Narrative: d. 1.

Outreach:

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and RSB have established a joint referral process for local education agencies and RSB as required by 162.1139 Revised Statutes of Missouri for all children identified as visually impaired. The DESE State Plan for Special Education requires that school districts discuss RSB services annually at each student’s Individualized Educational Program meeting. RSB staff must refer any client that is not served through an IEP to the Division of Special Education with the parent’s consent. The Office of Special Education provides guidance documents and a referral form available online to the local education agencies for this process. RSB continues to offer local administrators of special education (LASE) and the DESE Missouri Blind Task group presentations on RSB transition services at their meetings.

RSB advocates for early awareness of VR to minimize gaps from school to post-school activities. Pre-employment transition services are available for students with disabilities beginning at the age of 14. RSB is committed to outreach activities to facilitate pre-employment transition services designed to provide necessary supports for obtaining independence, post-secondary education, and employment. RSB counselors and children’s specialists leverage their connections with local schools districts and DESE to facilitate referral processes. In conjunction with school districts, counselors identify overlap in educational goals and services and negotiate any necessary cost sharing arrangements. RSB also utilizes community resources, such as local job fairs to disseminate VR program information. Through these collaborations, RSB increases outreach to students and improves student transition into employment.

Missouri Interagency Transition Team (MITT)

The Missouri Interagency Transition Team (MITT) was formed through the Office of Special Education to promote interagency collaboration in Missouri at the state level by establishing a group vision for improving outcomes for young adults with disabilities. MITT consists of diverse state-level members, including RSB, that meet quarterly to share resources, develop goals and promote activities to improve transition education, pre-employment transition services, and post-secondary outcomes.

Blind Task Force (House Bill 401):

House Bill 401, signed into law in July 1999, added new requirements to existing Missouri statutes. These statutes changed RSB’s policies and procedures for coordination with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on the transition of students with disabilities from receipt of educational services to receipt of vocational rehabilitation services, including pre-employment transition services. The requirements are as follows:

• Establishment of a task force on blind student academic and vocational performance to "develop goals and objectives to guide the improvement of...transition from school to work, rehabilitation services, independent living, and employment outcomes for eligible students.” Members are appointed by the Commissioner of Education in cooperation with the Director of the Department of Social Services (RSB’s parent agency). Membership is comprised of parents, students, teachers of the visually impaired, a public school special education administrator, a public school building principal who supervises instruction of students who are visually impaired, an employer of persons who are visually impaired, an orientation and mobility specialist, a representative from a university special educator training program, one representative each from the Missouri Council of the Blind and National Federation of the Blind of Missouri, a representative from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a representative from the Missouri School for the Blind, a representative of the Department of Social Services, and a representative from RSB.

RSB worked as an active partner with the Blind Task Force, coordinating the bi-annual Vision Summit for Parents and Educators of Children with Visual Impairment/Blindness. The one day event hosts approximately 100-200 participants including: parents, professionals, educators, and students. Topics focused on the provision of appropriate education services, accommodations, and pre-employment transition services for students who are blind or visually impaired.

• The creation of a "Blindness Skills Specialist" position at each of the nine DESE Regional Professional Development Centers. Responsibilities of these individuals include coordination of "services available from other entities who serve eligible students.” DESE has contracted with three specialists, one located at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO, and two located at Missouri State University in Springfield, MO.

• Submission of an annual report from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to the Missouri Legislature. The report is to include the number of students with visual impairments receiving special education services who: 1) receive transition planning services with the cooperation of RSB as part of their Individual Education Plan; and 2) are referred to RSB.

• Establishment of a joint referral system between the Division of Special Education in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and RSB.

Interagency Cooperative Agreement:

The Office of Adult Learning and Rehabilitation Services (Vocational Rehabilitation) and Rehabilitation Services for the Blind hold an interagency cooperative agreement for transition services with the Office of Special Education and Office of Career Readiness, which outlines plans, policies, procedures, and financial responsibility of each agency for the coordination of transition services to students with disabilities. The agreement, developed in accordance with IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, includes the following:

1. RSB to provide consultation and technical assistance to local and state educational staff in planning for the transition of students with disabilities from school to post school activities, including vocational rehabilitation services;

2. Transition planning by RSB staff and the educational agency that facilitates development of and completion of their individualized education programs in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA);

3. Roles and responsibilities, including financial responsibilities of each agency and provisions for determining state lead agencies and qualified personnel responsible for transition services; and,

4. Procedures for outreach and identification of students with disabilities who are in need of transition services.

The agreement contains guidance on the primary source of service provision including the educational agencies’ financial responsibility in accordance with IDEA and RSB’s agreement to pay for employment related transition services provided in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act as amended for vocational rehabilitation services beyond the scope of IDEA.

In addition, the agreement provides the means to ensure joint planning of individualized educational plans and individualized plans for employment and includes the opportunity that students may receive “for credit” work experiences through the Cooperative Work Experience Program.

Missouri Connections:

Missouri Connections is a web-based career exploration tool for:

• self-awareness assessment

• career assessment and awareness

• educational and occupational exploration

• postsecondary planning

• career preparation and management

• job placement

Missouri Connections provides interactive career exploration features, information on educational options and degree choices after high school, and administrative options for schools to upload course lists and customized career plans of study. Sponsored by DESE and the Department of Economic Development (DED), Missouri Connections is free of charge to students, parents, guidance counselors, educators, and job seekers. Through Missouri Connections, the Division of Workforce Development, under DED, Department of Higher Education, RSB and other WIOA core partners and local school districts can utilize the same career planning tool with their clients/students.

Transition Handbook for the Cooperative Work Experience Program:

A Transition Handbook for the Cooperative Work Experience Program, jointly developed by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and RSB staff, provides policy guidance on transition services. The handbook is available on the DESE website.

Transition Brochure:

A brochure on transition services that was jointly developed by staff of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and RSB is available on DESE’s website. It provides a single source for an overview of the technical assistance, consultation, and transition services that are available from the two State vocational rehabilitation agencies. The target audience includes students, parents, school personnel, and community organizations that might be in contact with individuals who could potentially benefit from vocational rehabilitation services.

RSB Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Policy:

RSB has modified procedures for the provision of services to youth in transition and students in transition to be consistent with WIOA requirements and amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This includes the provision of pre-employment transition services to students in transition, which may be provided by our Children’s Specialist to students potentially eligible for VR services. Changes also include a 90 day timeframe for development of an Individualized Plan for Employment after the date of eligibility determination, unless RSB and the eligible individual agree to an extension.

Cooperative Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education:

In compliance with the regulations implementing the Vocational Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998, RSB, with the cooperation of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, has developed an interagency agreement for all of Missouri’s public institutions of higher education (IHEs). This agreement spells out the financial, support and other responsibilities that are required by the regulations for each party in supporting the post-secondary education of persons with disabilities.