At the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) 2023 Legislative Reception, three IVRS counselors who are deaf were guests to share the ways they help to better serve the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHOH) community in Iowa with legislators. Kensie Channon (Des Moines Area Office), Christopher Johnson, (Fort Dodge Area Office) and Cara Di Giovanni (Cedar Rapids Area Office) talked about the initiatives IVRS has initiated such as a video in sign language to help with the application process.
In Program year (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021) IVRS served 764 individuals with Deaf and Hard of Hearing as the primary and/or secondary impairment. Those who are successfully employed using IVRS services earn an average hourly wage of $17.61 and work an average of 34 hours a week (Program Year 2021).
There is also a counselor — Shayla Stater (Council Bluffs Area office) — who can communicate through ASL and works with the Iowa School for the Deaf.