Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan* must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by WIOA:
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* Sec. 102(b)(D)(iii) of WIOA
d. 2. N. i. Specify the State's Goals and Priorities for Funds Received Under Section 603 of the Rehabilitation Act for the Provision of Supported Employment Services.
Current Narrative:
Indiana has established three goals for its SE program.
Goal 1: Ensure that individuals receiving supported employment services have achieved stabilization, or their highest level of independence on the job, after a period of fading, prior to VR case closure. VR Employment Service revisions implemented in July 2015 increased focus on stabilization and increased access to supported employment services for VR consumers. It is anticipated that greater long-term retention will result from these changes, for individuals receiving supported employment services.
Measure: Begin collecting wage and hour information for individuals receiving supported employment services and obtain baseline data by October 2016.
Goal 2: VR Supported Employment providers will increase knowledge and skills on the provision of supported employment services, including greater understanding and focus on development of natural supports, job readiness training techniques, customized employment, and appropriate fading of supports.
Measure: VR will invest in training for supported employment providers including classroom-based, web-based, and hands-on workshops that focus on job coaching and job readiness training techniques. Training will be initiated on or before October 2016 with at least one-third of providers (29) participating in one or more training events by January 2017. BRS will also examine strategies for improvement of community rehabilitation providers to ensure capacity to carry out increased expectations under the new model.
Goal 3: VR will increase the quantity and quality of job outcomes for students and youth with the most significant disabilities through Project SEARCH.
Measure: At least 75 students will obtain work experience through Project SEARCH, and at least 50% of SEARCH participants will obtain competitive employment outcomes. Additionally, VR will establish an expansion plan for 2017.