Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind

Line Item	Description	FY01	FY02	FY03	FY04	FY05	H1 for FY06
4110-0001	Administration	$1,159,477	$1,077,838	$934,075	$825,292	$939,292	$1,104,714
4110-0003	RR Fees				114,000	-	--
4110-1000	Community Srvcs.	4,093,938	3,819,001	3,629,082	3,673,070	3,733,070	3,653,326
4110-1010	SSI for the Blind	8,369,809	8,369,809	8,351,643	8,351,643	8,351,643	8,351,643
4110-1020	Admin/Medicare	421,813	416,206	313,979	323,947	321,461	316,884
4110-2000	Turning 22	7,798,576	7,760,004	7,744,790	8,000,574	8,074,775	8,891,043
4110-2001	Turning 22 New	320,000	120,000	165,000	36,500	297,000	4110-2000
4110-3010	Voc. Rehab	2,675,450	2,635,560	2,622,740	2,588,521	2,588,521	2,588,521
4110-4000	Ferguson Ind.	2,125,949*	2,184,492	1,859,740	1,884,200	1,885,073	1,847,796
Total	MCB	26,965,012	26,382,910	25,621,049	25,797,747	26,190,83535	26,753,927

*    This figure includes the $387,000 that MCB reports it received in a supplemental budget for rent.

The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB, the Commission) is part of the Office of Community and Disability Services under the umbrella of EOHHS. MCB provides: independent living services; rehabilitation services, for which it receives a portion of the federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) funding; social programs; and information services. The Commission serves about 9,000 legally blind clients annually. Between 2,500-3,000 are new referrals, and roughly that many cases are closed each year as successful rehabilitations.

There are about 38,000 legally blind residents in Massachusetts and the fastest growing segment is people over the age of 65-representing 70% of the MCB caseload.

Unlike persons with other disabilities, blind persons in need of VR are served by MCB, not the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. Additionally, blind persons with mental retardation are served by DMR.

FY05 OVERVIEW

Austerity the Theme at MCB-Service Gaps Remain

In FY05, MCB's budget remains 3% below its FY01 funding level, unadjusted for inflation. This is level funding with FY04, and no restorations have been made to cuts taken during the fiscal crisis. While MCB maintains few waiting lists, services and adaptive equipment are thinly provided. In FY02, 500 deaf/blind individuals experienced service cuts that were never restored. Vocational rehabilitation takes longer than it used to and there is less high tech equipment available. Ferguson industries remains poorly funded with inadequate raw materials to keep employees busy.

If there is good news in FY05, it is that Turning 22 residential needs (adult services or other youth services provided to students who graduate or age out of special education) are fully funded. Additionally, the legislature abolished the short-lived fees for travel passes and certificates of blindness that were the result of an FY04 governor's initiative.

Advocates with the Disability Policy Consortium are calling for MassHealth restorations to return coverage for visual services, dental, preventative mental health, and other medical services for MassHealth subscribers that were cut in FY02 (see the MassHealth chapter in this report). MCB-involved individuals often need new eyeglass prescriptions multiple times per year as their vision deteriorates. Eyeglasses are fundamental to independence and community integration.

H1 FOR FY06 OVERVIEW

H1 for FY06 recommends just $563,092 (2.1%) more than the total FY05 funding level. The increase supports nearly full funding for Turning 22. The budget provides no other expansion funding, nor does it support maintenance or even level funding for Community Services or Ferguson Industries.

Line Item Analysis

Account:      Administration

Line Items:  4110-0001 and 4110-0003

The Administration account funds the administrative expenses of MCB. The Commission administers financial assistance, establishes eligibility for Medicaid, and provides social and vocational services for the blind.

Massachusetts requires ophthalmologists, optometrists, and other eye specialists to report evaluations of legal blindness within 30 days, to be compiled in MCB's central registry. The resulting statistics on blindness have been recognized by the federal Center for Disease Control as the most accurate in the country.

Line Item	Description	FY01	FY02	FY03	FY04	FY05	H1 for FY06
4110-0001	Administration	$1,159,477	$1,077,838	$934,075	$825,292	$939,292	$1,104,714
4110-0003	RR Fees				114,000	--	--
Totals		$1,159,477	$1,077,838	$934,075	$939,292	$939,292	$1,104,714

FY01-FY05 Impact

In FY02, the number of full-time equivalent staff (FTEs) supported by this account was 10.5. In FY03, due to budget cuts, there were only 7 FTEs funded here.

The FY04 budget cut this account by $108,783 and created a retained revenue account (line item 4110-0003) with $114,000 to offset the reduction. Money in the new account came from fees charged to legally blind individuals for certificates of blindness and travel passes. In FY05, the legislature abolished these fees and restored the $114,000 to the administration account. The FY05 appropriation does not support the 4.5% management pay increase the governor's budget had proposed.

H1 for FY06 Recommendations

H1 for FY06 recommends $165,422 above the FY05 funding level, a 17.6% increase. MCB reports that $156,000 of this increase is for chargebacks-the money MCB must pay to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) for the centralized administrative services it provides following state agency reorganization.

