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. Coordination with Education Officials
- 2. Information on the Formal Interagency Agreement with the State Educational Agency with Respect To:
- I. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development(Formerly known as Attachment 4.10)). Describe the designated State agency's procedures and activities to establish and maintain a comprehensive system of personnel development designed to ensure an adequate supply of qualified State rehabilitation professional and paraprofessional personnel for the designated State unit, including the following:
- iii. Personnel StandardsDescribe the State agency's policies and procedures for the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards consistent with section 101(a)(7)(B) and 34 CFR 361.18(c) to ensure that designated State unit professional and paraprofessional personnel are adequately trained and prepared, including:
- iii. Personnel Standards
- I. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
- 2. Information on the Formal Interagency Agreement with the State Educational Agency with Respect To:
- d. Coordination with Education Officials
d. 2. I. iii. I. Standards That Are Consistent with Any National or State- Approved or -recognized Certification, Licensing, Registration, or Other Comparable Requirements That Apply to the Profession or Discipline in Which Such Personnel Are Providing Vr Services; and
Current Narrative:
Colorado does not have state-approved or state-recognized certification, licensing or registration requirements for any of the personnel classifications used by DVR, specifically rehabilitation counselors. In collaboration with Colorado’s Department of Personnel and Administration, DVR works to ensure all counselors are fully qualified and possess an appropriate Master’s level degree, experience working with individuals with disabilities, and whenever possible, are eligible to obtain the appropriate nationally recognized certification. DVR does not anticipate changes to current personnel standards as a result of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, as all professional staff positions include minimum qualifications that meet or exceed new legislative requirements. However, DVR will continue to monitor guidance published by RSA and will respond accordingly to ensure ongoing compliance.
When circumstances prohibit DVR from hiring a fully qualified rehabilitation counselor, DVR does maintain a rehabilitation counselor intern classification. If an individual is hired as a rehabilitation counselor intern, he or she is required to complete necessary coursework or accrue necessary employment experience to fully meet the minimum qualifications of a rehabilitation counselor within 5 years of the date of hire. In these situations, a training plan is developed with the individual identifying specific educational or experiential requirements that must be completed and the timeline for completion. DVR maintains partnerships with several universities offering financial assistance through RSA administered long-term training grants. DVR seeks to connect rehabilitation counselor interns with these funding sources to the extent possible when graduate coursework is required. This classification is used only infrequently when efforts to recruit fully qualified rehabilitation counselors have been unsuccessful. However, it is a useful tool, particularly in rural areas of the state and to ensure a diverse workforce.
Offices located near the state border have the added flexibility of being able to recruit qualified personnel who currently reside outside of Colorado. DVR also has the option to request a waiver to recruit out of state when unable to identify qualified personnel within Colorado. As needed, DVR works with the Department of Personnel Administration to secure a residency waiver allowing for this expanded recruitment.
DVR believes that the private sector is another good resource for recruiting experienced, competent staff. Through its relationships with various professional associations for counseling and other disciplines, DVR maintains a network for recruiting vocational rehabilitation counselors who have experience in the private sector. DVR ensures availability of accommodations necessary for qualified individuals with disabilities to successfully compete for and perform their job when hired.
DVR ensures rehabilitation counselors predominately serving clients who are deaf are skilled in American Sign Language and knowledgeable of deaf culture. Evaluation of these skills is incorporated in the screening and hiring process for counselors working with this population. Similarly, orientation and mobility instructors and rehabilitation teachers must meet the same minimum qualifications of a rehabilitation counselor, along with specialized skills necessary to provide orientation and mobility services and vision rehabilitation.