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:
__________
[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
- o. State's Strategies
Describe the required strategies and how the agency will use these strategies to achieve its goals and priorities, support innovation and expansion activities, and overcome any barriers to accessing the VR and the Supported Employment programs (See sections 101(a)(15)(D) and (18)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act and section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)):
- o. State's Strategies
o. 2. How a broad range of assistive technology services and devices will be provided to individuals with disabilities at each stage of the rehabilitation process and on a statewide basis
Current Narrative:
In 2019 the AT Program Coordinator is working with Fiscal, Planning, and the CRP Bureau Administrator to update approved Rehabilitation Technology and Assistive Technology professionals, providers and vendors listed in our Technical Guidance and Assistance Manual. For fee-for-service assessments and evaluations statewide. A contract proposal is being reviewed internally for a technical assistance and training in each of the Regional Offices to begin in 2020.
LRS continues to coordinate with Louisiana Assistive Technology Network (LATAN) on an expanded program, funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to provide statewide demonstration, learning, lending, and purchasing assistance of assistive technology. LATAN is an approved vendor for providing a device rental service so consumers may have a more realistic trial use of an AT device before requesting that LRS provide them with said device. LATAN is adding a leasing & lease-to-own program as an added option to the loan financing program. LATAN is a VOAD agency and a member of the Louisiana emergency preparedness and response network for persons with disabilities known as Emergency Management for Disabled and Aging Coalition (EMDAC). They conduct training to assist individuals with their personal planning for evacuations and participate in table-top exercises with First Responders (Fire and Police personnel who are part of search and rescue units)