when the Order of Selection (OOS) was ordered, as well as the SRC as an oversite team. The SRC, Idaho Division Vocational Rehabilitation (IDVR) worked together to review VR policies about how the OOS will be implemented via letters: to include how many days will be given for responses, how many times VR would contact potential clients, how those efforts would be documented, and if we would let them know what waitlist they would be placed on. We also reviewed the appeal language for applicants who were placed on the waitlists, and the resources and referrals that would be provided. CAP also helped by reviewing RSA guidelines on the OOS implementation language also, to ensure that Idaho IDVR was in line with their language.

On the CRP part: CAP was a subcommittee member on the CRP manual workforce committee. We reviewed the CRP manual that was to be submitted to RSA for approval. CRP reimbursement rates, reimbursement types, CRP training for working with different types of disabilities, ADA training and challenges, trauma informed care when needed, and researching other states CRP rates to ensure that Idaho was in line for our population and service provisions.

CAP and its position on the SRC have helped individuals with disabilities within the state by making sure that their rights were not being violated in the process of the OOS implementation. CAP ensured that current Field Manual and the new OOS language was in line with RSA language. As far as the CRP manual is concerned, CAP had a lot of input when it came to language in service provision, ensuring that RSA language was fluid and not omitted. CAP's position on the SRC was critical during the OOS time. For Individuals with disabilities who were continuing to be served, their services were being scrutinized at that time, and it was CAP that reminded IDVR of financial obligations, service provision obligations, and WIOA relevance for secondary education students.
B. Litigation
0
0
0
There was no litigation this year
Part V. Agency Information
A. Designated Agency
External-Protection and Advocacy agency
Disability Rights Idaho
No
B. Staff Employed
B. Staff Employed
1. Provide a description of all CAP positions
Professional positions: Part-time FTE = .31; 88% of year filled; .31 person years
Vacant FTE = 0; 0% of year vacant; person years
Part-time FTE = .56.6; 88% of year filled; .56.6 person years
Vacant FTE = ; % of year vacant; person years "Order of Selection has since been implemented.
Part VI. Case Examples
Case Examples
1 A 50-year-old male diagnosed with service-related PTSD and anxiety called the Client Assistance Program requesting help with appealing a denial from vocational rehabilitation regarding his request to go back to school and attend graduate school to become a licensed counselor. The client assistance program senior non-attorney advocate secured a release of information to access the client's records. After a full review of the records, it was determined that the client's right to make an informed decision to change his employment goal, which included graduate school, was violated by the vocational rehabilitation counselor. The records demonstrated that the client had been documenting his multiple requests to make informed choices, but his attempts were always met with denials. The client assistance program senior non-attorney advocate met with the client and the vocational rehabilitation counselor and his regional manager to explain the rules about informed choice, the rules about secondary education, and the new Workforce Innovation Opportunities Act (WIOA) language that mandated vocational rehabilitation to encourage clients who want to advance in their employment goal of choice. After educating vocational rehabilitation of the rules and the rights violations they had committed, the regional manager ruled in the client's favor by agreeing to amend his employment goal to include graduate school studies. He was also introduced to the veteran's administration vocational rehabilitation counselor for further assistance. As a result of the client assistance program senior non-attorney advocate's efforts and advocacy, the client successfully amended his goal and is able to register for and attend graduate school.
2. A 22-year-old male contacted the Client Assistance Program (CAP) for help in working with his Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). The CAP attorney called the individual who reported that he was not sure whether he had reached out to his VRC recently. It was clear that the individual was experiencing academic related stress and although he wanted help from his VRC, he may not have reached out yet. The CAP attorney assisted the client to identify the specific issues he wished to discuss with his VRC and the help he wanted from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). Following the conversation, the attorney sent the client an email recapping the issues the client planned to raise with VR, namely, his request for tuition assistance for the next semester and a request for assistance with transportation to school and a job. Approximately one week later, the CAP attorney followed up with the client to ensure he had followed through with his VRC. The client reported that he set up an appointment and met with his VRC. He was very pleased to report that the meeting was productive and his VRC was assisting him to obtain tuition assistance and to plan his continuing academic program
Certification
Reports are to be submitted to RSA within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report. Please be reminded that you can enter data directly into the RSA website via the internet. Information on transmittal of the form is found on pages 19 and 20 of the reporting instructions.
Name and Title of Authorized Certifying Official
I agree to submit this form by electronic means. By signing this form electronically, I certify under penalty of perjury that my answers are correct and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that an electronic signature has the same legal meaning and can be enforced in the same way as a written signature.
Amy Cunningham
Executive Director
Yes
2025-12-15
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