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Plan: Missouri PYs 2024-2027
Combined Plan C

Section: Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Narrative: i. 5.

Published
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. 5. As appropriate, describe the procedures and activities to coordinate the designated State unit's comprehensive system of personnel development with personnel development under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2022-2023 (Mod)

Current Narrative:

MVR works closely with the Office of Special Education and school districts to coordinate staff development activities and services for students with disabilities.

Throughout the year, MVR staff and special education personnel from both the state and local levels focus on participation in special education transition-related trainings/professional development activities. Examples of these activities include attendance and presentations at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Transition Summer Institute, Missouri Council of Administrators of Special Education, Missouri Parents Act’s (MPACT) Tools for Life Transition Summit, Regional Transition Networks, the DESE Administrators Conference, Missouri School Counselor Association Conference, Missouri Association of Career and Technical Education Conference, Missouri Association of School Administrators – Missouri School Public Relations Association Conference, Missouri Association of School Nurses Conference, and the Special Education Directors Academy. MVR coordinates opportunities for representatives providing pre-employment transition services to be a part of training and professional development activities. MVR hosted Transition Kickoff events for VRCs and special education teachers around the state. The events were originally held in Kansas City and Springfield and are now being replicated statewide.

The Cooperative Work Experience Program (COOP) agreement is an interagency state and local program agreement between the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Special Education, MVR and Career Education); Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB); and local school districts in the state of Missouri. The agreement is embedded in the state transition MOU and is available for all school districts. The purpose is to facilitate the coordination of transition services from school to postsecondary training and/or employment for students with disabilities who participate in special education programs and are eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation services. The MOU outlines roles and responsibilities among participating agencies and school districts in the development of off-campus work experience programs. Through these programs, students with disabilities who are receiving services through an individualized educational plan can earn high school credit in accordance with Missouri high school graduation requirements for the number of hours they work in a paid competitive, integrated employment setting. Additionally, MVR continues to work collaboratively with providers and local school districts to meet transition needs of students.

MVR, the Office of Special Education, school personnel, and CRP staff are involved in partnership activities, joint training, and technical assistance activities. Two assistant directors of transition and section 511 services are members of the Missouri Interagency Transition Team and an active member of the state’s Special Education Advisory Panel. An MVR staff member familiar with transition services is an active member of the MPACT Board.

State Rehabilitation Council: The State Rehabilitation Council reviews and comments on the development of the CSPD plan and related policies.