Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Blind)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
e. Cooperative Agreements with Private Nonprofit Organizations
Describe the manner in which the designated State agency establishes cooperative agreements with private non-profit VR service providers.
Current Narrative:
When procuring goods and services, the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI) follows state procurement processes, which are overseen by the Maine Bureau of Business Management, Division of Procurement Services. The Department of Labor (DOL), DBVI develops a Request for Proposal every five years for Community Based Blindness Rehabilitation Services (CBBRS). DOL seeks proposals that describe how the entity will provide direct instructional services, such as skill development in activities of daily living, communications, and the use of residual vision, to meet rehabilitation needs of adults and students aged 14 and older, who are blind or visually impaired. These blindness rehabilitation skills and pre-employment transition services are provided to prepare the client for employment. These specialty services are provided by ACVREP Certified and/or State Licensed Rehabilitation professionals, such as certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, and highly qualified specialty support staff.
DBVI works closely with the selected contracted community providers to ensure that the contracts address requirements for informed consumer choice, any licensing requirements and for staff who are qualified to deliver rehabilitation services and blindness-specific skills training for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
DBVI continues to require that primary CBBRS for adult blindness rehabilitation services maintain accreditation for delivery of rehabilitation services for people who are blind or visually impaired. The accreditation program, previously managed by the National Accreditation Council Incorporated, is now under the executive management of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired.