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
d. 1. The designated State unit's plans, policies, and procedures for coordination with education officials to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities from school to the receipt of VR services, including pre-employment transition services, as well as procedures for the timely development and approval of individualized plans for employment for the students
Current Narrative:
Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) continues to provide transition or post-school training services for those youth with disabilities leaving the secondary education system and who are pursuing employment opportunities in adult life. This is accomplished by reviewing, updating, and renewing the formal interagency agreement between LRS and the Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) as needed based upon both agencies’ policy and/or procedure changes; ongoing collaboration; joint development and evaluation of goals, and specialized training for both LRS and LDE staff.
LRS policy requires the development and approval of the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) for eligible students who have official transition plans in place with the state education system. The IPEs are to be developed as early as possible in the transition process, but at the latest, by the time each Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) eligible student leaves the high school setting.
The formal interagency agreement provides for initial contact to be made with the transition student as early as age sixteen. This is accomplished by the development of criteria and timelines for an effective and efficient referral process; provision of orientation and information sessions for students and their families; and LRS counselors determining transition students’ eligibility for VR services within the timelines established by policy.
For each student determined eligible for services, every effort will be made to ensure those who are in an Order of Selection (OOS) Category currently being served by LRS leave the school system with an approved IPE in place that incorporates appropriate segments of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and projected employment needs, as applicable.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC)/LRS and the LDE will establish and maintain communication with appropriate agency stakeholders regarding necessary collaborative efforts that improve the quality of transition services at the state, regional, and local levels. Parties will exchange records and information on mutually served students/consumers as needed in strict compliance with all applicable policies governing consent and confidentiality including any and all polices established with individual Local Education Agencies (LEAs).
LWC/LRS and the LDE, in accordance with the terms of this agreement, recognize the need to provide Pre-Employment Transitions Services on a cooperative basis for students with disabilities who are applicants for, or recipients of, LRS services, attending LDE secondary schools, who fall under the Order of Selection Group that LRS is currently serving, as stated in the State Plan. The aforementioned students should only receive Pre-ETS if they are potentially eligible for VR services, if the LDE has received certification from LRS that the student has been determined eligible for Pre-ETS services, and students meet the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) definition of Student with Disability.
The LWC/LRS and LDE will collaborate to provide outreach information to all eligible students with disabilities, including but not limited to, a description of the vocational rehabilitation program, eligibility requirements, application procedures and the scope of services provided.