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RSA-227 for FY-2025: Submission #55

Mississippi
09/30/2025
General Information
Designated Agency Identification
Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
2 Old River Place
Suite M
JACKSON
Mississippi
39202
http://www.msccd.org/
6019690601
711
6626554151
Operating Agency (if different from Designated Agency)
Additional Information
Pshon Barrett
Pam Dollar
6015949314
pam@msccd.org
Part I. Non-case Services
A. Information and Referral Services (I&R)
10
0
0
0
10
1
21
B. Training Activities
11
477
1. Training
Oct 12, 2024, presentation to Independent Business Owners
Number attending: 60
(a) Topics: introduction to new CAP director and grantee organization, the purpose of CAP, and how CAP can help VR clients
(b) Purpose: To familiarize attendees with assistance provided by CAP
(c) Some attendees were VR clients and others were business owners

2. Training: Oct 2024, picnic sponsored by the MS Council of the Blind
Number attending: 75
(a) Topics: introduction to new CAP director and grantee organization, and how CAP can help VR clients, and how to reach CAP
(b) Purpose: To familiarize attendees with purpose and assistance provided by CAP
(c) Attendees were blind and low vision adults from across MS

3. Training: clients and staff of Addie McBryde Rehab Center for the Blind, Jackson, MS Nov 2024
Number attending: 40
(a) Topics: introduction to new CAP director and grantee organization, how CAP can assist VR clients and how to contact CAP; discussed client self-advocacy skills and methods
(b) Purpose: To familiarize attendees with purpose of and assistance provided by CAP and to discuss the importance of self-advocacy
(c) Attendees: VRB clients receiving training and evaluation plus staff of the center

4. Training: Counselors of VR districts 3 and 4 plus Goodwill of MS staff
Nov. 2024
Number attending: 40
(a) Topics: introduction to new CAP director and grantee organization and how CAP can assist VR clients
(b) Purpose: To familiarize attendees with purpose of and assistance provided by CAP
(c) Lunch provided by Good Will (CRP) for VR counselors who work with clients at Good Will for training and evaluation plus Good Will staff

5. Training: Metro Jackson, MS Lions Club
Jan. 2025
Number attending: 7
(a) Topics: introduction to new CAP director and grantee organization, the purpose of CAP, and how CAP can assist VR clients
(b) Purpose: To familiarize attendees with the mission of and assistance provided by CAP to VR clients and applicants
(c) Attendees included club members and guests

6. Training: statewide staff of independent living centers (LIFE of MS)
Feb. 2025
Number attending: 35
(a) Topics: introduction to new CAP director and grantee organization, how CAP can assist VR and IL clients, the importance of distribution of CAP brochures to IL consumers and clients, relationship between CAP and IL program
(b) Purpose: To familiarize attendees with purpose and assistance provided by CAP
(c) Attendees consisted of staff and administrators from the network of independent living centers across MS

7. Training: Quarterly Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program Advisory Council, sponsored by VR of MS Band of Choctaws
March 2025
Number attending: 40
(a) Topics: introduction to new CAP director and grantee organization and an overview of CAP’s purpose and function in relation to solving disputes between RSA-funded VR agencies and participants and how CAP can assist VR clients.
(b) Purpose: To familiarize attendees with purpose of and assistance provided by CAP
(c) Attendees: included VR Staff, other agency partners, as well as VR participants

8. ADA Advisory Council, Jackson, MS by invitation
March 2025;
Number of Attendees: 35
(a) Topics: the purpose and consumer benefits of CAP
(b) Purpose: to educate participants about how to reach CAP and how CAP can assist clients or potential clients of VR
(c) Attendees: consumers with disabilities, employees of Jackson, MS, and candidates for upcoming mayoral and city council elections

9. Annual Convention of the MS Council of the Blind
April 2025
Number attending: 4
(A) Topics: What is CAP? How CAP can help consumers advocate for services. What services can VR provide?
(B) Purpose: to Educate attendees about how to contact CAP and the services provided by CAP to clients and potential VR clients
(C) Attendees included primarily consumers who are blind or have low-vision plus a small number of professionals in the field of blindness.

10. MS Disability Mega Conference: Joint Presentation between CAP and VR Director
June 2025
Number Attending: 75
(a) Topics: What is CAP? Mandates of CAP, services provided by CAP, how VR and CAP work together for client-centered outcomes
(b) Purpose: to discuss how to reach CAP, and the working relationship between CAP and VR
(c) Attendees included consumers with disabilities, parents of students with disabilities, staff members from VR and Disability Rights of MS, and other advocates and professionals in the disability field.

