Federal, State, and Local Agencies and Programs

To ensure that individuals with disabilities receive appropriate services, VRD has the following cooperative arrangements with various federal, state, and local agencies and programs to use their services and facilities:

• An MOU with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to provide VR services to individuals eligible for home and community-based services under a Medicaid waiver or Medicaid State Plan Amendment. HHSC is the state agency that provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities. VRD also works collaboratively with the Texas Department of State Health Services and is developing an MOU to provide cooperative VR services to individuals receiving mental health services.
• MOUs with education service centers, TEA, and independent school districts (ISDs) to enhance coordination of services provided through programs like Project SEARCH and Project HIRE (Helping Individuals Reach Employment), and other community programs and support available to improve and expand services for transition-age students with disabilities
• Coordination with the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired to provide specialized programs that prepare students for the transition to postsecondary life and the workplace
• A new MOU in 2016 with the Texas Department of Insurance’s Division of Workers’ Compensation to enhance referrals for return-to-work efforts
• Coordination with the Social Security Administration (SSA) on employment incentives and support to maximize Social Security Administration/Vocational Rehabilitation (SSA/VR) reimbursement activity through the Ticket to Work Program
• An MOU with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to maximize case service funds through better access to comparable benefits, and to enhance the case management process while avoiding duplication of services.
• Coordination with the Texas Veterans Commission to help identify veterans who need additional support in securing benefits, gaining employment, and accessing advocacy services.
• Coordination with the Texas Coordinating Council for Veteran Services to help identify trends that have an adverse effect on the veteran population, and create strategies to address and resolve those issues at the state level
• Coordination with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to create statewide symposiums and job fairs to meet the federal regulation that requires federal contractors to ensure that no less than 7 percent of their workforce includes individuals with disabilities
• Coordination with the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition for juveniles and adults to assist and strengthen supports and employment goals by exploring career opportunities
• Coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation on addressing the issue of inadequate transportation, often a major factor in a customer’s ability to maintain employment

Additionally, VRD uses TWC’s internal structure to:

• verify for Texas businesses that job applicants under the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program are receiving, or have received, VR services under an individualized plan for employment;
• access electronic wage data to verify employment history and income for customers for the purpose of closure data and SSA/VR reimbursement submission; and
• collaborate with Workforce Solutions Offices regarding customer training and support for employment goals, including participation in symposiums, job fairs, and providing disability awareness training.