RSA-227 for FY-2025: Submission #16

State name Missouri

Report through date 09/30/2025

General Information

Designated Agency Identification

Name Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services

Address 925 South Country Club Drive, Suite B

Address Line 2

City Jefferson City

State Missouri

Zip Code 65109-0352

E-mail Address app.unit@mo-pa.org

Website Address http://www.moadvocacy.org

Phone 573-893-3333

TTY 800-735-2966

Toll-free Phone 866-777-7199

Toll-free TTY 800-735-2966

Fax 573-893-4231

Operating Agency (if different from Designated Agency)

Name

Address

Address Line 2

City

Zip Code

State

E-mail Address

Website Address

Phone

TTY

Toll-free Phone

Toll-free TTY

Fax

Additional Information

Name of CAP Director/Coordinator Shawn Teofilo de Loyola

Person to contact regarding report Shawn Teofilo de Loyola

Contact Person Phone 573-353-4811 work cell

Contact Person E-mail Address shawn.deloyola@mo-pa.org

Part I. Non-case Services

A. Information and Referral Services (I&R)

1. Information regarding the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program 29

2. Information regarding independent living programs 0

3. Information regarding American Indian VR Service projects 0

4. Information regarding Title I of the ADA 3

5. Other information provided 3

6. Information regarding CAP 1

7. Total I&R services provided (Lines A1 through A6) 36

B. Training Activities

1. Number of training sessions presented to community groups and public agencies. 6

2. Number of individuals who attended these training sessions. 350

3. Describe training presented by the staff. Include the following information: Summary of Training Sessions: Mo P&A advocacy and legal staff conducted six (6) training sessions to CAP-related consumer groups and service providers this year. Total estimated attendance was three hundred fifty (350). The audiences included Vocational Rehabilitation eligible individuals, Independent Living eligible individuals, professionals, providers, family members of individuals with disabilities, and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors. Presentations reported here described the Mo P&A services, employment-related legal rights, successful self-advocacy, WIOA, transition services, and CAP advocacy intervention. They included a description of the CAP program and clients’ rights to rehabilitation services. Presentations are solely about CAP services when the audience was appropriate, like New Counselor Orientations for Vocational Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Services for the Blind.

C. Agency Outreach

Describe the agency's outreach efforts to previously un-served or underserved individuals including minority communities. Mo P&A has identified rural populations and inner-city minority populations in St. Louis and Kansas City as traditionally un-served or underserved populations. The agency maintained outreach home offices in two rural locations, Columbia and Fulton, and two physical offices, one each in Jefferson City and Springfield, to provide access to the underserved rural population. Our legal and advocacy staff in Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas work from home offices. Mo P&A has the capacity to translate program brochures and documents into foreign languages and Braille using computer-based translating programs. The agency subscribes to Language Line Services, which provides foreign language interpretation for telephone conversations. Additionally, our agency maintains a toll-free telephone line for the Application Unit, Jefferson City office, and Springfield office. Every home office has Voice Over Internet Protocol phones. We strive to maintain a competent staff to serve un-served and underserved applicants and clients of Missouri’s Vocational Rehabilitation system.

D. Information Disseminated To The Public By Your Agency

1. Agency Staff Interviewed or Featured on Radio and TV 0

2. Articles about CAP Featured in Newspaper/Magazine/Journals 0

3. PSAs/Videos Aired about the CAP Agency 0

4. Publications/Booklets/Brochures Disseminated by the Agency 2500

5. Number of Times CAP Exhibited at Conferences, Community Fairs, etc. 3

6. Other 0

Please explain below Not Applicable

E. Information Disseminated About Your Agency By External Media Coverage

Describe the various sources and information disseminated about your agency by an external source. Not Applicable

