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Plan: Maine PYs 2020-2023
Unified Plan U

Section: Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Blind)

Narrative: g. 1.

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

    • g. Coordination with Employers

      Describe how the designated State unit will work with employers to identify competitive integrated employment and career exploration opportunities in order to facilitate the provision of:

g. 1. VR Services; and

Current Narrative:

Overall collaboration with WIOA requirements in regard to competitive integrated employment and career exploration continues to expand and improve. Currently the Bureau of Employment Services (BES) Apprenticeship Pilot has expanded and is being implemented statewide. In order to facilitate provision of VR services, the expectation is that apprenticeship will be an educational career pathway as the client’s Comprehensive Assessment of Rehabilitation Needs (CARNS) and Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) are developed.

DBVI’s Vocational Counselors (VRC) and Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRP) are reporting on their meaningful employer engagements and activities to a designated staff person in DBVI’s central office for tracking. One VRC reports discussingpotential employment opportunities with a company called SaviLinx, which is a call center in Brunswick that was looking for 100 new employees and Nouria Energy, concerning paid work assessments for clients and paid summer work experiences.  Some other employer engagements/activities included working with HMS Host to develop a placement for a client, which resulted in the client getting hired part time after completing some employment readiness skills.  Another client was hired after completing a paid work assessment. While another HS student had their first work experience over a 6 week period. 

An increased emphasis of career pathways, or a shift from job attainment to career for economic success, has resulted in use of Labor Management Information (LMI) that is provided to DBVI through the Center for Workforce Research and Information, who derives direct information from their employer contacts.