The Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) helps people with disabilities achieve their career goals and live more independently. They provide services like job training, career counseling, and help with technology and transportation to make it easier for individuals to succeed in the workplace. The University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute (HDI) is completing a study to provide an impartial report for OVR to develop and update its state plan for vocational rehabilitation services.
OVR uses the results of the CSNA to improve its programs and services, set goals, and decide what’s most important to focus on. The goal is to understand the needs, challenges, and barriers that people with disabilities face when trying to access vocational services and gain employment.
Feedback Opportunities
UK HDI has facilitated a series of focus groups and key informant interviews intended to draw insight into lived experiences from individuals who engage with the Kentucky OVR. A survey has been developed from the feedback collected to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and experiences of these individuals. The survey will be targeted to a wider audience and used to help inform the Kentucky OVR CSNA.
Survey
The survey is LIVE!
The survey has taken feedback from the focus groups and key informant interviews to form the questions and concern statements. The survey is now open and we look forward to your responses. Please consider filling out our survey, that should take no longer than 15 minutes, to make sure HDI is understanding the needs and experiences of those connected with OVR.
To complete the survey, click the
“Take the Survey” button below.
There will be a Spanish version available next week. See below for requesting other language translations.
Key Informant Interviews
Key informant interviews help us gain a deeper understanding about OVR by hearing perspectives and experiences from those most impacted by the services provided. Your thoughts and insights are valuable in guiding the next steps of the evaluation process for the CSNA. Please consider sharing your experiences to make sure we’re capturing the most relevant information.
Scheduling for interviews will continue through October. If selected, a member of the OVR CSNA team will reach out.
Registration is open! Click the “Interview Registration” button below.
Submission for Survey Translations
If you need the survey in a language other than English or Spanish, please submit a request using the
“Translation Request” button below and we will email you the translated survey once it’s ready.
Focus Groups
Thank you to all who participated in our focus groups and offered valuable feedback to inform our survey and final report. We appreciate you taking the time to meet and chat with us to share your thoughts and experiences.
FAQs
What is a CSNA?
A CSNA is a study that occurs every three years, as required by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended). It looks at the needs of people with disabilities in Kentucky and helps OVR understand what services are working well, what’s missing, and how to improve their services and outcomes. The goal of the KY OVR CSNA is to make sure OVR is meeting the needs of people across the state with a focus on employment opportunities and access to resources.
For reference, visit the 2024 Kentucky OVR CSNA.
How is HDI’s Evaluation Unit involved?
The University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute (HDI) has an Evaluation Unit that specializes in research and data analysis. For the CSNA, HDI works with OVR to collect information from a variety of people, including, Kentuckians with disabilities, family members, caregivers, service providers, employers, and other community members.
This feedback helps HDI identify service gaps and understand what is needed to enhance outcomes for individuals with disabilities. They use surveys, interviews, and other tools to gather input and create a report with their findings and recommendations.
Why is this important?
The CSNA allows the Kentucky OVR to make data-informed decisions about their programs and resources. By listening to the people they serve and others who work with them, OVR can focus on areas that matter most. This process strengthens services for everyone in Kentucky, especially people with disabilities.
If you have any additional questions or inquiries, please reach out to the HDI CSNA Team using the “Contact Us” button below.
To stay updated on the OVR CSNA, use the
“Email Sign-Up” button below.