Narrative: b. 1.

The Oregon Commission for the Blind requests a continuation of a Waiver of Statewideness for our transition program that serves eligible or potentially eligible transition aged students who are blind or who have conditions likely to lead to legal blindness and enrolled in an education program. OCB's transition services are provided statewide through transition counselors employed by the agency, and third party cooperative agreements (TCPAs), Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) and other agreements in regions around the state that enhance the services available in those areas.  

This is a continuation of the Waiver of Statewideness approved through OCB's 2016-2017 state plan submission, and 2018-2019 state plan updates. OCB is not in an Order of Selection, and OCB's Order of Selection requirements do not apply at this time.

OCB's transition program assures that Third Party Cooperative Agreements (TPCAs), such as IGAs and other forms of agreements, provide the non-federal share of the costs associated with delivery of OCB's transition services. In the event that OCB engages with additional local education agencies (LEAs), new agreements will be put into place that ensure their participation of the costs of these services. Invoices document what pre-employment transition services were provided with the non-federal share of costs, and are tracked and documented accordingly. LEAs submit fiscal reports quarterly to be paid and not to exceed the amounts of the negotiated budgets in the agreements. 

Through OCB's Transition Services, transition age students experiencing vision loss are provided with enhanced activities. These activities will contribute to a larger number of transition age students experiencing vision loss receiving services. Each third party cooperative agreement IGA is negotiated to include specifically what pre-employment transition services will be provided with the nonfederal share, and how they will be approved Each proposed service will be approved prior to implementation. These agreements are negotiated and approved in advance of the services being provided. The negotiated non-federal share is paid after OCB invoices the LEA, immediately following the execution of the agreement.

Services include the following: provide OCB staff with input and feedback on transition programs and students' Individualized Education Plans as they relate to preparing for and entering into employment, make appropriate referrals of students to OCB at the beginning of the transition planning process from school to employment, assist in the coordination of job development for Summer and/or after school work experiences or internships, identify Regional Program Orientation and Mobility personnel to provide orientation and travel  training to job sites for students during the school year, coordinate Individual Education Plan/Individual Transition Plan meetings with OCB, assist in Career Exploration and Assessment, provide information to students and parents/significant others on blindness, assist OCB Technology Specialists in assessing students on technology skills related to future employment.

The applicable Intergovernmental Agreements are:

1. NW Regional Education Services District (NWRESD). Geographic Area Served: Columbia, Tillamook and Washington Counties. Population served: students with disabilities. Scope of services: to provide Pre-ETS and Vocational Rehabilitation Services to students enrolled in the NWRESD who are blind or visually impaired, to establish effective transition processes for VR services for applicants and eligible clients under the Rehabilitation Act as amended, to improve coordination between NWRESD and OCB, to increase opportunities for eligible transition students to practice and improve workplace skills needed to achieve competitive, integrated employment, to increase the knowledge of transition students and their families around OCB services. Contracted student service hours: 800 hours (or .5 FTE TVI). Cost of IGA: $86,562.75. Non federal share provided by NWRESD: $46,167.

2. Columbia Regional Program (CRP). Geographic Area Served: Clackamas, Hood River, Multnomah and Wasco Counties. Population served: students with disabilities. Scope of services: to provide Pre-ETS and Vocational Rehabilitation Services to students enrolled in the CRP who are blind or visually impaired, to establish effective transition processes for VR services for applicants and eligible clients under the Rehabilitation Act as amended, to improve coordination between CRP and OCB, to increase opportunities for eligible transition students to practice and improve workplace skills needed to achieve competitive, integrated employment, to increase the knowledge of transition students and their families around OCB services. Cost of IGA: $232,000. Contracted student service hours: 1600 hours (or 1.0 FTE TVI). Non federal share provided by CRP: $92,000.

3. Greater Albany Public Schools (GAPS). Greater Albany and Linn and Benton Counties. Population served: students with disabilities. Scope of services: to provide Pre-ETS and Vocational Rehabilitation Services to students enrolled in the GAPS who are blind or visually impaired, to establish effective transition processes for VR services for applicants and eligible clients under the Rehabilitation Act as amended, to improve coordination between GAPS and OCB, to increase opportunities for eligible transition students to practice and improve workplace skills needed to achieve competitive, integrated employment, to increase the knowledge of transition students and their families around OCB services. Contracted student service hours: 800 hours (or .5 FTE TVI). Cost of IGA: $154,144. Non Federal share provided by GAPS: $61,658.

Oregon PYs 2022-2023 (MOD) OCB Update:

OCB does not have a waiver of Statewideness in place, and does not request one.