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
e. Cooperative Agreements with Private Nonprofit Organizations
Describe the manner in which the designated State agency establishes cooperative agreements with private non-profit VR service providers.
Current Narrative:
(e) Cooperative Agreements with Private Nonprofit Organizations
FDBS follows the guidelines outlined in Section 413.208, Florida Statutes, which creates a format by which agencies make agreements across all service deliverables (Adult Blind, Blind Babies, Children Programs, Older Blind, & VR-TS). FDBS provides CRPs with a copy of the most current statute annually. The CRPs agree to register with DBS. To qualify for registration, CRPs must maintain an internal system of quality assurance, have existing functional systems in place, and submit to a due-diligence inquiry as to its fitness to undertake service responsibilities. Cooperative agreements are specific to the needs of clients and take into account the unique projects outlined in a service area. CRPs base the extent of services they provide, in part, on the types of services available through a specific program, the needs of the community, and the resources available within FDBS.
FDBS requires CRPs to hire certified staff to work with individuals who are blind or visually impaired. CRPs providing orientation and mobility direct client services must have, at minimum, one full-time qualified or currently certified orientation and mobility instructor satisfied by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP), National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC), or endorsed by a qualified State Education Board. CRPs providing non-orientation and mobility, vision-related direct client services must have a minimum of one full-time staff member that meets one of the following requirements:
- Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS);
- Certified Visual Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT);
- Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI); and/or
- Low Vision Therapist (LVT).