Current RRTC Priorities

In carrying out our mission, we conduct a variety of research and training activities for the purpose of improving vocational rehabilitation services for individuals who are blind or have severe visual impairments. Over the next 5 years (2001-2006), we will be engaged in several research, training, education, and dissemination activities as published in the July 6, 2001 Federal Register (Volume 66, Number 130). If you would like to contact any of the RRTC personnel, please visit the Faculty and Staff page.

Research

1. We are conducting four integrated research projects focusing on services to individuals who are blind under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA) of 1999, "one-stop" career centers under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998, and employment accommodations under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. This project will investigate and document the effect of legislation up on the employment-related needs of persons who are blind or severely visually impaired. Products generated from these investigations will be designed to assist VR agencies in developing effective partnerships with workforce development organizations and others as appropriate.

   Principal Investigator: Dr. Brenda Cavenaugh

2. We are analyzing several national data sets to determine different employment outcomes for persons who are blind or have visual impairments and the relationship of the outcomes to client and service provider characteristics (e.g., age of onset of blindness or visual impairment relative to successful employment outcomes). Data sets include multiple years of the RSA 911 data (including state-by-state breakouts), the National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement (NHIS-D), summary data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), the national Independent Living Center Survey, and other relevant data sources. Databases will be selected and reviewed for the extent and relevance of their information on client and service characteristics useful in determining relationships to employment outcomes for persons who are blind. The activities will investigate (1) "What information is wanted and needed? (2) "What information do we have?" and (3) "What works?" and "What can we use?"

   Principal Investigator: Dr. J. Martin Giesen

3. We are utilizing the expertise of a Participatory Action Research (PAR) Team to identify state vocational rehabilitation agencies, public agencies, and private sector providers with a demonstrated record of overcoming environmental barriers to improve employment outcomes for individuals who are blind or severely visually impaired. Policies, services, and service delivery models of each agency or provider will be examined via a collective case study approach. Survey data with selected parties will be used to triangulate case study data. Efforts will be directed toward identification and documentation of emerging trends and promising practices, particularly those strategies using job-site modifications or assistive technology, within each setting. The American Foundation for the Blind is collaborating with us on this project and will be the primary investigative team with private sector service providers.

   Principal Investigator: Dr. Adele Crudden

4. We are conducting a national training needs assessment of State Business Enterprise Program (BEP) staff and members of the Elected Committees of Blind Facility Managers, to identify training and technical assistance needs. Information gathered from the national training needs assessment will be used to develop national training and technical assistance activities including, (1) a series of Bi-regional Randolph-Sheppard training conferences conducted in collaboration with Regional Rehabilitation Continuing Education Programs (RRCEPs), (2) on-line distance education BEP training modules, and (3) a national BEP Information and Resource Referral (I&RR) database which will be incorporated into our existing I&RR web site. Evaluation of the efficacy of the training and technical assistance activities will be measured using a combination of new and existing evaluation tools.

   Principal Investigators: Dr. J. Elton Moore and B.J. LeJeune

Training, Education, & Dissemination

Our comprehensive program of training, education, and dissemination focuses on short-term, long-term and in-service training, technical assistance and a dissemination program which includes our Information and Resource Referral web site (www.blind.msstate.edu/irr) and 800 number (800) 675-7782. We will also be conducting three national conferences to address computer technology training for vocational rehabilitation staff. Conferences will be co-sponsored by NFB in 2004, ACB in 2005 and AFB in 2006.

Principal Investigator: B.T. Kimbrough

Additional training activities include:

1. a variety of regional training programs for state rehabilitation agency personnel that focus on the use and applicability of current computer access technology used by persons who are blind or visually impaired;
2. a 10-week intensive summer course entitled, Vision Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation (funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration);
3. an on-site, in-service training programs for state rehabilitation agencies serving persons who are blind;
4. an on-campus teaching laboratory with the latest voice, Braille, and large print access peripheral equipment, as well as portable devices such as a Braille and Speak, a Type and Speak, and a BrailleLite; and
5. an advanced training program (Anne Sullivan Macy Fellowship)for rehabilitation counseling doctoral students specializing in applied blindness research methodology through the MSU Department of Counselor Education and Educational Psychology. We also actively seek recipients for our Jennings Randolph Research Awards and our William H. Graves Research and Training Utilization Awards for Vocational Rehabilitation Practitioners.

Additional Funding Sources

In addition to our principal funding from NIDRR, we receive funding from the Rehabilitation Services Administration to conduct our Vision Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation 10-week training program. We also contract with several state agencies to evaluate projects serving older persons who are blind. These projects were established under Chapter 2 of Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Our grant sources total over $1 million annually.

Collaboration

We actively collaborate with a number of organizations in carrying out our mission. These include the American Council of the Blind (ACB), the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB), the National Council of Private Agencies for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), the Blinded Veterans Association, the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), the National Clearing House of Rehabilitation Training Materials, Regional Rehabilitation Continuing Education Programs, Rehabilitation Engineering and Research Centers, the Helen Keller National Center for Deafblind Youth and Adults, other RRTCs, and other private and public organizations throughout the United States.

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Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 9:33 AM
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