Transcript of “Rights
Here, Rights Now” – Episode on DARS with Dale Baton
Produced by the
disAbility Law Center of
Virginia.
[INTRODUCTION]: The information provided on this
podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Instead, all
information, content, and materials available are for general, informational
purposes only.
[Enter host 1, Molly Carter]
[Molly
Carter]: Welcome to Rights Here, Rights Now!- the
podcast about disability advocacy, and activism. I'm your Advocate host, Molly Carter!
[Enter host 2, Suzanne Herbst]
[Suzanne Herbst]: And I'm your Advocate host, Suzanne Herbst!
[Molly
Carter]: Every two weeks we dig into to
relevant issues, current events, and avenues for self-advocacy.
[Suzanne Herbst]: Because someone has to!
[Molly Carter]: And it might as well be us.
[Suzanne Herbst]:
*This podcast is produced and edited by
the disAbility Law Center of Virginia, the Commonwealth’s protection, and advocacy
agency for disability rights.*
[Enter, again, hosts
Suzanne Herbst & Molly Carter]
[Suzanne Herbst]: We
have got a great episode for you all today. J [Today], we have Dale Baton, the
Deputy Commissioner of DARS. Which, of course, as everybody knows, stands
for Department of Aging & Rehabilitative Services. And, by everyone, I mean,
(all) dLCV employees! But, perhaps, not the general population. [Haha]. So, she
is here to tell us more about the services that they offer and it's going to
great I'm excited! How about you, Molly??
[Molly
Carter]: Yes, me too. I mean, here at dLCV, we work
very closely w/ DARS, but, I think that it is an organization- that- They cover
so much, that, it’s important for our listeners to really know the services
that they do. And just everything that's out there. Dale is just so knowledgeable and covers a lot. And, I
think we're going to learn a lot, too, in today’s episode.
[Suzanne
Herbst]: I sure hope so.
[Molly
Carter]: [But] Before we jump in, let’s check
out Disability in the News.
Virginia is among several states
who are receiving millions of dollars to strengthen respite care services for
families of those with disabilities. The Administration for Community Living
said that $11 million in Lifespan Respite Care State Program Enhancement Grant
awards will be headed to 10 states over the next five years. The funding will
be use to expand and enhance respite services, improving coordination and
dissemination, bolster quality, and make programs easier to access. Earlier
this year lawmakers approved the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act
which increases funding to $10 million annually through 2024. There is an
estimated 53 million caregivers nationwide providing an estimated $470 billion
unpaid care hours so this money will certainly help families all across the ten
states who will receive it.
[Molly]: Okay.
Welcome, Dale Baton. [We’re] We are so excited that you are here, today, to
help us learn more about DARS. (The Department
of Aging and Rehabilitative Services) So: just for listeners, right off the
bat- Can you give us some information? Just, sort of introductory. Primarily:
what is the purpose of DARS; Of the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative
Services?
[Enter, DARS, Deputy
Director, Dale Baton. J ]
[Dale
Baton]: Good
Morning, Molly. Sure. The purpose of DARS, the Department of Aging and
Rehabilitative Services, is supporting the Virginian’s efforts
to appear independent, and to have true
integration of all our customers, [and clients.
J
]. Our mission is to improve employment, quality
of life, security, and, independence of older Virginians, Virginians
w/disabilities. And their families.
[Suzanne
Herbst]: Great. And, so, it
sounds like you work on a little bit of a broad-spectrum, there? (Yes, they
do.) So, who is eligible for services with DARS?
[Dale
Baton]: So, DARS, my division- The Division
of Rehabilitative Services,
offers vocational or rehabilitation programs. The services so that people
with disabilities can prepare for: [the process to] Secure, retain, OR,
regain employment. Our team, and DRS, (division of rehabilitative
services,) is committed to ensuring that individuals, w/disabilities, have
opportunities to compete for, and enjoy, high quality employment! We
collaborate with [communities and] individuals with disabilities, and community
Partners, to empower individuals with disabilities, to maximize their
performance, working toward economic self-sufficiency independence. J
[Molly
Carter]: Wow. Thank you so much! It looks like,
at DARS there's a lot of, [options] I mean, in terms of a job services and thins
that sounds like, for services at DARS, that, there’s a lot (available across
the board) Can you for our audience, um, go into a little bit more specifically
about: How does someone apply for services at DARS? What does that process look like?
