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
- a. Input of State Rehabilitation CouncilAll agencies, except for those that are independent consumer-controlled commissions, must describe the following:
- a. Input of State Rehabilitation Council
a. 1. Input Provided by the State Rehabilitation Council, Including Input and Recommendations on the Vr Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan, Recommendations from the Council's Report, the Review and Analysis of Consumer Satisfaction, and Other Council Reports That May Have Been Developed as Part of the Council’s Functions;
Current Narrative:
The State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) reviewed modifications to the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation’s (MVR) services portion of the Combined State Plan for the Title I and VI B programs. On behalf of the Council, Tim Tadlock, SRC chairperson, submitted the following comments and suggestions:
1. The SRC Planning Committee, acting for the SRC, had an opportunity to review and comment on MVR’s services portion of the Combined State Plan. We are in support of your plan.
2. We applaud MVR’s response to the passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Your commitment to cooperating, collaborating and coordinating with other components of the statewide workforce development system is commendable. Improving partnerships and supporting people, including youth and students, with disabilities to obtain competitive integrated employment benefits everyone.
3. We would like to acknowledge MVR’s work on its goals and priorities. The SRC recommends that MVR continue to work on strategies to assist them in reaching current goals and priorities and provide updates on its performance at future Council meetings.
4. The SRC agrees that MVR’s goal of increasing employment outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is needed. We support your strategies to develop training in serving people with ASD as well as to collaborate with the Department of Mental Health and other agencies.
5. The SRC appreciates MVR’s efforts to keep categories open and eligible applicants in service. The SRC does recognize that rising costs and limited funding may necessitate the closing of categories and the institution of a moving waiting list for services. The SRC believes that any waiting list is undesirable and will result in more individuals becoming dependent on public assistance and increase the number of individuals who drop from the program before services are provided. The SRC will work with MVR on strategies to reduce or eliminate the waiting list and will ask for updates at the Council meetings.
6. The SRC would like to commend MVR for meeting all federal standards and performance indicators in FY 2016.
7. The SRC shares with MVR a concern that the economy makes MVR’s role in accessing employment opportunities for people with disabilities more challenging. SRC continues to support MVR’s efforts to find solutions by encouraging innovation and job creation and focusing on high quality employment outcomes.
The SRC had opportunities in the past year to provide input on other important matters with your agency. Some of these were reviewing and providing input to the program years (PYs) 2018 and 2019 goals, priorities, strategies and state plan; the SRC FY 2017 annual report; recommendations on policy revisions; state rule changes, collaboration with other disability-related councils; customer satisfaction survey results; the participation in and feedback from public hearings; hearing decision reviews; and reviewing MVR’s outcomes and performance indicators.
The SRC appreciates the opportunity to work with MVR on these matters of importance to people with disabilities in the state of Missouri.