Part II. Individual Case Services

A. Individuals served

1. Individuals who are still being served as of October 1 (carryover from prior year) 14

2. Additional individuals who were served during the year 10

3. Total individuals served (Lines A1+A2) 24

4. Individuals (from Line A3) who had multiple case files opened/closed this year. 0

5. Individual still being served as of September 30 (Carryover to next year. This total may not exceed Line A3.) 12

B. Problem areas

1. Individual requests information 0

2. Communication problems between individual and VR counselor 7

3. Conflict about VR services to be provided 12

4. Related to VR application/eligibility process 3

5. Related to assignment to order of selection priority category 0

6. Related to IPE development/implementation 1

7. Related to independent living services 1

8. Other Rehabilitation Act-related problems 0

C. Intervention Strategies for closed cases

1. Short Term Technical Assistance 0

2. Investigation/Monitoring 1

3. Negotiation 9

4. Mediation and other methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution 0

5. Administrative / Informal Review 0

6. Formal appeal / Fair Hearing 2

7. Legal remedy / Litigation 0

8. Total 12

D. Reasons for closing individuals' case files

1. All issues resolved in individual's favor 2

2. Some issues resolved in individual's favor 6

3. CAP determines VR agency position/decision was appropriate for the individual 1

4. Individual's case lacks legal merit 0

5. Individual chose alternative representation 0

6. Individual withdrew complaint 1

7. Issue not resolved in clients favor 0

8. CAP services not needed due to individual's death, relocation, etc. 0

9. Individual not responsive/cooperative with CAP 2

10. CAP unable to take case due to lack of resources 0

11. Conflict of interest 0

12. Other 0

(Please explain below) Not Applicable

E. Results achieved for individuals

1. Controlling law/policy explained to individual 2

2. Application for services completed 0

3. Eligibility determination expedited 1

4. Individual participated in evaluation 1

5. IPE developed/implemented/Services Provided 6

6. Communication re-established between individual and other party 2

7. Individual assigned to new counselor/office 0

8. Alternative resources identified for individual 0

9. ADA/504/EEO/OCR complaint made 0

10. Other 0

(Please explain below) Not Applicable

Part III. Program Data

A. Age

1. Up to 18 1

2. 19 - 24 2

3. 25 - 40 7

4. 41 - 64 12

5. 65 and over 2

6. Total (Sum of Lines A1 through A5. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 24

B. Gender

1. Females 13

2. Males 11

3. Nonbinary or Another Gender 0

4. Unknown 0

5. Total (Lines B1+B2+B3+B4. Total must equal Part II Line A3.) 24

C. Race/ethnicity of Individuals Served

1. Hispanic/Latino of any race 0

2. American Indian or Alaskan Native 3

3. Asian 2

4. Black or African American 5

5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0

6. White 13

7. Two or more races 1

8. Race/ethnicity unknown 0

D. Primary disabling condition of individuals served

1. Acquired Brain Injury 1

2. ADD/ADHD 3

3. AIDS/HIV 0

4. Amputations or Absence of Extremities 0

5. Arthritis or Rheumatism 0

6. Anxiety Disorder 2

7. Autism Spectrum Disorder 2

8. Autoimmune or Immune Deficiencies 1

10. Other visual impairments 0

11. Cancer 0

12. Cerebral Palsy 1

13. Deafness 2

14. Hard of Hearing/Hearing Impaired 0

16. Diabetes 0

17. Digestive disorders 0

18. Epilepsy 0

19. Heart and other circulatory conditions 1

20. Intellectual Disability 0

21. Mental illness 4

22. Multiple Sclerosis 0

23. Muscular Dystrophy 0

24. Muscular/Skeletal Impairment 0

25. Neurological Disorders/Impairment 0

26. Orthopedic impairments 1

27. Personality Disorders 0

28. Respiratory Disorders/Impairment 0

29. Skin Conditions 0

30. Specific learning disabilities (SLD) 0

31. Speech Impairments 0

32. Spina Bifida 0

33. Substance abuse 0

34. Other disability 0

35. Total (Sum of Lines D1through D34. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 24

E. Types of Individuals Served

1. Applicant of VR 8

2. Individual eligible for VR services currently on a wait list 0

3. Individual eligible for VR services not currently on a wait list 14

4. Applicant or individual eligible for Independent Living 1

5. Transition student/High school student 1

6. All other applicants or individuals eligible for other programs or projects funded unther Rehabilitation Act 0

Part IV. Systemic Activities and Litigation

A. Non-Litigation Systemic Activities

1. Number of non-litigation systemic activities not involving individual representation that resulted in the change of one or more policy or practice of an agency. 0

2. Describe the systemic activities conducted by CAP during the fiscal year and its impact on other agency's policies or practices. Not Applicable

B. Litigation

a. Number of cases requiring litigation involving individual representation filed during fiscal year. 0

b. Number of on-going cases pending at start of fiscal year (carryover from prior fiscal year). 0

c. Number of cases resolved through litigation during fiscal year. 0

2. Describe the agency's on-going and completed systemic litigation activities involving individual representation. Not Applicable

