Narrative: l. 8.

County Human Services Agencies

While DVR does not currently have formal interagency cooperative agreements in place with any county human service agencies, there is strong partnership at both the state and the local levels to enable human services recipients with disabilities to reduce their dependence on public assistance through employment. Counselors and supervisors have increased efforts and activities with county social service agencies in working with recipients of services, who have disability related employment issues. In several counties, DVR staff participate on county human services advisory boards. Local DVR offices have working partnerships with county human services agencies. The partners have developed referral processes to and from county human service agencies and collaborate to obtain necessary services that DVR is unable to provide, including Medicaid, food stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), child care assistance and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

The Corrections System

DVR understands that many individuals who are involved with the Colorado corrections system are also individuals with disabilities. Colorado’s correctional system is complex, with separate departments serving adults and youthful offenders, and juveniles. Additionally, there are regional and local jurisdictions, as well as state and private correctional facilities and providers. Individuals with disabilities who are involved with the criminal justice system continue to be underserved. DVR is committed to increasing the number of applicants from this demographic. To this end, local DVR staff have developed, and will continue to develop, working partnerships with probation offices, parole offices, and diversion programs, as well as working directly with many of the youth and adult correctional institutions in the state. For individuals who meet DVR eligibility, staff work to coordinate timely referral processes and services that complement release plans that are mutually developed by the individual with the disability and the correctional program to which they are attached.

Considering Youth of Color

Given the disproportionate incarceration rates of youth of color, especially young men of color, we will recommend that DVR provide the same strategies to this underserved population in the Colorado correctional system.

MINDSOURCE - Brain Injury Network

MINDSOURCE Brain Injury Network operates under the Colorado Department of Human

Services (CDHS) and is the lead State agency on brain injury. MINDSOURCE administers the Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund, established in 2002, when Colorado passed legislation that allows for the collection of surcharges on certain traffic violations such as Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI), Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Speeding, and other moving violations. The statute requires the following three program areas: services for children/youth and adults with brain injury (specifically case management); research regarding the care and treatment of brain injury; and education to increase the awareness and understanding of brain injury. Through the TBI Trust Fund, case managers partner with DVR to help counselors understand how brain injury may impact the individual’s ability to work and/or follow through with vocational planning. The program also works to provide education and consultation to DVR on a broader level. Finally, the program works across agencies and divisions to ensure policies and practices are inclusive of individuals with brain injury ultimately to ensure access to support for individuals with brain injury. MINDSOURCE strives to not only provide supports to individuals with brain injury and their families, but to also provide support to the systems that individuals with brain injury and their families interact with to obtain support, including DVR.

Rocky Mountain ADA Center

DVR does not have a formal cooperative agreement with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center, but has maintained an engaged partnership for several years. Currently, DVR’s Partnership Engagement and Communication Manager serves as a Brand Ambassador, attending regular meetings to share information and strategies across the region. This partnership has also facilitated additional training for this member of DVR’s staff, which will ultimately result in certification as an ADA Coordinator, allowing DVR to provide more comprehensive technical assistance to programmatic and business partners. In addition, DVR’s Business Relations Unit has supported several members of that Unit in pursuing the training needed to sit for and obtain ADA Coordinator Certification. To date, one member of the Business Relations Unit has completed their certification with three additional members at various stages of the education process. The goal of certification is to provide a higher level of service to expertise to DVR’s dual customers on matters and requirements related to the ADA.  In addition, DVR further supports the work of the Rocky Mountain ADA center through authoring blog posts, disseminating information, and developing accessibility tools.

Colorado Institutions of Higher Education

Colorado has a variety of institutions of higher education, including publicly supported institutions, private accredited schools, area technical schools and private occupational schools. DVR routinely supports post-secondary training when necessary for an eligible individual to achieve their employment outcome. To ensure these services are well coordinated, local DVR offices work closely with each school to arrange for appropriate disability support services. This coordination is critical to individuals enrolled in training to complete their training and achieve their chosen employment outcome. The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) continues to promote disability equity in postsecondary education through professional practices that operationalize and expand the concept of access grounded in civil rights and social justice. DVR retains its AHEAD membership to remain actively involved with Colorado’s AHEAD. DVR is in the process of renewing memorandums of understanding with higher education to ensure compliance with the requirements of WIOA and effective partnership.

