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:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
d. 2. C. Roles and responsibilities, including financial responsibilities, of each agency, including provisions for determining State lead agencies and qualified personnel responsible for transition services;
Current Narrative:
The Office of Adult Learning and Rehabilitation Services (Vocational Rehabilitation) and Rehabilitation Services for the Blind hold an interagency cooperative agreement for transition services with the Office of Special Education and Office of Career Readiness, which outlines plans, policies, procedures, and financial responsibility of each agency for the coordination of transition services to students with disabilities.
Roles and responsibilities, including financial responsibilities of each agency and provisions for determining state lead agencies and qualified personnel responsible for transition services are described within the interagency agreement. This includes guidelines and procedures for outreach and identification of students with disabilities who are in need of transition services.
The agreement contains guidance on the primary source of service provision including the educational agencies’ financial responsibility in accordance with IDEA and RSB’s agreement to pay for employment related transition services provided in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act as amended for vocational rehabilitation services beyond the scope of IDEA.
In addition, the agreement provides the means to ensure joint planning of individualized educational plans and individualized plans for employment and includes the opportunity that students may receive “for credit” work experiences through the Cooperative Work Experience Program.
If a student with a disability is seeking subminimum wage employment, RSB explains that neither RSB nor the SEA/LEA can provide services to obtain subminimum wage employment; and that vocational rehabilitation services are intended to achieve an employment outcome in a competitive-integrated employment setting. RSB informs the student that Vocational Rehabilitation Services are available should the applicant wish to pursue competitive-integrated employment. This includes the opportunity to receive Pre-Employment Transition Services. RSB provides information regarding RSB’s Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS).