During Fiscal Year 2025, data and statistics show a 1% decrease in vocational service referrals to Career Assessment Systems, Inc. over FY 2024. The federal government shutdown during the last quarter of 2025 significantly impacted OOD’s authorization and referral based on financial concerns thus vocational evaluation services slowed significantly. Throughout 2025, CAS continued to work in a non-traditional format of virtual Vocational Evaluations based on Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities approval in order to be more successful and efficient. CAS remains innovative in the delivery of quality vocational rehabilitation services especially in the delivery of Labor Market Information (LMI), which is highly utilized by a majority of vocational rehabilitation counselors who seek superior information and advocate successful decision making power, allowing for very successful Individual Plans of Employment for the participants they served in 2025.

Of all comprehensive vocational evaluation referral starts in FY 2025, 100% of services were completed within the authorized time frame established by OOD, 100% of reports were completed within the authorization period established by OOD, and 99% were completed within CAS efficiency timelines. These excellent results reflect CAS staff commitment to efficiency in order to meet the mandated standards established by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities as a part of the present Provider manual and fee schedule.

Demographics of referrals continue to support the accessibility of services to all participants regardless of age, gender, race, heritage, cultural background, disability or economic level. Minority participants represented 31% of all referrals, 43% of all referrals were female, 56% were male, and 1% were defined as other. The majority, 83% of participants were between the ages of 18 and 65. Participants with varying degrees of disabilities were served by Career Assessment Systems services, including nearly 35% diagnosed with some degree of physical disability. Of these, 63% represented a dual diagnosis of physical/mental disabilities. Separate dual diagnosis referrals represented 2% of all referrals. 100% of the counselors who returned satisfaction surveys gave a “very good to excellent” rating that CAS authorized vocational services properly addressed questions and needs of participants developing Individual Plans for Employment. This rating is consistent and reflects CAS exceptional staff experience and their ability to adjust to the changing needs of OOD counselors as they work together in a professional relationship. Counselors who commented on their surveys shared the following quotes: “Always timely”, “Properly address questions – Absolutely!”, “CAS does the most thorough reports”, “The evaluator did great at making the participant feel at ease”, “CAS has been wonderful to work with”, “Evaluations and meetings done in a timely manner!”, “Again-quicker than my expectations”, “Super thorough and did a great job interpreting the data for the team!”

The true effectiveness of Career Assessment Systems vocational services can be measured based on the number of participants who completed and were satisfied with their vocational services experience. After participating in the certified vocational evaluation service and subsequent staffing held with the counselor, participants were given surveys that could be returned to CAS using self-addressed stamped envelopes (provided after in-person staffing) or via e-mail (sent after remote staffing). 90% of participants who returned satisfaction surveys indicated first contact with CAS after being referred was less than 10 days, which is above the target CARF goal of 85%. It should be noted that some participants, even though contacted as soon as possible after CAS received the referral and authorization from OOD, perceived a time lapse and confusion relative to their first contact with OOD. 100% of the participants gave a “good to excellent” rating being satisfied with the services received. Participants who commented on their surveys shared the following quotes: “The whole evaluation process was great. My evaluator was very nice and was excellent at explaining the process”, “The service provided was amazing”, “was a very pleasant and informative experience”, Evaluator “was very pleasant. Everything was broken down and easy to understand. Keep it up!”, Evaluator “did a wonderful job presenting the information and I learned a lot. Thank you!”, Evaluator “was fantastic to work with. She was great with text and e-mail communication, very professional! Very personable. She did a wonderful job taking time to make sure everything was understood. She was very patient. It was obvious she cared about what she was doing and wanted to make sure that the services she was providing would actually be helpful. It was a pleasure working with her!”

CAS continues to be exceptional in providing Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation services for both participants and vocational rehabilitation counselors throughout the State of Ohio.

W. Brad Hale, President / Erica Kozma, M.Ed., CRC
areer Assessment Systems, Inc.