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.
- b. Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA).
Section 101(a)(15), (17), and (23) of the Rehabilitation Act require VR agencies to provide an assessment of:
- b. Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA).
b. 1. B. Individuals with disabilities who are minorities and individuals with disabilities who have been unserved or underserved by the VR program;
Current Narrative:
Throughout the assessment there was identified a lack of awareness of the availability of VR services within the state. This is particularly true for populations who are minorities and individuals who have been identified as unserved or underserved by the VR program. Potential action steps to improve awareness in these communities included consideration of intentional marketing and awareness strategies either embedded in the current branding initiative or in partnership with other public systems for specific population.
Within the assessment most frequently identified barriers for individuals with disabilities who are minorities, including New Americans/Refugees included: Access to cultural/ interpreter/ translation services; Lack of consumer awareness of services; Access to transportation. Service needs identified included: Customized employment, career planning and exploration, pre-placement activities, disability-related skills training, supported employment, occupational or vocational training, pre-employment transition services, transition, rehab tech (assistive technology), on-the-job training, benefits counseling, postsecondary education, or “other” services
Recommendation to address barriers included: Invest in counseling staff and CRP staff to enhance communication skills, such as motivational interviewing and supporting new populations. • Identify counselors with expertise in underserved and unserved communities and create opportunities for peer-to-peer support across regional units. • Examine CRP capacity and competency by region and identify which providers have capacity for underserved and unserved communities.