Statistics and Financials

DSB's Strategic Plan for 2010-2016 reflects the challenges of the current economic recession and sets the groundwork to improve decision making and to strengthen our programs through collaborative efforts with other agencies and the provider community.

Results of DSB services for Fiscal Year 2011 include:

• 147 customers went to work in competitive jobs at an average wage of nearly $20 per hour.
• Our increased emphasis on employer outreach enabled us to identify individuals who were in jeopardy of losing their current jobs due to vision loss.  We were able to help 82 people adjust to their blindness, gain alternative skills and assistive technology, and keep their existing jobs.
• With a boost from Recovery Act dollars we ramped up our employment efforts through a number of special initiatives:
• Out of the 18 internships we arranged this past year, 7 customers secured permanent employment, and the others gained valuable work experience.
• We assisted 13 customers set up small businesses.
• We conducted several intensive Job Search Boot Camps across the state to assist customers in seeking and securing employment.
• Our total numbers served in the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program this past year increased by 110 (1226 last year to 1336 this year).

• In addition, our programs for youth, including the Bridge Program, Summer Camp for Independent Living Skills (SCILS), the Baby Jamboree, and the Youth Employment Solutions (YES) Program, have made tremendous contributions to the lives of children who are blind or have low vision, fostering independence, creativity and confidence early on. 
  • The Bridge Program, a five-week, academic experience, placed 9 students on the campus of Eastern Washinton University.
  • SCILS, a day camp designed for children ages 9 to 13, had 11 participants this year, who, along with daily living skills activities, took part in recreational and volunteer opportunities. 
  • The Baby Jamboree, an event focused on birth to age 3 and co-sponsored by DSB, Washington State School for the Blind, and other agencies and organizations, gave families the opportunity to learn about their child's vision loss and how to advocate for that child's needs. This year there were 18 families in attendance from all over Washington. 
  • The YES Program, which provides housing and paid employment opportunities for transition-age youth, had 20 students this year who interned at 17 employers throughout the city of Seattle. 
• Our Independent Living Older Blind (ILOB) program (contracted through the University of Washington and local providers) served 1,259 individuals.

• ILOB Tribal customers increased by 13% due to targeted outreach efforts funded with ARRA dollars.
• We expanded our pool of local IL providers to 12.

Results of DSB services for Fiscal Year 2010 include:

• Despite the high (over 10%) unemployment rate in Washington, 130 of our customers went to work in, or retained competitive jobs.
  • The average wage was $16/hour, despite the current downward pressure on wages.
  • 59% of these employment outcomes included benefits.
  • 23 high-school-age students participated in our Youth Employment Solutions (YES) program and benefited from paid summer work experiences.

• We received $138,600 in Social Security Administration (SSA) reimbursements (down from $643,000 last year).
• Internally, we served 176 Independent Living (IL) customers under the age of 55.  Eight (8) of them became VR customers.
• We served 1,192 Independent Living Older Blind (ILOB) persons, more than we had anticipated, by creatively leveraging funds. 
• Our Business Enterprise Program (BEP) generated results that benefit the state as a whole:
  • $20,086,924 in gross sales.
  • $1,827,910 return in tax dollars to the state.
  • 382 people were employed by BEP vendors.

DSB’s internal operations demonstrate growing efficiencies, while modeling diversity and a positive agency culture:

• 30% of DSB employees are blind or have other disabilities and all DSB jobs are accessible.
• DSB has a high level of employee satisfaction; DSB’s overall rating of 4.20 in the most recent Employee Climate Survey ranks us as 4th among 33 state agencies.

For more information, contact us at 1(800)552-7103 or info@dsb.wa.gov.