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:
__________
[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
d. 2. D. Procedures for outreach to and identification of students with disabilities who need transition services.
Current Narrative:
DBVI will provide a list of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and the schools they serve to DOE, and provide outreach material on services for transition-aged students. As students with an IEP begin the transition planning process prior to entering 9th grade, the student (and guardian) will receive general information about VR and pre-employment transition services. The information will inform the guardian how to access services.
DBVI will inform DOE in writing of procedural changes that may impact the eligibility of students with disabilities for vocational rehabilitation services, so that DOE may disseminate the information to local school districts. DOE will notify DBVI concerning proposed changes in regulations, policies and procedures at the state or federal level that may impact students with whom DBVI works.
DBVI contracts with Catholic Charities Maine's, Education Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Children's program, to provide services to children who are blind and visually impaired. DBVI's Blindness Rehabilitation Specialists (BLRS) work with these students and teachers so become familiar with the students who may benefit from VR services early on. Teachers of the Visually Impaired have also been trained on what pre-employment transition services and transition services are, so can involve the BLRS or the VR counselor as appropriate. The list of students is reviewed (as appropriate) at team meetings twice a year.
DBVI will collect de–identified information on informal/formal complaints and due process hearings that involve school–aged youth; this data will be provided on an annual basis to DOE, as well as numbers and demographics of transition–aged students served. A protocol to serve students in out–of–district placements in accordance with current policy will be developed.