6 Key Reasons to Support $5 Million OVR Budget Increase

to Help Young People with Disabilities Get Work Experience

This appropriation is needed to implement the provisions of HB 400 approved by the House by a
vote of 198-0. An identical bill in the Senate (SB 200) has 36 cosponsors, including Senate President
Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati and Minority Leader Sen. Jay Costa, indicating its strong bipartisan
support. Gov. Wolf included this funding, and the federal matching funds it would obtain, in his
proposed 2015-2016 budget for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR).
Here are six key reasons to make sure the funds are included in the final 2015-2016 state budget:
Promotes Work over Dependence: Young people with disabilities deserve the chance to go to
work after high school, rather than entering a lifetime of dependence upon government services,
and a strong likelihood of living in poverty.

Creates Return on Investment: Pennsylvania invests more than $200,000 on the education of
young people with disabilities. Skills developed in special education are often lost if young people
with disabilities graduate to the couch rather than going to work.
Gets Teens with Disabilities Vital Early Work Experience: Under the current system, OVR has a
lengthy backlog of young people needing job placement services. This funding will reduce the
backlog and create opportunities for part-time and summer jobs earlier in high school just like their
peers. With this work experience they will be better positioned to compete for jobs after high
school.

Earns Long Term Cost Savings: Potentially more than $1 million in government funds can be
saved each time a person with a disability gets a job, rather than receiving services at an Adult
Training Facility at a cost of $20,000/year for 50-plus years.

Utilizes Federal Matching Funds: Every dollar of the Commonwealth invests in this area of OVR
services generates nearly 4 dollars of federal matching funds. This $5 million state investment will
create up $18 million in new federal matching funds.

Returns PA to Full Federal Funding: Pennsylvania historically has drawn down all of its federal
allocation under the Vocational Rehabilitation program. Cuts in this funding area were one of the
painful effects of the Great Recession resulting a loss of available matching federal funds. This
appropriation returns Pennsylvania to fully seeking available federal matching funds for OVR.

Contact: Josie Badger, Campaign Manager #IWantToWork

josiebadger@hotmail.com Cell: 724-944-0429