Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for State Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by sections 101(a) and 606 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA.
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development.
In accordance with the requirements in Section 101(a)(7) of the Rehabilitation Act, the VR agency must develop and maintain annually a description (consistent with the purposes of the Rehabilitation Act) of the VR agency’s comprehensive system of personnel development, which shall include a description of the procedures and activities the State VR agency will undertake to ensure it has an adequate supply of qualified State rehabilitation professionals and paraprofessionals that provides the following:
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development.
i. 4. Method(s) the VR agency uses to ensure that personnel are able to communicate in appropriate modes of communication with or in the native language of applicants or eligible individuals who have limited English speaking ability.
Current Narrative:
DARS continues to address the communication needs of consumers by having counselors who specialize in caseloads serving individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing and has other employees who can communicate in sign language. There are nine “dedicated” Regional Rehabilitation Counselors for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (RCDs) across the Commonwealth, which include several Rehabilitation Counselors who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. In addition, there is a statewide Transition Specialist for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, who also serves as the statewide consultant on Pre-ETS/Transition issues. WWRC also has sign language interpreters for clients and employees in need of these services. Sign language and foreign language interpreters and translators are also contracted as needed for employees and clients in need of these services. Counselors use other resources, including assistive technology, to communicate with consumers with individualized needs. All VR forms used by the public have been translated into Spanish and are posted on the Internet for public use. In addition, these forms may be translated into other languages based upon client need.
There are also videophones located in each Rehabilitation Counselors for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (RCDs’) office, State Coordinator for the Deaf, Statewide Transition Specialist for the Deaf, and in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Unit at Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center (WWRC). This allows staff and consumers to access Video Relay Services and for consumers to call in “point to point” to discuss their services with counselors.
The agency is always reviewing evolving communication technology and continues to work with state and national community partners (Workforce Development Centers, Community Services Boards, the Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Local Deaf Service Centers and CSAVR Deaf Professionals Network) to pilot software to enhance telecommunications and accommodation needs of staff via text and video services.
The agency continues to develop and implement plans to enhance outreach and services to individuals with disabilities from different ethnic backgrounds, including those with limited English proficiency. DARS has a number of regional and statewide resources available to address the unique service needs of this population, particularly as it relates to interpreting and translation services. In addition, DARS has several Spanish-speaking counselors.