[Dale
Baton]: Sure! So, DARS, is
just like applying for many other services. (Such as) Applying in a doctor’s
office, or, you know, etc. You can [just] walk in and apply yourself. You can
be a… a self-referral. OR, you can be referred by someone, (a member of the
community) that you're already working with. Such as: a Doctor’s Office, or, a Federal
Probation and Parole Officer; Or, [a member of the] court system, a Community
Service Board, a family member, schools,
friends. Etc. So, (in order to qualify), say you’re a walk in. Um, you need to
be able to become eligible you must have a physical, mental, emotional, or,
learning disability that's a real barrier to you getting a job. You need a
vocational rehab services to prepare you to get and retain, and then, when
you’ve gained employment, & then, you must be able to benefit from the,
from the, services to help you overcome any barriers for employment that would prevent you from getting a job.
[Suzanne]: Which is wonderful! I think I don't know how, well
known it is-we all know it is- But, unemployment is a bigger a big issue,
(than people realize!) in the disability community. that there's an
organization out there, you know, specifically
looking to help people with disabilities and some other issues to overcome those barriers and get employment. Get
into the job market!
[Dale Baton]: Yes,
Suzanne. And now, with the Governor’s Initiative, Economic Order, about the,
um, diversity, equity, & inclusion, we know FOR A FACT, that our population, inclusion has been a
big factor for us. So, there’s these big initiatives out there. Everywhere
from, the governor’s office, to the national level, with the Rehab Services Administration,
to really make sure, that, we do have
equity for our..the population that we serve.
[Suzanne Herbst]: Absolutely,
which is so wonderful. And, it’s just…it’s got to be comforting maybe
for our listeners, who didn't…(pause) maybe didn't know about the service to
know that it's out there and it's got to feel nice for you especially to have
that back up from the higher-ups! J [Laughter!]
[Dale Batton]: Yes. You can apply for our
services through all the work force (operations): American Job Centers,
(or) One Stop Centers in the Commonwealth of Virginia. They're all around the
state. And, now it is, 15 areas, I think (believe) that, it used to be 16, or,
it is, I think [now], exactly 14, or 15, centers, that actually serve here our disabled
population. And, um, here in the office, we have [our] Comprehensive Center Hours
that we serve. So, if you walk in the doors and say you have disability, and,
you need referral services, we can….There’s actually a new portal that we use
[now,] new, for services. And you are able to actually click on: Disabled [Disability] Services. And
that will come up for you.
[Suzanne
Herbst]: Great. So now- Once somebody
applies… does it… Can it take a while to get services? Is there (you know), a
wait-list on hand? What's the order of selection once you’ve [or we’ve] applied?
[Dale Batton]: So, a state Vocational Rehabilitation Agency is required to implement an order of selection. And, we wouldn't
anticipate that they will not have
sufficient or Personnel Resources individual in order to fully serve our
eligible databases, [clients] or, our agency. Our agency is an ordered selection. I'm happy to say, though, for the first time in the last
10 years that we are now serving our customers that walk in our door. And, an
Ordered Selection, if you have to have an ordered selection, then, it consists
of priority category based on what the individuals are assigned (and also)
based on the significance of the disability. For Virginia Counties, this year,
all categories are eligible! So: when we don't have sufficient funding than we
actually go by the severity/intensity of the disability and categories are
open, & closed, in that order.
[Suzanne
Herbst]: So, who is eligible for services with DARS?
[Dale
Batton]: Our programs & services are
there to assist people with disabilities to prepare for retain, or, regain,
employment,working toward economic self-sufficiency, and independence. Our team
is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have the opportunity to compete for, and enjoy high quality employment. We collaborate
with our individuals with disabilities, and (with) our partners, to ensure
we’re maximizing employment, and, working towards economic self-sufficiency-
whether that comes to us, under Social Security Disability, or, Social Security
income,-- then, that means, they are already eligible. Then, they don’t have to
go through any other sort of preparation. They are already eligible through
Social Security Income.
