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
j. 1. C. Who have been unserved or underserved by the VR program;
Current Narrative:
Needs Assessment results suggest that those who require long-term support and extended services to maintain employment, those who reside in rural communities, and Veterans are the most underserved, with 53%, 43% and 43% respectively reporting these categories. In particular, job placement and transportation were listed most frequently as barriers to employment for this population. Specifically, one consumer, who identified as residing in a rural area stated that, “living outside of the city limits” and not having adequate transportation impeded upon employment opportunities while another consumer, who expressed a need for extended services, stated that there is a “lack of employer confidence” when hiring those with disabilities. As such, outreach initiatives to engage those who require long-term support and extended services to maintain employment, those who reside in rural communities, and Veterans are imperative. In detail, such initiatives should center on providing information about the job services and transportation services provided through the VR program.