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Plan: Arkansas PYs 2020-2023
Combined Plan C

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:

DSB works in conjunction with the Arkansas Education Services for the Visually Impaired (ESVI) and the Department of Education, Special Education Division to identify blind and visually impaired students. Most recently, DSB has expanded its outreach effort to include private schools, alternative schools, and accredited online high school systems. DSB is improving and expanding efforts by offering seminars and in person talks to these educational organizations to inform teachers, parents, and students of the services that are available. DSB offers Parent Summits to provide coordinated efforts to allow students and parents to learn about the options in blindness skills training, education, and employment services. DSB continues to provide a three-week transition learning experience for up to 30 students from across the state, which includes paid work experiences, lessons in self-advocacy, peer mentoring, financial literacy, independent living skills, career counseling, and planning for the future; the students are housed at Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and go home on weekends. DSB intends to expand this program throughout the State to offer students and youth an opportunity to receive services closer to the communities in which they live.

DSB is also working to offer work experience training, soft skills training, career counseling, and advocacy skills to pre—employment transition students throughout the State. DSB counselors use the Pre-ETS Counselor Guidebook to help prepare students for employment. This guidebook breaks down types of activities and skills related to each of the 5 core services to assist counselors in identifying needs and activities for students.  DSB works regularly with Superior Success, and Challenge Solutions to provide trainings and work-based learning opportunities for students.  DSB continues to work to identify new vendors to provide additional opportunities for students. DSB is currently working with ASBVI to develop an additional program for students to learn workplace readiness skills during the school year. Working with our Pre-ETS vendors, DSB has been able to offer both in person and distance learning opportunities for students around the state.