U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Plan: Maine PYs 2020-2023
Unified Plan U

Section: Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Blind)

Narrative: o. 4.

Published
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

    • o. State's Strategies

      Describe 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. 4. The methods to be used to improve and expand VR services for students with disabilities, including the coordination of services designed to facilitate the transition of such students from school to postsecondary life (including the receipt of VR services, postsecondary education, employment, and pre-employment transition services)

Current Narrative:

DBVI will focus on Goal 3: To deliver Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to youth who are blind and visually impaired, assisting them to successfully live and work independently in the community as a method to improve and expand VR services for students with disabilities, including the coordination of services designed to facilitate the transition of such students from school to postsecondary life (including the receipt of VR services, postsecondary education, employment, and pre-employment transition services). 

Objective:   Increase and expand services to blind and visually impaired youth and students. 

Strategies:

  1. Continue to work with the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) to identify Pre-ETS activities/programs that can be provided to potentially eligible or eligible students.
  2. Increase the number of students who are referred to the VR program as part of their educational plan.  This will be done in part through the case management by the Blindness Rehabilitation Specialists (BLRS) who connect families with transitional and community resources.
  3. Hold regional meetings with DBVI staff, and contracted partners including Catholic Charities Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI) toward the beginning of each school year to determine VR eligibility on all students 14 years of age and older.
  4. Continue to make optimal use and expansion of Maine-based immersion centers to offer summer programs, including blindness rehabilitation, independent living, work experiences and college preparation. Current programs include College Prep, Living On Your Own (LOYO), Learning, Independence, Fun, Employment (LIFE) 101 and 102, all of which include use of Assistive Technology (AT), Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRC), Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI) and Orientation and Mobility Instructors (O&M).  Sessions for parents to educate them on resources, independence with their kids, and a question and answer (Q&A) sessions are also to be offered.

Continued and increased implementation of Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) and Pre-Employment Skills Groups where students are encouraged to engage in community, develop Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) and Interdisciplinary Learning (IDL’s,) explore area businesses and event centers, and attend information workshops/seminars.  School personnel associated with Blind and Visually Impaired students are contacted early each school year and made aware of these planned events and are invited to attend/provide input. Creation a summer youth employment, job shadow, Community Based Situational Assessment (CBSA), job club and/or work internship experience for all students by age 16.