Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for State Vocational Rehabilitation (Blind)
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.
- j. Coordination with Education Officials.
In accordance with the requirements in Section 101(a)(11)(D) of the Rehabilitation Act—
- j. Coordination with Education Officials.
j. 1. Describe plans, policies, and procedures for coordination between the designated State agency and education officials responsible for the public education of students with disabilities, that are designed to facilitate the transition of the students with disabilities from the receipt of educational services in school to the receipt of vocational rehabilitation services, including pre-employment transition services.
Current Narrative:
The state of Arkansas has an agreement/MOU in place to facilitate the coordination of plans, policies and procedures for the state VR agencies and education officials. The agreement/MOU between the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Division of Learning Services, Special Education Unit- hereafter referred to as Special Education, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services and the Division of Services for the Blind establishes a collaborative partnership that will facilitate the coordination and delivery of pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities between the ages of 14 and 21, and also, the transition of high school students from secondary school to the achievement of their desired post-secondary outcomes, with a focus on post school outcomes and working towards the students’ career goals.
The specific purposes are: 1) to strengthen shared efforts to prepare students with disabilities for successful careers, community jobs and independent living; 2) outline a collaborative framework for coordinating State and local services and resources; and 3) provide guidance in coordinating plans, policies and procedures developed to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities from school to post-school activities, including the receipt of transition services as described in IDEA, pre-employment transition services and vocational rehabilitation transition services leading to employment.
All parties will collaborate to foster a common understanding of transition requirements and responsibilities to build a partnership between transition counselors, transition personnel, school districts and vocational rehabilitation counselors throughout the State in order to enable students with disabilities to successfully transition from school to employment. This agreement reflects the federal requirements and provides the objectives and joint responsibilities of each party.