Account:      Community Services

Line Item:   4110-1000

The Community Services account provides a range of supports that enable adults and children with blindness to live in the community. In FY04, MCB served 7,500 clients through this account.

Adult services include: adult day health care; advocacy; case management; community reintegration for elders; counseling services; diagnostic and evaluation services; homemaker services; information and referral services; interpreter services; essential skills training to meet emergency needs; orientation and mobility services; recreation; rehabilitation teaching; respite care; self advocacy/recreation for deaf-blind persons; self-help group counseling for newly blind persons; transportation; and flexible supports.

Children's services include: socialization services for school-age children; summer camps; school consultations; respite assistance; an after-school program; and flexible supports.

Community Services also funds two additional programs. The Radio Reading program provides local news and information to blind listeners through the Talking Information Center network of stations. The Deaf/Blind Community Access Network (DBCAN) serves 57 adults who are multi-disabled, helping them better integrate into the community.

Line Item	Description	FY01	FY02	FY03	FY04	FY05	H1 for FY06
4110-1000	Community Srvcs.	4,093,938	3,819,001	3,629,082	3,673,070	3,733,070	3,653,326

FY01-FY05 Impact

Between FY02 and FY03, Community Services was cut by 11.35%. As a consequence, service cuts-that were never restored-impacted 500 adults and children. Through the early retirement initiative, 11.25 full time staff were cut. Caseloads went up and whole regions of the state went poorly served, including 125 children in the Springfield area.

In FY04, level funding of $350,000 to the DBCAN meant reducing service hours from 16 down to 12, and limited transportation reimbursement to accommodate a sharp increase in program interest by new clients.

For FY05, funding is still down 9% from the FY01 level, unadjusted for inflation. Modest funding increases between FY04-FY05 enabled rehiring in 5 positions covering rehabilitation teaching, supervision, and social work. Still, caseloads in FY05 average 90-100 per worker.

FY06 Needs

MCB has established the need for an additional $250,000 for this account in FY06. The funds would bring the account up to $3,983,070, still almost 3% below FY01's appropriation. The funds are for three areas: $50,000 for technology for blind elders; $50,000 in expansion money for the DBCAM-there are 8-10 individuals on a waiting list; and $150,000 for rehabilitation training, vision utilization, and communication services in community settings.

H1 for FY06 Recommendations

H1 proposes a $79,744 (2.1%) cut to the FY05 level of funding and would reduce services.

Account:      State Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for the Blind

Line Item:   4110-1010

The State Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for the Blind account funds benefits that augment those of the federal SSI program. Like federal SSI-an income supplement program funded by general tax revenues-this state program provides a modest cash benefit to low-income elderly, blind, and blind/disabled persons so that they may meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. In addition to monthly benefit payments, this account also funds minimal Emergency Assistance for its participants. Currently, about 4,175 Massachusetts residents receive benefits; more than 70% of this caseload is made up of people over the age of 65.

Line Item	Description	FY01	FY02	FY03	FY04	FY05	H1 for FY06
4110-1010	SSI for the Blind	8,369,809	8,369,809	8,351,643	8,351,643	8,351,643	8,351,643

FY01-FY05 Impact

The FY03 budget cut $18,166 from this line, which had been level-funded for years. The final FY04 budget funded the account at the reduced FY03 level, but did maintain the program within MCB instead transferring it to the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) as the governor had proposed. For FY05, the account is level-funded with FY04.

H1 for FY06 Recommendations

H1 recommends level funding for this program.

Account:      Administration/Medicare

Line Item:   4110-1020

The Administration/Medicare account funds administrative staff who determine whether blind applicants are eligible for Medicaid. When an individual is found to be eligible, Medicaid benefits are then administered through the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA). The range of services available is the same as for all other Medicaid recipients: hospital, outpatient, physician and nursing home services; as well as medication, diagnostic, preventive and rehabilitative services.

Blind people uniquely need assistance with Medicaid paperwork and this department helps maintain the eligibility of some 4,175 blind persons in addition to processing new applications. Elders over the age of 65 comprise about 50% of the caseload. The other half are non-elderly people with disabilities, including one or more condition(s) other than blindness.

Line Item	Description	FY01	FY02	FY03	FY04	FY05	H1 for FY06
4110-1020	Admin/Medicare	421,813	416,206	313,979	323,947	321,461	316,884

FY01-FY05 Impact

In FY03, this account was cut by almost 25%. Between the early retirement initiative and budget-driven layoffs, the agency has lost over 4 employees-from 10.85 full-time equivalent staff (FTEs) at the start of FY02 to 6 FTEs in FY03. MCB reports that the staff reduction means it is taking longer to serve this client base.

For FY04, the governor's $100,000 veto was overridden by the legislature-the final allocation provided maintenance funding at the reduced FY03 level.

For FY05, the account is level-funded with FY04.

H1 for FY06 Recommendations

H1 for FY06 proposes to cut this account by $4,577 from the FY05 funding level.