[Molly Carter]: Thank
you so much for that clarification. We do a lot with Social Security in our
office as well. So I really appreciate you covering that. Um, I'm curious,
Dale: How long, exactly, are clients going to be able to be eligible for these
services? And also, I kind of wanted to touch on this, too, because I would
imagine, the goal with DARS is, after using the services for a while, I would
think the ultimate goal is to no longer need them once that person no teams
appointment or reaches their Career Goals, or whatever it is. So, can you talk
to us about how long practice clients are eligible and then also when the
services may end as well?
[Dale Batton]: Our services are individually based on individual needs. And so,
when you apply for services and you’re actually determined eligible. And then,
you're working with your counselors. And you write up individual plan, or, a long term plan. [….]. We do have a
platform for both. And, both Services last as long as that plan is needed to
make you acceptable in employment, employment training, and [then] returning to
work, for the first time, training you for a different career paths. For the
individual disability so. there's no time limit she was service and how long
the services last. It really will just be based on your individual plan for
what you want me to make you some stuff so it can be a short-term plan can be a
long-term plan just depends on your location with the counselor and the
consumer time together okay. So it ends when you’re actually integrated into
stable employment. Then, we can actually close the case after stability has
been identify 90 days up the stuff for the Ability to have a competitive,
integrated, employment but we also now have to follow you in our Workforce
Innovation and opportunity ACT, Common Measures. So, we are now looked at on a
performance [level]. And, for anyone to exit a program, in the 2nd & 4th
Quarters after (our) the exit. So really that's a year-and-a-half where were
tracking your progress. you’re actually now measured on your. still going
forward it doesn't have to be in the same job if you have to be measured on it
that person that we close especially if still in floor second and fourth
quarter so it may end on paper from communicating with you we also send out
surveys and see how you're doing if you weren't close especially a year after
foreclosure to see if you doing okay [at that point.].
[Suzanne Herbst]:
That’s great, that you're following people as they go through this journey! And
I think, you made a really great point, that I want to touch on, which is that:
You guys are providing training and retraining services! This isn't just, “I
need to get a job- get me any job. “This is career-focused and having, you
know, real goals to reach that level of filament in life, too!
[Dale
Batton]: That’s correct! And you know, people
will come in (to us) and say: “I need a job now!” And that’s fine—we will try
to help you find a job now! We will try to help you find a job where, you use
those skills inheirently. But, let’s also talk about, you know, [actual] career goals. To work at that
sustainability in your finances so that you can have stability…So you don’t have to come back again. So,
we will help you get a job now, but, the goal is to help you think more on the
Lines long term employment.
[Suzanne
Herbst]: Exactly,
which I think is such a key part of this…of this organization. it's it's not
just you know let's do this now, that can be part of it, like. But it’s really:
Let's make a plan for the future so let's say I got a job I'm doing pretty well
and then you know you all everybody at darts and helped me out and then maybe
2-3 years down the line I find myself in a situation where I lost a job I need
to need some help again. [At that point] Can I reapply for services?
[Dale Batton]: You
most certainly can! J We
have—We want to make sure that you're able to continue this is stuff. And that,
if, you have something changed and you became unemployed again you can
definitely come back to the agency and reapply for services and we will continue
to work with you again will help you become employed again.
[Molly
Carter]: Awesome! I think that's really
interesting. And um, a really important point for a listeners to know is that
this is a really, more than as Suzanne said just getting a job and keeping it.
It's really an ongoing growth process, for people, in terms of their careers,
and their lives. And their overarching goals, over a long period of time. Because
I know life is unpredictable and our goals particularly in our career change
and evolve one thing I found a really interesting when we speak to other
organizations is a lot of times, people don't realize how early on they can
should have come into these organizations and get the help that they need so
one thing that might be interesting to talk about is: is there anything I can
do to help say kids are students as early as high school age and when can sort
of a jump-start this process supposed to take, um, advantage of those resources
as soon as they can?
