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 Arkansas State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) is a key partner with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) in the administration of the State’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program. The Arkansas SRC is a citizen advisory council, appointed by the Governor, to provide guidance to ARS to help individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most significant disabilities, to obtain, maintain and regain competitive integrated employment, promote full inclusion and integration into society, and to maximize independence and economic self-sufficiency. Its membership helps ARS to develop and operationalize the VR State Plan, develop and operationalize ARS’ state goals and priorities, shape and review policy, engage in strategic planning, evaluate the effectiveness of the VR Program, analyze consumer satisfaction and provide guidance, including development and review of cooperative agreements. The SRC met quarterly during the last two fiscal years, and was updated on important events affecting ARS. The SRC reviewed the agency’s service planning and goals. SRC members were informed about the various programs within the agency, and received refresher training on its roles and responsibilities. The SRC also received training on the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act with emphasis on its implications to members, and specifically regarding meetings and required notification of meetings to the public. At its quarterly meeting on March 21, 2019, the SRC was briefed by the ARS Commissioner as to the state-level reorganization effort then under discussion at the 92nd General Assembly. The reorganization bills (known collectively as the Transformation and Efficiencies Act of 2019) would place ARS within the Division of Workforce Services, the Arkansas agency that administers WIOA Titles I and III. The Transformation and Efficiencies Act was signed into law on April 11, 2019. The following initiatives were implemented in collaboration with the SRC’s analysis and guidance. • ARS Budget • ARS Business Leadership Network development plan • ARS Expos • Business Relations Representative job placement activities • Comprehensive System of Personnel Development and CRC training • VR State Plan • Project SEARCH • PROMISE Grant