Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
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
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
Describe the designated State agency's procedures and activities to establish and maintain a comprehensive system of personnel development designed to ensure an adequate supply of qualified State rehabilitation professional and paraprofessional personnel for the designated State unit, including the following:
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
i. 6. Coordination of Personnel Development Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
As appropriate, describe the procedures and activities to coordinate the designated State unit's comprehensive system of personnel development with personnel development under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Current Narrative:
As outlined in Section 606 (Employment of Individuals with Disabilities) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, Maine DVR continually makes "positive efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities in programs assisted under this title". Currently 25 Transition VR Counselors are assigned to work with the more than 200 Maine High Schools, as well as with out–of–school youth and youth attending private institutions. Transition–aged youth represent 40% of all DVR cases in Maine and one of the fastest growing populations served by DVR due to increased focus under WIOA on Pre-Employment Transition Services.
Maine DVR has a Statewide Transition Counselor Advisory Group that meets quarterly to promote best practices in the provision of VR transition services. During the last year, this group heard from several guest speakers on disability and employment issues, including benefits counseling, and focused much of its efforts on WIOA implementation and the requirement for increased collaboration with schools and the Maine Department of Education concerning Pre-Employment Transition Services.
As outlined in DVR’s current Cooperative Agreement with the Maine Department of Education (DOE), DVR has provided technical assistance to DOE and school districts on disability–specific information and resources issues and issues concerning eligibility and referral for services as requested. The DVR Director is the Chair of the IDEA Part B State Advisory Panel which is responsible for advising DOE on issues related to students with disabilities ages 3–20. The DVR director regularly presents to school groups on best practices for supporting work experience for youth through WIOA.
The DVR Director is also a member of the State Special Education Directors’ Association (MADSEC). DVR and DBVI worked closely with the Maine Department of Education and developed an updated interagency Memorandum of Understanding in June 2018. The new version includes language detailing how the state agencies will work together to strengthen transition planning for a broader group of eligible and potentially eligible students.