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. 8. C. Overcome identified barriers relating to equitable access to and participation of individuals with disabilities in the State VR Services Program and the State Supported Employment Services Program.
Current Narrative:
DRS has approximately 26 Branch office locations, providing statewide coverage. These offices are able to serve individuals with disabilities, including those individuals from minority backgrounds, in all areas of the state. Many cities within WV which have a relatively high proportion of minorities in the population (e.g., Charleston, Huntington, and Beckley) have a DRS branch office located within.
DRS also has a significant presence in state colleges and high schools with significant minority populations in all 55 counties of WV.
Due to the rural nature of the state, support for transportation is very important for access to VR services by individuals with disabilities. DRS continues to recognize this barrier as a challenge to VR service delivery statewide. DRS is committed to continuing it pursuit of individualized transportation solutions for its consumers, including those from minority backgrounds.
Additionally, DRS will continue to utilize tools and techniques which have allowed the agency to have success in its outreach to minority populations, such as:
– DRS will continue to use GIS, as appropriate, to pinpoint geographic locations with potentially underserved minority populations in the State. This will allow for more effective and efficient outreach to those populations.
– DRS will continue to depend on local outreach efforts by branch office field staff to bring individuals with disabilities, including those individuals from minority backgrounds, into the VR system.