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:
__________
* 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:
- O. State's StrategiesDescribe the required strategies and how the agency will use these strategies to achieve its goals and priorities, support innovation and expansion activities, and overcome any barriers to accessing the VR and the Supported Employment programs (See sections 101(a)(15)(D) and (18)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act and section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)):
- O. State's Strategies
- 2. Information on the Formal Interagency Agreement with the State Educational Agency with Respect To:
- d. Coordination with Education Officials
d. 2. O. vii. Strategies for Assisting Other Components of the Statewide Workforce Development System in Assisting Individuals with Disabilities.
Current Narrative:
As a division of TWC, VRD participates in the planning for and evaluation of the Texas workforce system conducted by the Texas Workforce Investment Council (TWIC), which serves as the state workforce investment board. These activities include: • participating in the development and implementation of the state-mandated strategic plan for the Texas workforce system; • participating in TWIC meetings and serving on the TWIC Apprenticeship and Training Advisory Committee; and • reporting quarterly and annually as requested by TWIC on the division’s activities to implement goals and objectives in the Texas workforce system strategic plan. VRD works closely with other TWC staff to provide information, partner on community initiatives, and enhance customer referral processes. Across the state, VRD counselors have strong relationships with the 15 Disability Navigators located at Workforce Solutions Offices to provide consultation on disability issues to workforce system staff, and provide direct assistance to customers with disabilities as needed. Ongoing collaborative efforts between VRD and each of the 28 Boards have resulted in projects, initiatives, and processes such as joint community outreach and awareness events, summer youth initiatives, employer symposia and job fairs, customer referrals, coordination of services, and cross-training for staff.