Virtual Case Manager
Client: Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Dates: 7/1998 - 12/2005
Based on the success of our previous completed Information Systems Accessibility Proof of Concept, the Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) asked MSF&W to proceed with the development of a comprehensive, enterprise-wide, case management system that would be accessible and usable by all DRS employees, including those with disabilities. DRS Virtual Case Manager is an enterprise-wide, client-server, graphical user interface information system that automates all of DRS case management processes. It connects over 800 staff spread through 50 offices and more than satellite sites throughout the state of Illinois. The accessible Virtual Case Manager (VCM) integrates the agency's paper and legacy, mainframe-based case management processes into a single, enterprise-wide business application.
The system provides full case management functionality, from intake interview through eligibility determination, service plan development, activity tracking, job placement, and case closure. Information sharing capabilities are emphasized throughout, with quick and efficient means of electronically sharing case information across the state and special features to accommodate multiple simultaneous case workers on any given case.
Based on DHS standards, MSF&W developed DRS VCM using Forté and DB2 and deployed on DRS's statewide Novell NetWare wide area network. MSF&W led DRS and DHS staff through all stages of object oriented system development, including design (using Joint Application Design methodology), development, testing, implementation, training, and support.
DRS VCM was implemented in December 2000 and MSF&W continued to maintain and enhance the application for five years. Major enhancements during this period included the ability for staff to "check out" cases to laptops and work while disconnected from the network and generating all federal reports from VCM instead of the legacy mainframe system.
To ensure that DRS Virtual Case Manager would be accessible to staff with disabilities, MSF&W applied and refined the accessibility guidelines developed in our Accessibility Proof of Concept project. The system was customized to work with DRS's standard assistive technologies, including ZoomText screen magnifier, JAWS screen reader, and Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice recognition system. We performed extensive user testing with staff with disabilities to confirm that accessibility needs were successfully met.