Dale Batton]: Good question, Molly. And I would like
to comment on. Since the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act formed in 2016,
actually, really 2014 to 2016-- When we have to serve students with
disabilities that I really your/OF age and that's 14 years of age to age 21. So
we are, here, in the schools, anyway. But here, in the schools [High Schools]
helping students (High School students) at an early age prepare for [that], and
do career exploration to find out they're really interested in. different
career paths. And, to help them understand the service that we can provide them
when they graduate. And, we’ve offered services to them in the school at those
stages/ages before they graduate. So [that], when they actually become a Junior
and/or a Senior- which-- we work with them frequently as a Juniors & Seniors-
we're working early. Giving them some training, some workplace learning. So,
we're able to then…We help them through the more expedited program, when they
are actually more able and willing to take those…services and they're better
equipped for post-secondary training, as well as, job placement, after High
School years. So, yes, we are near the school personnel as well as a counselor
to look at career paths, counseling opportunities for looking at what
transition may look like, a workplace Readiness training, to bail out some of
the social skills, and independent living at evensong intersection in self-advocacy.
So, we have five core Services we offer in there on the hour pre- employment
services in all the schools before they actually become a client.
[Molly Carter]: Thank you so much for covering all
that. I know, for me, as a disabled person, I found that, the earlier I can
know about these resources and the earlier I I myself can have the agency I'm
in Independence, to do those things, and start, you know, making my own choices
and building my own, you know, support system, you know, things have been
easier. And, obstacles have kind of been smoother to overcome that way so I can
get you really crucial that jars started this process too early in the game so
I'm really glad that you know students as young as high school now getting to
have these Services especially you know nowadays with everything being so
unpredictable. So, that's really great.
[Dale Batton]: We also have a comprehensive rehab
center Wilson Workforce and rehabilitation center went to work with students
and we haven't education and rehabilitation program so we actually have to
attend Independent Living so that is what we do but because of our we've
expanded how many we work within the student population
[Suzanne Herbst]: That’s just wonderful. Especially,
you know getting those, experiences even getting to meet your peers who are
going through the same thing as you, is wonderful. And of course, dlcv is a
huge fan of self-advocacy. That is when
we can help people you know and be ready for that! J
[Dale Batton]: I
would agree very much. J
[Suzanne Herbst]: All
right, thank you so much for joining us today. It's been an absolute pleasure
having you.
[Dale Batton]: Thank
you so much for asking me to be with you all this morning .
[Molly Carter]: And now, a dLCV Highlight!
Between January and June of 2021,
dLCV staff provided information and referral to 23 Social Security
beneficiaries with Representative Payees. We spent over 105 hours speaking with
them about their individual situations and crafting recommendations for next
steps. Our referrals included information about the responsibilities of payees,
steps for changing a payee and how to report suspected misuse to the Office of
the Inspector General. If you have questions or concerns about your
representative payee, please reach out to dLCV to discuss your options.
[Suzanne Herbst]: Thank you again to Dale baton from
DARS for being here today I think my hopes for the podcast were realized I
think we learned a lot. A lot of good information sounds like they're doing a
lot of good things over there!
[Molly
Carter]: Yes, Dale is just so lovely to
talk to, and I'm just really glad that we were able to, you know, just, cover a
small portion of everything that they do cover [DARS]. And, I really hope that
for maybe some of our listeners, this prompts them to reach out to DARS and
start their own process with them. So, again, thank you, Dale, for coming around
chatting with us today. And, thank you all for listening to this episode of
Rights Here, Rights Now, brought to you by the disability Law Center Virginia!
We are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your
podcast. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!
[Suzanne
Herbst]: If you need assistance or want
more information about dlcv and what we do is visit us online at dlcv. Org.
[Molly Carter]: Also, you can follow
us on, your favorite news app, Twitter @disabilitylawVa. And, also, for those
who don't know, we do have a Facebook, and you can follow us at the disability
Law Center Virginia. And please, feel free to share (us) this with your friends.
[Suzanne Herbst]: Until
Next Time, I’m Suzanne Herbst!
[Molly
Carter]: And
I’m Molly Carter. And this has been: Rights Here!
[Suzanne
Herbst]: Rights Now! **END OF TRANSCRIPTION!*