11. Transition 101, Education Independence and Employment
Sponsored by MS PTI; August 2025
Number attending: 25
(a) Topics: the purpose of CAP, how CAP can assist families in navigating VR for transition students
(b) Purpose: to introduce CAP to transition students and their parents and discuss how CAP works with VR to assist clients and potential clients to receive services
(c) Attendees included presenters from the PTI plus transition age students and their parents
C. Agency Outreach
CAP presented information about its services to a group of primarily senior adults who are blind or have vision loss and a second presentation to another meeting which included Native American clients from the MS Band of Choctaws.
D. Information Disseminated To The Public By Your Agency
0
0
0
5977
61
0
CAP brochures were made available in Braille and Large-print, and we are currently working on making the brochure available in Spanish and in audio formats.
E. Information Disseminated About Your Agency By External Media Coverage
N/A
Part II. Individual Case Services
A. Individuals served
0
51
51
0
15
B. Problem areas
0
7
40
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
C. Intervention Strategies for closed cases
20
1
14
1
0
0
0
36
D. Reasons for closing individuals' case files
8
3
9
0
2
2
4
0
1
1
0
6
1. IPE completed by payment of final expenses for undergrad school.
2. CAP gathered information, client refused to sign CAP Release so CAP unable to pursue.
3. Student obtained alternative source of funding for educational expenses.
4. Client was found ineligible for services.
5. Outstanding educational expenses obtained for client, but client not served due to results of FNA implemented 6/15/25.
6. Client did not sign release. CAP could not pursue any further.
E. Results achieved for individuals
12
0
1
0
7
3
0
1
0
12
1. Client uncooperative with VR by refusing to provide financial information.
2. The counselor did not provide her with a satisfactory explanation. CAP director emailed her the FNA standards and tables so that she could see for herself how her daughter’s case was being evaluated.
3. Clients mother was wanting to litigate the case rather than exhausting her administrative remedies.
4. She did not get preauthorization from VR before she had the surgery.
5. CAP gathered information, client refused to sign CAP Release so CAP unable to pursue.
6. The client's case was closed due to ineligibility before the end of the spring 2024 semester and CAP was able to obtain maintenance payments through the end of the semester.
7. Appealed to agency director and affirmed counselors determination of ineligibility based on documents already in the client file.
8. Client was found ineligible for services.
9. VRB Counselor was unable to obtain a response from mother in order to complete an application for services.
10. Client did not sign release. CAP could not pursue any further.
11. CAP director spoke with counselor and DM. Her case was closed because VR felt that he mental illness kept her fro participating in any program an left her unable to function to obtain or retain employment. VR made numerous referrals for her to get mental evaluation and care, but she would not follow through. Did not think she was mentally stable enough to participate in VR process.
12. Client withdrew her complaint.
Part III. Program Data
A. Age
4
29
3
12
3
51
B. Gender
39
12
0
0
51
C. Race/ethnicity of Individuals Served
0
1
15
0
0
30
0
5
D. Primary disabling condition of individuals served
0
10
0
1
0
2
2
1
3
7
0
1
0
7
0
0
0
1
0
2
1
0
0
1
1
3
0
0
0
3
1
0
0
4
51
E. Types of Individuals Served
25
24
0
0
0
2
Part IV. Systemic Activities and Litigation
A. Non-Litigation Systemic Activities
3
1. CAP memo to the SRC suggesting change to a proposed policy declaring that any student not eligible for Federal financial aid due to a defaulted, unresolved student loan was ineligible for VR services.
A. Argued to the SRC that such a blanket policy excluded students who participated in income contingent repayment plans or consolidation loan programs and that each client’s efforts to repay student debt and/or financial hardship should be considered when determining whether a client with a prior defaulted student loan should be eligible for services. Also, the Higher Education Act and the Rehab Act contemplate a more expansive policy when determining eligibility for services based on defaulted student loan indebtedness.
B. After CAP raised this issue before the SRC, VR changed the final policy to reflect a broader, more lenient stance on how to individually evaluate such debt for purposes of eligibility determinations. This change was adopted into the final policy.
C. This policy change will allow VR to serve more clients with disabilities who are making a maximum effort to resolve student loan indebtedness rather than excluding all clients with unresolved defaulted student debt.

2. Responded to request by the VR Executive Director to comment on a proposed closing letter to clients due to ineligibility.
A. CAP provided suggested language to be included in a sample closing letter for VR counselors when closing cases based on a determination of ineligibility. CAP Pointed out that these letters should be sent after a full consultation with the individual, as required by 34 CFR 361.43(a). In addition, the guidance provided by CAP stressed the importance of client participation in the closing process rather than counselors unilaterally closing cases without client input and/or explanation of ineligibility determinations as required by 34 CFR 361.43(b).
B. The proposed sample letter was modified to include suggestions made by CAP.
C. The change will raise counselor awareness of the regulations governing the requirements to consult with clients prior to closing a case and hopefully result in ineligibility decisions which are grounded in the facts of a case as well as the correct application of eligibility criteria. People with disabilities will have a better understanding and opportunity to participate in closing decisions in their cases so that they will have an opportunity to make a better “informed choice.”

3. CAP was asked by VR to review policy changes in the application and evaluation and operating procedures of the Project Search program
A. CAP suggested a framework for providing reasonable accommodations for clients during the application, evaluation, interview and job structuring process.
B. VR used suggestions from CAP to develop a policy of providing reasonable accommodations for participants in all phases of Project Search offerings. The policy was sanctioned by the SRC.
C. The incorporation of a reasonable accommodation policy will ensure that client’s individual disability-based needs are considered in all phases of Project Search programs and services.

Note: Upon request and by initiation from CAP staff, MS CAP provided input and feedback on the policies and practices of MDRS to the monitoring team from RSA during FY 2025. It is hoped that input by MS CAP was helpful to RSA in gaining an accurate understanding of the internal procedures being used by MDRS in the delivery of client services.
B. Litigation
0
0
0
N/A
Part V. Agency Information
A. Designated Agency
External-other nonprofit agency
Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
No
B. Staff Employed
One full-time CAP Director, FTE 1.0
One part-time Data Entry/Outreach Staff, FTE .25
Part VI. Case Examples
Case Examples
1. MS CAP assisted a client with a mobility impairment by working with Mississippi VR to obtain home modifications, such as a ramp and lowered counter tops enabling the client to have greater access to her kitchen and other areas so she could continue to work from home and care for her child.

2. CAP assisted another client, who returned to Mississippi to live closer to family in obtaining trial work experience and training. Eventually, the client obtained permanent employment.

3. CAP was instrumental in working with Mississippi VR to assist a client with cerebral palsy to obtain the services of a personal care assistant while on the community college campus as she began her freshman year. The provision of a personal care assistant provided the client with a greater level of independence and gave her more confidence to advocate for herself.
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.
Pam Dollar
Executive Director
Yes
2026-01-28
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