Collaboration with American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Colorado has two American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) Program Grant Awardees. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe (SUITVR) and the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe (UMUTVRP) are located in the southwestern part of Colorado, and the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation extends into New Mexico and Utah. DVR has cooperative agreements in place with both programs outlining the roles and responsibilities within each partnership and is beginning to plan for updating these MOUs prior to reaching their end dates. All programs have experienced staff turnover, requiring renewed effort and intention to ensure cooperation. Particularly with the Ute Mountain Ute tribe who has just hired a new program coordinator.

DVR has given primary responsibility for managing these relationships to the local supervisor to continue to strengthen the partnerships and implement the cooperative agreements. The partnership is particularly strong with SUITVR. The local DVR office meets at least monthly with the staff of this AIVRS program and works collaboratively to meet the vocational rehabilitation needs of individuals eligible for both programs and brainstorm ways to mutually refer more individuals. Management of both programs also meet at least a few times during the year to discuss the partnership and brainstorm ways to collaborate.  

Last fall, DVR and the SUITVR program collaborated on a regional meeting where the program manager provided training on self care and culturally competent services to DVR staff and SUITVR staff invited DVR staff to their first annual disability awareness celebration.  Additionally, DVR’s district supervisor, Regional Manager, Assistant Deputy of Field Services and four DVR field staff attended CANAR this spring.  

The partnership with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is still developing with current staff. However, DVR’s district supervisor has begun efforts to meet with representatives from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to support this relationship and it is hoped that similar cross training and collaboration can be developed in this community as well to ensure the vocational rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities are met. Recently, the Manager of the SUITVR program was appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council, further supporting ongoing partnership and collaboration between DVR and the AIVRS programs in Colorado.

Collaboration with the State Independent Living Council, the Centers for Independent Living, and the Older Individuals who are Blind Program

DVR administers two programs mandated by Title VII of the Act:

•       The Colorado State Independent Living Services (SILS) program and

•       The Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) program.

Centers for Independent Living

SILS programs are currently run out of Colorado’s statewide network of nine Centers for Independent Living (CIL), which provide services to individuals with significant disabilities who face barriers to living self–directed lives in their communities in all 64 counties of Colorado. Under the SILS program, Centers provide independent living skills training, individual and systems advocacy, peer counseling, information and referral, transition services for people leaving nursing homes and for youth moving into adult responsibilities, assistance with social security applications, transportation, housing and many other services that support consumers to set and achieve their goals of living independently in the community of their choice. This diverse and extensive list of service types allows Centers to provide the holistic support that many consumers with significant disabilities may need. DVR’s local offices evidence close working partnerships and collaboration with all nine Centers. Together these partners share referrals, develop collaborative plans with consumers, communicate to avoid duplicative service provision, and meet regularly to strengthen their relationships and cross–educate one another. 

Older Individuals Who are Blind

The OIB program is provided through sub-grants via a competitive Request for Applications (RFA) process every three years. During FFY 2024 - 2027, five subrecipients will receive funds and shall be tasked with administering the OIB program throughout the state of Colorado. The subrecipients include two nonprofit providers of blindness and low vision rehabilitation and three CILs. The OIB program serves people who are 55 or older whose significant visual impairment makes competitive employment extremely difficult to attain but for whom independent living goals are feasible. The purpose of the OIB program is to provide independent living services to older individuals who are blind; conduct activities that will improve or expand services for these individuals; and conduct activities to improve public understanding of these individuals’ challenges. Independent living and adjustment training services for the OIB program are defined as:

1. clinical/functional vision assessments and services; 
2. assistive technology devices and services; 
3. orientation and mobility (O&M) training; 
4. adaptive communication skills training; 
5. daily living skills training; 
6. advocacy training, and
7. adjustment counseling and/or peer support services. 

