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Plan: South Carolina PYs 2020-2023
Combined Plan C

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:

SCCB actively engages with the South Carolina business community through services provided by the Training & Employment Division (T&E) Employment Consultants. Both Employment Consultants and VR Counselors participate in local workforce boards.  SCCB T&E Employment Consultants build and maintain partnerships with businesses to:

• Assess and better understand the unique human resource needs of South Carolina businesses;

• To help align SCCB programs to better meet the unique and specific human resource needs of South Carolina businesses;

• To create, establish, and foster relationships with South Carolina businesses that help them meet their unique and specific human resource needs, including talent acquisition and talent retention;

• Develop opportunities for Work Based Experiences, Internships, Job Shadowing, and other work-based learning experiences that provide South Carolina Businesses with opportunities to gain experience with a diverse and qualified workforce;

• Create mutually beneficial relationships and facilitate linkages of job openings to a highly skilled and diverse talent pool of candidates. Referrals of consumers who are seeking employment and who have been judged to be Job Ready are received from SCCB Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors. The Employment Consultant’s role is job development and placement that meets the needs of the business and the consumer. The Consultant also provides businesses and consumers with access to services that can be provided by SCCB or other governmental agencies. Incentives that may be applicable are also presented. These include:

  • The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). This program allows a maximum available credit of $2,400 per eligible worker.
  • Sensitivity and awareness training for employers and organizations. This training includes American Disability Act (ADA), sighted guide techniques and attitudes regarding blindness. The presentation is designed to remove myths and apprehensions about blindness.
  • Technical assistance for the implementation and support of assistive technology.

• SCCB T&E Division also employs Assistive Technology Consultants (AT Consultants) who work directly with businesses and consumers to:

  • Provide assessment and technical assistance in the provision of work place modifications and/or assistive technology solutions considered reasonable accommodations that enable a consumer who is blind to become an asset to the business partner;
  • Make recommendations for software and/or other equipment which would enable the consumer to successfully engage in employment;
  • Creates customized software solutions which may be necessary to allow the consumer to access computer systems effectively;
  • Recommends the purchase of required equipment and/or software to the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor; and,
  • Oversees the delivery and installation of this equipment on the work site and provides the consumer training on any specialized applications.