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:
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
i. 5. Personnel to Address Individual Communication Needs
Describe how the designated State unit has personnel or obtains the services of other individuals who 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:
The agency, in its vision to be the lead agency in the provision of services to people with disabilities, provides staff with the necessary training and workshops to meet the communication needs the deaf, blind and deaf/blind applicants/consumers. For this reason, the agency staff participates in training activities related to such communication needs. At the same time, the agency has six (6) interpreters for the deaf whose services can be used, when necessary, to service applicants or eligible consumers; as well as four (4) interpretations service contracts to meet the communication needs our consumers.
Due to the fact that Puerto Rico is a Spanish-speaking country (English is used as second language), we can communicate in the native language (Spanish) of our applicants/consumers. However, if an applicant/consumer speaks only English, we can also communicate in that language. In addition, the PRVRA can provide clients with alternative formats of communication such as Braille and large print, among others.
The PRVRA installed a video interpretation system through its facilities, which ensure communication with the deaf population, even if the interpreter is not physically present at the place where the applicant/consumer is requesting service.