Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
Describe the designated State agency's procedures and activities to establish and maintain a comprehensive system of personnel development designed to ensure an adequate supply of qualified State rehabilitation professional and paraprofessional personnel for the designated State unit, including the following:
- 3. Personnel Standards
Describe the State agency's policies and procedures for the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards consistent with section 101(a)(7)(B) to ensure that designated State unit professional and paraprofessional personnel are adequately trained and prepared, including:
- 3. Personnel Standards
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
i. 3. B. The establishment and maintenance of education and experience requirements, in accordance with section 101(a)(7)(B)(ii) of the Rehabilitation Act, to ensure that the personnel have a 21st century understanding of the evolving labor force and the needs of individuals with disabilities.
Current Narrative:
The PRVRA has developed the following strategies to maintain personnel standards consistent with the highest state requirements applicable to a specific profession or discipline:
- Annual review of certifications, licenses, and continuing education of specific professions or disciplines
- Continuation with the provision to staff of training necessary for the optimal performance of their duties
- Maintenance of an updated record on training and workshops, and education activities among others, provided to the agency staff
- Identification of retraining needs of the agency staff in order to strengthen the performance of duties
- Annual performance evaluation of the staff
The following is a list of professional associations related to the rehabilitation field available to provide training to staff:
- College of Rehabilitation Counseling Professionals of Puerto Rico- (VR counselors)
- National Council of Rehabilitation Education (NCRE)- (educators in rehabilitation and staff related to the training of rehabilitation professionals, among others)
- American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (ADARA)- (staff related to services to the deaf)
- Association of Persons in Supported Employment (APSE)- (staff related to supported employment services, among others)
- National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)- (staff related to independent living services)
- California State University at Northridge (CSUN)- (VR professionals in assistive technology)
- Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)- (VR professionals in assistive technology)
- College of Occupational Therapy Professionals of Puerto Rico- (occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants)
- College of Social Work Professionals of Puerto Rico- (social workers)
- Association of Employee Assistance Professionals of Puerto Rico- (central level staff of the Employee Assistance Program)
- Administration of Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services (ASSMCA, in Spanish)- (staff of the Employee Assistance Program)
- Academy of Audiology of Puerto Rico- (audiologists)
- Puerto Rico Assistive Technology Program (PRATP)- (occupational therapists, speech/language pathologists, and audiologists, among others)
- Puerto Rico Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf- (interpreters for the deaf)
- Puerto Rican Physiotherapy Association- (physical therapists and physical therapy assistants)