Accounts:    Turning 22 (T22) and Turning 22 New (T22 New)

Line Items:  4110-2000 and 4110-2001

The Turning 22 (T22) account funds community-based support and residential services for older deaf/blind and multi-disabled individuals and those who turned 22 in the previous year. This account should grow each year to annualize services to those young people. Currently, residential services are provided to 69 individuals with multiple disabilities. An additional 418 deaf/blind and multi-disabled people receive some community-based support services through this account.

The Turning 22 New (T22 New) account funds the same services for young people with multiple disabilities who are graduating from or aging out of special education programs (by turning 22) in the current fiscal year. About 3-10 eligible individuals turn 22 each year.

Line Item	Description	FY01	FY02	FY03	FY04	FY05	H1 for FY06
4110-2000	Turning 22	7,798,576	7,760,004	7,744,790	8,000,574	8,074,775	8,891,043
4110-2001	Turning 22 New	320,000	120,000	165,000	36,500	297,000	4110-2000
Totals:		8,118,576	7,880,004	7,909,790	8,037,074	8,371,775	8,891,043

FY01-FY05 Impact

The FY02 budget cut $578,707 from the base of these accounts, reducing services to 500 deaf/blind individuals. Everything from adaptive equipment, respite, specialty training, orientation and mobility training to socialization and recreation services were impacted. These service reductions were never restored.

In FY05, Turning 22 residential needs are fully met, providing for annualization and new program participants. However, because the FY02 base cut of $578,707 remains, only T22 individuals in residential settings are getting their needs met. Others receive information and referral and the very occasional service or device. Only the highest needs are responded to.

FY06 Needs

MCB has established the need for $295,000 to support 6 Turning 22 New (line item 4110-2001) program participants in FY06, and an additional $467,000 to fully annualize FY05's T22 participants (line item 4110-2000). Total combined funding need for both accounts is $8,836,775, without building back the FY02 service cuts.

H1 for FY06 Recommendations

H1 recommends $519,268 above the FY05 funding level for a consolidated Turning 22 account. This increase includes approximately $90,000 for the salary reserve initiative for the lowest paid direct care workers. Keeping in mind the salary reserve funds, MCB reports the account would be about $30,000 short of full funding for new and annualized services to Turning 22 program participants.

Account:      Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

Line Item:   4110-3010

The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) account funds evaluation and assessment, the Technology for the Blind program, vocational training and equipment (including software), job placement assistance, and post-employment services. The goal of MCB's VR program is to assist all eligible and interested blind persons to secure employment, independent homemaker status or non-competitive employment, depending upon their interests and abilities. In FY04, there were 1,400 active participants; 194 were rehabilitated.

Line Item	Description	FY01	FY02	FY03	FY04	FY05	H1 for FY06
4110-3010	Voc. Rehab	2,675,450	2,635,560	2,622,740	2,588,521	2,588,521	2,588,521

FY01-FY05 Impact

Between FY02 and FY04, VR was cut 3.25% from its FY01 level, unadjusted for inflation. Staff was cut from 139 full-time equivalent staff (FTEs) in FY02 to 121 FTEs in FY04. The FY04 budget stripped MCB of its designation as the single state agency for vocational rehabilitation services to blind persons and moved this designation to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). Insiders report that the VR program has reduced the high tech devices available and that rehabilitations take longer.

As of FY05, MCB reports that it is down just 5 FTEs from their FY01 level. Level funding with FY04, however, will worsen the thin provision of high tech equipment for blind individuals who are pursuing education and seeking employment. The account remains 3.25% below the FY01 funding level, unadjusted for inflation.

FY06 Needs

MCB has established the need for an increase of $175,000 to this account to serve blind college and university students.

H1 for FY06 Recommendations

H1 recommends level funding for the VR account in FY06.

Account:      Ferguson Industries

Line Item:   4110-4000

Ferguson Industries employs people with multiple disabilities to perform light industrial work producing home and office products for sale. A Homebound Program funds persons who work in their homes producing articles that are sold by Ferguson Industries. Sales bring in about $900,000 in revenues annually. A portion of the revenues is returned to MCB, and any amount over $700,000 goes back into the general fund. Currently, 34 blind/multi-disabled workshop employees are employed at Ferguson, down from 45 persons 11 years ago.

Line Item	Description	FY01	FY02	FY03	FY04	FY05	H1 for FY06
4110-4000	Ferguson Ind.	2,125,949*	2,184,492	1,859,740	1,884,200	1,885,073	1,847,796

*    This figure includes the $387,000 that MCB reports it received in a supplemental budget for rent.

FY01-FY05 Impact

Since FY02, Ferguson Industries has been cut nearly 14%, unadjusted for inflation. In FY03, funds were cut for the raw materials the program needs to keep its employees busy. In FY04, Ferguson moved to a new location in Malden and has a new director (who is also the director of vending).

In FY05, level funding continues to impact the program's productivity, which in turn impacts the revenue the program creates and further shrinks its budget.

FY06 Needs

MCB has established the need for an additional $135,000 for this line item in FY06 to enhance Ferguson's production capacity and to hire new workers.

H1 for FY06 Recommendations

H1 recommends an additional cut of $37,277 to Ferguson Industries from the FY05 level.