Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
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:
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[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. State's Strategies
o. 1. The methods to be used to expand and improve services to individuals with disabilities
Current Narrative:
DVR is primarily responsible for ensuring that services within the Scope of VR Services (34 CFR 361.48) are available to assist eligible individuals with an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) in achieving their employment goals. As needed to ensure timely and continuous IPE services, DVR's financial priority is to expend Title I-B operational and discretionary case aid funds on service delivery to DVR program participants over the anticipated term of their service plans. DVR manages its funding, resources, and waitlist through a projection model that weighs each of these factors. The case aids budget is dedicated to continuous and timely support of IPE services.
DVR has shifted to a model with enhanced focus on students, youth, and supported employment to ensure access to VR services for WIOA outreach target populations. Additionally, DVR has implemented student work-based learning technical specifications and fee schedules to better serve youth and students.
Annually, DVR uses a portion of funds for the development and implementation of innovative approaches to expand and improve VR service delivery. Under WIOA, DVR focuses on innovations and expansions that target students, youth, and supported employment populations. After DVR confirms that eligible individuals are adequately supported in their IPE costs, and that Title I-B funds have been used to activate individuals with the most significant and significant disabilities from the OOS waitlist in a timely manner, up to 2% of Title I-B case aids funds may be used for I & E services.
DVR is currently focusing on programs that expand financial literacy, job development in rural areas, youth services, and underserved populations. DVR has developed self-advocacy skills training as a Pre-Employment Transition service. This is a valuable service for students with disabilities, and as such, DVR will continue to expand the service to all students with disabilities in Wisconsin. DVR is collaborating with UW-Green Bay to start a peer mentoring program for the 2021-2022 school year for first year students to be paired with experienced college students.
Potentially Eligible students may receive Pre-Employment Transition Services in the same manner as DVR eligible students. Therefore, they can receive services in all five Pre-Employment Transition Services categories. Every Pre-Employment Transition Service is available to both potentially eligible and eligible students. If a potentially eligible student requires services beyond those in the five Pre-Employment Transition Services categories, they are encouraged to apply for VR services.
The 2017 Wisconsin Act 178 on Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) for individuals with disabilities has increased DVR's partnership with the Wisconsin Departments of Health Services (DHS) and Public Instruction (DPI). The most significant issues facing Wisconsin in terms of providing supported employment services are service provider capacity, a lack of systematic fee structure that meets the funding needs of providers, and increasing demand for supported employment services, particularly in rural areas.
As part of the interagency CIE effort, DVR is leading a workgroup of supported employment stakeholders to address these issues. Additionally, a CIE team comprised of DVR, DHS, and DPI staff and a CIE leadership team meet monthly to implement the law.