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
m. 1. B. The justification for the order
Current Narrative:
Response m.1.B:
The agency was able to open all categories as a result of slowed performance due to the pandemic, and is requesting to maintain the Order of Selection as a tool as future trends and expenses can not be forecast with certainty. The margin for increased activity is tight, and the agency may need the ability to quickly adjust categories.
The agency has a model of service provision that works to provide excellent rehabilitation services while containing costs. Most rehabilitation assessment and training services - which are necessary for almost every eligible participant - are provided by in-house staff: Rehabilitation Technicians provide administrative supports but also provide direct vocational assessment and job readiness services; Rehabilitation Teachers provide almost all assessment and training services for adaptive skills of blindness; and Adaptive Technology Specialists provide almost all technology assessments and jobsite accommodation services. To outsource any of these services provided by in-house staff would cost the agency significantly more, and skilled vendors statewide are rare or non- existent.
Purchased goods and services for participants are primarily represented by adaptive technology devices; post-secondary education; job readiness and placement services; contracted assessment services; diagnosis and treatment of impairments; disability-related skills training, and other supports to ensure participation in vocational rehabilitation program.
DSB has reduced discretionary expenditures where feasible.
The agency has worked to identify funds due to the agency, and has worked to secure those funds.
For the VR adult program, DSB estimates funding of approximately $21m for Program Years 2022 and 2023 and we estimate approximately $20.7 million in total expenditures.
Projected Funding and expenditures for VR Adult Program (additional 125 eligibilities in each PY22/23)
| Federal Year | Grant Funding (85%) | State Match | Total Projected Revenue | Total Projected Expenditures (Less Pre-ETS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $10,854,274 | $2,109,019 | $12,963,293 | $10,000,000 |
| 2022 | $8,854,274 | $2,109,019 | $10,963,293 | $9,900,000 |
| 2023 | $8,854,274 | $2,109,019 | $10,963,293 | $10,800,000 |