Goals for the OIB program in FFY 2024 - 2027 include, but are not limited to: 

1. Identifying program weaknesses and strategizing opportunities to overcome them; 
2. Strengthen subrecipient partnerships and utilization of contractors (as appropriate) to ensure that consumers have access to qualified professionals and therefore receive comprehensive, high-quality services statewide; and 
3. Implement the newly-developed Direct Service Procedure Guide, which outlines the program requirements as defined by the Code of Federal Regulations and the Rehabilitation Services Administration, and additionally includes ideas and strategies to improve service delivery beyond the program requirements. 

Office of Employment First, JFK Partners – University of Colorado Medical School

The Colorado Office of Employment First (COEF) is a primary source of training across Colorado communities in the area of Employment First philosophy, programs, policy, and practices. COEF is responsible to develop and provide training and education regarding Employment First principles to individuals with disabilities, families, state agencies, employers, case management agencies, service providers, and communities; provide technical assistance to all relevant parties for developing and implementing supported employment models resulting in competitive integrated employment; and serve as the focal point for Employment First resources and communications.

DVR continues to partner with COEF as appropriate for training related to Employment First, Individualized Placement and Supports fidelity reviews, and outreach in the community. 

Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education

In 2016, the Colorado Legislature created an Inclusive Higher Education pilot at 3 institutions of higher education, University of Northern Colorado, University of Colorado – Colorado Springs, and Arapahoe Community College. A team consisting of inclusive higher education program staff, Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education, IN! Pathways to Inclusive Higher Education, parents, and DVR continue to collaborate to identify strategies for improving access to these programs when necessary for students with I/DD to achieve their employment outcomes. As a result of this work, an Inclusive Higher Education Skills training fee has been added to the DVR Fee Schedule to support students attending an Inclusive Higher Education program, and continuous training has been provided to DVR Counselors to support their work with individuals who may be considering these programs. Additionally, inclusive higher education staff attend the quarterly Supported Employment Steering Committee to provide ongoing training and technical assistance to collaborate with DVR counselors and  better understand the vocational rehabilitation program. As a result of the 2016 pilot, DVR currently recognized 4 Comprehensive Transition Programs (CTP) and 2 Transition and Post-Secondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) that can bill through the Inclusive Higher Education Skills Training fee within the DVR fee schedule. Local offices and programs continue to provide orientation to families, and the Supported Employment Coordinator/Trainer provides DVR 101 training at In! Pathways to Inclusive Higher Education webinars that are held per semester to further assist students and families understand when and how DVR might be able to assist students during their academic programs, as they begin to participate in work experiences, and ultimately when they are ready for permanent employment. In April 2023, the Supported Employment Coordinator/Trainer was a panel member on Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center on Transition Innovation Employment Partnership Workgroup Listening Session regarding the collaboration between Inclusive Higher Education programs and VR. Colorado’s Inclusive Higher Education practices were shared and the collaboration between DVR offices and institutes for Inclusive Higher Education. The Supported Employment Coordinator/Trainer continues to share collaboration techniques and provide tools developed to support students through Inclusive Higher Education Programs. 

In 2022, HB 22-1107 Inclusive Higher Education Opportunities Act was approved that creates in the Department of Higher Education (Department) the inclusive higher education grant program to provide grants to state institutions of higher education for the purpose of establishing, or expanding existing, inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The legislation appropriated $450,000 from the general fund to the Department of Higher Education to implement the act. The Department has contracted with IN! Pathways to Inclusive Higher Education to administer the grant program, perform annual evaluations of the grant recipients, and produce an annual report. Round 1 resulted in two awards: Colorado State University was awarded $449,636 to fund the 5-year development of the Ram Scholars program and Metropolitan State College of Denver was awarded $55,000 to fund 6 months of the Inclusive Higher Education Solutions (IHES) program development. Round 2 resulted in 2 awards to expand existing programs: University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Office of Inclusive Services awarded $40,000 to fund 1 year of program expansion and diversification efforts, and University of Northern Colorado GOAL program was awarded $40,000 to fund 1 year of program expansion and diversification efforts. In January 2024, a third grant application period will open to colleges and universities across the state that want to establish additional inclusive higher education programs. This grant cycle will focus specifically on offering programs in rural, Western Slope and Community College settings. All of these collaborative efforts and continuous training opportunities have provided and will continue to provide increased opportunities for students to attend Inclusive Higher Education programs around the state and the development of additional Inclusive Higher Education sites.