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. C. Individuals with disabilities served through other components of the workforce development system; and
Current Narrative:
Respondents from other components of the statewide workforce investment system were given survey links to complete the survey online.
Needs identified by respondents included transportation; benefit planning; job coaching; postemployment services; transition from school to work; assistive technology devices/services; and job placement.
The primary barriers identified by respondents included the fear of losing government benefits; lack of transportation; lack of personal care attendants; lack of long-term support; employers’ acceptance of disability; and the lack of public resources.
Seventy-eight percent (78%) of LRS Employee survey respondents are aware of services available through American Job Centers (AJCs) with 42 % of respondents being overall or very satisfied when working with AJCs. Thirty-two percent (32%) of respondents indicated that they have not worked with an AJC; however, thirty percent (30%) have worked in an AJC in the last month to access/provide services to individuals with disabilities. Respondents provided the following recommendations on how LRS and AJC can improve collaboration efforts to address the needs of individuals with disabilities: cross-training on appropriate referrals and VR services; continued increased collaboration efforts, information sharing, and referrals; and for AJC to have meeting space/offices available for LRS Counselors.
From the survey disseminated to individuals with disabilities and the public, fifty-four percent (54%) of respondents identified as an individual with a disability. Of those, sixteen percent 16% were reportedly looking for work, and twelve percent (12%) felt their job placement needs were met with the assistance of services provided through AJCs.