Part V. Agency Information

A. Designated Agency

1. Agency Type (select only one option): External-Protection and Advocacy agency

2. Name of designate agency: Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services

3. Is the designated agency contracting CAP services? No

4. If yes, name of contracting agency: Not Applicable

B. Staff Employed

1. Provide a description of all CAP positions Number of Person-Years: During fiscal year 2025, Mo P&A had twenty-three (23) positions partially paid by Section 112 funds. All twenty-three (23) positions were full-time, accounting for 22.1 person-years. Three (3) Attorneys accounted for 3.0 person-years. Seven (7) Advocacy Specialists accounted for 6.1 person-years. Attorneys and Advocacy Specialists split their time between the Client Assistance Program and other protection and advocacy programs. Five (5) Administrative positions, with two (2) Information Technology employees, accounted for 7.0 person-years. Six (6) Application Unit positions accounted for 6.0 person years. Each received a share of Client Assistance Program funding based upon Mo P&A's approved Work Hours Basis Cost Allocation Plan.

Please note: Legal, Advocacy, Application Unit, and Administrative staff are required to participate in Client Assistance Program-related training modules during the fiscal year.

Part VI. Case Examples

Case Examples

Provide some examples of some interesting cases during the past fiscal year. CASE #1

CAP Impartial Hearing Case 25-001: Vocational Rehabilitation

Client: A CAP eligible 25 year-old white female diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, PTSD, OCD, and ADHD.

Issue: Vocational Rehabilitation denied client’s request for reimbursement, differential offsets, and school payments.

Case Goal: Assist client resolve Vocational Rehabilitation’s denials.

Services Provided: Attorney obtained client’s records, contacted Vocational Rehabilitation regarding client’s Impartial Hearing process and issues, spoke with client multiple times to discuss the hearing issues and process. Attorney spoke with the Vocational Rehabilitation Attorney on multiple occasions and ultimately negotiated a settlement offer that increased their previous offer, as follows: 1.) Additional $6,600 for immediate vehicle safety features; 2.) Additional $1,200 for vehicle safety features, beginning January 2026; 3.) $1,618.55 for the cost of Thermomix; 4.) $2,100 additional Rent support ($175 per month for 12 months); 5.) $3,000 out-of-pocket maximum for health insurance; and, 6.) $6,000 for out-of-pocket for prescription costs.

Resolution: Client accepted the negotiated settlement offer. Issue favorably resolved.

CASE #2

CAP Advocacy Case 24-015: Vocational Rehabilitation

Client: A CAP eligible 37 year-old white male diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety.

Issue: Client sought assistance communicating with Vocational Rehabilitation counselor regarding providing employment services.

Case Goal: Assist client in communicating with Vocational Rehabilitation counselor.

Services Provided: Advocate obtained client’s records, discussed self-advocacy methods, and the role and focus of the Vocational Rehabilitation counselor.

Resolution: Client spoke with his Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, and was able to negotiate a new IPE that provided him support for his Computer Specialist goal and enrollment at his local community college. Issue favorably resolved.

CASE #3

CAP Impartial Hearing Case 24-001: Rehabilitation Services for the Blind

Client: A CAP eligible 54 year-old African American female diagnosed with legal Blindness.

Issue: Client sought financial assistance to become a licensed chaplain.

Case Goal: Assist client in negotiating with Rehabilitation Services for the Blind to overturn the denial of her preferred goal.

Services Provided: Attorney assisted the client in getting a firm denial from Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, then represented the client at the Impartial Hearing.

Resolution: Client’s appeal was successful, requiring Rehabilitation Services for the Blind to include the chaplaincy program in her Individualized Plan for Employment, including reimbursement, but not advance payment of expenses. Issue favorably resolved.

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.

Full Legal Name of Signer: Shawn Teofilo de Loyola

Certifying Official Title Executive Director

By checking this box and typing my full legal name above, I am electronically signing this form. Yes

Date Certified (mm/dd/yyyy) 2026-02-13

OMB Notice

OMB Control Number: 1820-0528, approved for use through 07/31/2023

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 16 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain a benefit (Section 13 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended). Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4537 or email ICDocketMgr@ed.gov and reference the OMB Control Number 1820-0528. Note: Please do not return the completed form to this address.

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