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. 8. B. Support innovation and expansion activities; and
Current Narrative:
DVR has utilized innovation and expansion reserves to support the State
Rehabilitation Council and the State Independent Living Council.
State Rehabilitation Council:
DVR has supported the operating expenses of the SRC to complete their mandated functions, including conducting customer satisfaction surveys and facilitation services to support effective EFAP meetings. DVR and the SRC have been actively working together to develop a more robust partnership, ensuring the SRC is an active and engaged partner in improving VR services to Coloradans with disabilities.SB16-077 established the Employment First Advisory Partnership (EFAP) and designated the SRC to convene this inter-departmental and cross-agency advisory group to make recommendations to support the implementation of Employment First principles and practices in Colorado. As the body responsible to convene the EFAP, SRC also expended funds to facilitate the EFAP, ensuring the group was able to fulfill its responsibilities, which support the development and expansion of competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with the most significant disabilities. SB21-095 has authorized the EFAP to continue indefinitely under the direction of the SRC.
In the spring of 2020, the SRC was forced to change their meeting structure to fully remote, reducing expenditures required to conduct in-person meetings, such as member travel reimbursement. The SRC has been engaged and interested in DVR’s efforts to ensure continuity of services as DVR and all service providers adjusted to COVID-19 restrictions across the state and increased cultural awareness of diversity in our communities. They have been particularly interested in DVR’s ability to support access to technology; supporting digital literacy of people served by DVR; and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) efforts.
State Independent Living Council:
DVR has supported the SILC to monitor and develop the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL); provide training and advocacy engagement opportunities for SILC members; and to partner with Colorado’s nine Centers for Independent Living (CIL) in providing independent living services in line with the SPIL. DVR's Office of Independent Living (Office) is the Designated State Entity for the SILC and works with the SILC to improve and expand the services offered through the CILs in Colorado. Of particular interest to DVR's Office and the SILC is supporting the CIL system in expanding upon the services they currently provide to include high quality pre-Employment Transition Services, benefits counseling services, and general employment services by staff trained in evidence-based methods of employment service delivery as a fee-for-service vendor with DVR.
Employment First Initiatives
In 2017, the EFAP issued strategic recommendations as required by SB16-077 to remove barriers and expand Employment First in Colorado. Among their recommendations was for the state to create an Office of Employment First to coordinate cross-departmental efforts to implement Employment First policies, regulations, and practices. In 2019, the EFAP and key partners worked with the Colorado legislature to reappropriate cash funds and authorize DVR to implement Employment First Initiatives for a period of 3 years. As a result of these cash funds, DVR added 4.0 FTE to support Employment First initiatives within DVR. These positions provided training and coordination for supported employment (with particular focus on individuals with IDD and individuals with behavioral health disabilities), benefits counseling, and State as Model Employer to improve inclusive hiring practices within state government. The funding for these positions is set to end June 30, 2022, but DVR is seeking approval from the state legislature to maintain these FTE, which have provided critical support to ensuring access to competitive integrated employment to individuals with the most significant disabilities. DVR will continue to evaluate the most critical roles for these positions to fulfill, while maintaining focus on supporting further implementation of Employment First initiatives if authorized to maintain these FTE beyond June 30, 2022.
Additionally, the budget approval from the state legislature authorized DVR to establish the Colorado Office of Employment First through an interagency agreement with Colorado’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), JFK Partners, located within the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. The key functions of the Colorado Office of Employment First are to coordinate, evaluate, and monitor EFAP recommendations across state agencies to increase CIE; to be the primary source of training across Colorado communities in the area of Employment First policy and practices; to provide technical assistance to employers and state agencies for developing and implementing supported employment models; be the focal point for Employment First communications; and develop sustainability of the COEF. COEF has a mission of leading Colorado toward equitable employment reaching all people with disabilities through collaboration, systems innovation and training excellence.