Washington State Department of Services for the Blind

For Immediate Release
September 28, 2006

Media Contact: Mark Adreon - Communications
Department of Services for the Blind
1.800.552.7103 or 206.721.6410
e-mail maradreon@dsb.wa.gov

GROUP HEALTH COOPERATIVE PARTNERS WITH WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES FOR THE BLIND TO KEEP ALL WASHINGTONIANS WORKING AND LEAVING NO CITIZEN BEHIND

The Department of Services for the Blind and Group Health Cooperative are working together in an innovative public-private partnership to help employers retain qualified employees who might otherwise leave the workforce.

Employees who have experienced a permanent vision loss often struggle without success to maintain their employment. The DSB and GHC partnership will provide early referrals to vision services that can help the employee keep their job.

"In order to be competitive in the global marketplace, business leaders look to hire highly skilled workers and all Washingtonians should have the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge that are in demand in today's economy," said Governor Chris Gregoire. "As we move Washington forward, we cannot afford to leave anyone behind."

This is a win for the employer and for the employee.

This is also a win for the state of Washington as the partnership supports a fully employed, tax-paying citizen who will stay engaged in their community and in Washington life.

• Every 5 seconds someone in the world goes blind.
• 16 million in US blind and expected to double by the year 2020.
• 99% are not born blind.
• The current population potentially eligible for DSB services is estimated at 110,702 individuals.
• By 2011, this number is estimated to increase 20% to 132,897.

GHC and DSB have developed a public/private partnership to increase early patient referrals to DSB for blind and low vision services. This 2 year project covers the state of Washington where GHC has 26 Eye Care Clinics.

The purpose of this partnership is simple. To provide no cost services to assist GHC consumers with permanent vision loss to maintain their employment, independence, health and well being. This project provides a holistic approach to health care services and will serve as a National and State model for preventative care through a public and private partnership.

Project Area and Partner Descriptions:

DSB provides low vision and blind services statewide for any state resident that qualifies for services. DSB services are generally, at no cost to our participant or referring organization. The project implementation area is the State of Washington.

DSB has functional expertise in low vision assessment and adaptive devices, work place assessment and reasonable accommodation plans, employment retention strategies, alternative blindness and low vision skills training, employer relations for retention plan implementation, independent living skills programs, child and family programs, equipment and support resources, and the ability to develop and implement low vision and blind personal adjustment plans.

GHC provides Eye Care services and medical care through out the state of Washington and the project area for GHC is anywhere in the state that eye care services are provided.

GHC has the medical treatment expertise to provide world class eye care. GHC also understands the value of prevention care, the importance of healthy adjustment to vision loss, the value of independence for the GHC consumer and value to society for GHC consumers to have the ability to be self sustaining.

Early referral for blind and low vision services assists people in a healthier adjustment to permanent vision loss. The opportunity is if someone is working, the partnership is there to assist them in staying employed. If they are becoming dependent on family and friends, the project is there to assist them in realizing all they can do for themselves and that a life of dependence is not necessary.

Many eye care professionals have been hesitant to refer patients for blind or low vision services until there was nothing else they could do. In other words, when the medical treatment was exhausted, the eye physician would refer to outside sources for adjustment support. In developing this partnership we considered the following. GHC has a pro-active approach to preventative medical care. We discussed how depression, helplessness and hopelessness leads to increased medical conditions or mental health issues. Early referral meant that in cooperation, we could provide an holistic approach to patient care. Early adjustment meant better adjustment to blindness or low vision. The earlier someone discovered that they could still work, live independently, engage in community activities and, well ……move on and live their lives ….the better adjusted and happier they would be. Seems like a simple logic. Therefore, with this partnership, we can start providing valuable services before the person with permanent vision loss has to travel down a road of hopelessness. They can begin the road of healthy adjustment early and meet with personal success in living a full and productive life.

General Information and Sources:

Tax pay back to state and federal government for DSB dollars spent on retaining or developing a participant job.

• In other words for each dollar invested the federal government would potentially receive $3.57 in future income taxes.
• In other words for each dollar invested the state would potentially receive $3.42 in future sales taxes.

From DSB data on tracking participant success:

Among all participants, the Benefit to Cost Ratio is 14.26 to 1. For every dollar of program cost, the participant will earn an additional $14.26 over the course of their remaining working years. This ratio was derived from DSB placement statistics.

Sources:

State population 2005 from Office of Financial Management
Source: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/pop/april1/finalpop2005.xls

Number and Percentage of Washington State Residents by Gender
Source: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/census2000/dp58/st/53.pdf