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.
e. 4. Sections 101(a)(22) and 606(b)(4) of the Rehabilitation Act require the VR agency to describe efforts to identify and arrange, including entering into cooperative agreements, with other State agencies and other appropriate entities in order to provide supported employment services. The description must include extended services, as applicable, to individuals with the most significant disabilities, including the provision of extended services to youth with the most significant disabilities in accordance with 34 C.F.R. § 363.4(a) and 34 C.F.R. § 361.5(c)(19)(v).
Current Narrative:
DSB works with vendors to provide Supported Employment Services and Extended Services to consumers with most significant disabilities, including youth with most significant disabilities. As part of the intensive agreement with the VRTAC-QE, DSB is developing a vendor recruitment and training event to identify and develop agreements with additional vendors to ensure services are provided statewide. DSB continues to partner with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, Goodwill Industries, World Services for the Blind, Easter Seals, and Arkansas Support Network to support individuals with most significant disabilities.
Supported employment is integrated competitive employment, or an individual working in an integrated employment setting on a short-term basis towards integrated competitive employment. This includes customized employment. Each of the SE services providers provides supported employment services for up to 24 months or longer, as needed. Extended services may be provided and funded by a provider for as long as the individual is employed; however, the VR agency may only fund extended services for youth for a period not to exceed four years or until the youth reaches age 25, whichever occurs first. Half of the funds that Arkansas receives under the supported employment grant must be used to support youth with the most significant disabilities.