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:
MVR employs seven vocational rehabilitation counselors for the deaf (RCDs), located throughout Missouri, who are skilled in manual communication for the deaf/HH. Biannually, they gather for training to discuss services and to receive training on deaf/HH topics. MVR employs an assistant director of deaf and hard of hearing who plans and organizes training. Five of the RCDs and the assistant director are deaf or hard of hearing. Each have met CSPD requirements. MVR has additional counselors who have received specialized training on hearing loss to assist in serving deaf/HH clients.
MVR utilize various forms of technology to communicate directly with clients and staff that are deaf/hard of hearing including videophones, email and texting as well as communication apps.
Any approved CRP has qualified staff, or they provide language accommodations or interpreters, to deliver Employment Services Plus to deaf/hard of hearing clients.
Applicants and eligible individuals who have limited English-speaking skills are provided interpreters funded by MVR. All brochures are translated into Spanish so that individuals and families who speak Spanish have access to information in their native language. At this time, MVR has a counselor who is fluent in Spanish in Cape Girardeau. This counselor has assisted with staff development and Hispanic liaison activities. MVR also has staff bilingual in Chinese and Vietnamese. The state has a contract with an over-the-telephone foreign language interpretation service, which MVR has utilized upon occasion for translation.