Narrative: i. 2. C.

As established in the Procedures Manual for the Training of All Staff of the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration, the VRA promotes and emphasizes the continuing education of its employees. Therefore, it carries out the following activities to ensure having qualified staff:

• Identification and communication of training needs.
• Analysis and development of strategies based on training needs.
• Design of training activities to address topics concerning administrative/programmatic issues relevant to the VR program.
• Planning of training activities as a result of the needs identified in the needs assessment study, monitoring reports and performance evaluations.

Trainings to the newly recruited VR counselors cover in detail the following aspects: services provision process and federal regulations; assessment and adjustment services; support and employment mode services; productivity indicators; use of the computerized system to provide services; data on the federal RSA-911 Report; fiscal and budgetary aspects of the services provision process; independent living services; and the State Plan. Each topic is presented by the staff of corresponding areas, which allows employees to become familiar with the central office.

i. Particularly with respect to assessment, vocational counseling, job placement, and rehabilitation technology, including training implemented in coordination with entities carrying out State programs under section 4 of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998

The Program established under Act 264 of 2000, known as the Puerto Rico Assistive Technology Program Act (PRATP), as amended, is responsible for promoting changes in the public and private systems for the inclusion, independence and self-sufficiency of people with disabilities through the use of assistive technology. To do this, it maintains collaborative agreements with government agencies. The VRA maintains an agreement with the PRATP, which is under the University of PR's Medical Science Campus, for the exchange of resources, knowledge, and experience in matters of assistive technology.

The VRA offers assistive technology services in its six regions under the following categories: visual, auditory, mobility, communication, independent living, cognitive area, and access to computers. Services are provided by Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Audiologists, Certified Teachers, Speech-Language Pathologists, Specialists in Services for the Blind and Visual Rehabilitation. These professionals have the required credentials and stay current in the field of AT. To this end, the Agency benefits from the collaboration with the PRATP, since its specialists offer training to VRA personnel on topics such as:

• Low, medium and high technology AT equipment
• AT legislation
• AT integration to assessment and adjustment processes
• AT alternatives for employment and independent living
• AT for specific populations (blind, learning disabilities, mobility impairments)
• New equipment on the market and free equipment alternatives
• Low cost or homemade AT equipment alternatives, among others

These and other training provided to VRA personnel have contributed to keeping their knowledge and skills updated, in turn influencing the provision of services to applicants/consumers, facilitating employment and independent living outcomes.

ii. Procedures for the acquisition and dissemination of significant knowledge from research and other sources to VR agency professionals and paraprofessionals and for providing training regarding the amendments to the Rehabilitation Act made by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

For the purpose of acquiring and disseminating significant knowledge of research and other sources to professional and paraprofessional staff of the agency, and also regarding the amendments to the Rehabilitation Act made by WIOA, the VRA has established the following procedure:

1. Presentation of the Comprehensive Assessment of Rehabilitation Needs results to staff.
2. Sending, through internal email, links to articles or information resources related to the rehabilitation field.
3. Collaboration with the Graduate School in Rehabilitation Counseling of UPR so that they share with the agency findings of research studies related to the rehabilitation field.
4. Allowing staff participation in continuing education courses, many of which contain information about research and evidence-based practices and strategies.
5. Trainings, technical assistance and normative communications related to the amendments to the Rehabilitation Act made by WIOA.