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
j. 3. Include an assessment of the needs of individuals with disabilities for transition career services and pre-employment transition services, and the extent to which such services are coordinated with transition services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Current Narrative:
Maine DBVI continues to look at the needs of each individual who is blind or has low vision taking into consideration his/her strengths, preferences, and interests. DBVI will work with schools, including those carrying out activities under section 614 (d) of the IDEA, to coordinate and ensure the provision of pre-employment transition services to potentially eligible or eligible VR students. Other services may include: community experiences, the development of employment in a competitive, integrated setting and other post-school adult living objectives.
Maine DBVI performs a comprehensive assessment when developing individual employment plans with all clients including students with a disability, youth and transition clients. As part of this assessment a number of approaches are used including solicitation of youth/families to participate in a BRS youth council; letters are sent to school districts by VRCs discussing Extended Core Curriculum activities seeking input/engagement in the process of school personnel; pre and post assessments are performed with youth/parents who participate in LIFE/LOYO/College Prep and most recently the ACE academy; engagement in peer mentoring seeking feedback and input from the youth participating; when developing IPEs input from their IEPs, TVIs, O&Ms and VRTs in always included where appropriate. Further, Maine DBVI provides services from Blindness Rehabilitation Specialists who work with many potentially eligible and eligible clients and their families prior to working with our Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors in an effort to better identify and coordinate vocational, educational and rehabilitative needs of these young clients.