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
d. 2. C. Roles and responsibilities, including financial responsibilities, of each agency, including provisions for determining State lead agencies and qualified personnel responsible for transition services;
Current Narrative:
Current LRS policy and guidelines address the allocation of 15% of State’s VR allotment for the provision of services of Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to high school students with disabilities between the ages of 16 - 21 who are eligible or potentially eligible for VR services. The required activities of Pre-ETS are workplace readiness training, job exploration counseling; work-based learning experiences; counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or postsecondary education programs at institutions of higher education; and instruction in self-advocacy. LRS assigned vendors to work with each high school statewide not having a TPCA with LRS to make Pre-ETS services available to students who receive IDEA funds or students who are an individuals with a disability for the purposes of section 504 of the Act (29 U.S.C.794).
The LWC/LRS and LDE have a State-Level agreement outlining agency responsibilities regarding the provision of Pre-ETS and VR services related to the achievement of the agreed-upon vocational goals for those participants who are potentially eligible for Pre-ETS or have an approved IPE within the Louisiana Public School System. This agreement includes a coordinated documentation process whereby students who are known to be seeking subminimum wage employment will be provided documentation of services as specified by 34 CFR 397 including: (1) completion of transition services provided by the Department of Education (DOE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); (2) Provision of Pre-ETS provided by LRS; and (3) application for VR services. Students who become eligible and are provided services by LRS under an approved IPE who are unable to achieve an employment outcome despite reasonable accommodations and appropriate supports provided with services for a reasonable period of time will be provided career counseling and information and referrals to other applicable resources as appropriate; the case record will be closed and documentation will be provided to the youth within 30 calendar days. If a youth is determined ineligible for services, LRS will provide career counseling along with information and referral. Documentation will be provided to the youth within 30 calendar days. For youth seeking subminimum wage employment who refuse participation in Pre-Employment Transition Services, LRS will document the youth’s refusal of services and provide documentation to the youth within 10 calendar days and the youth will not be able to pursue subminimum wage employment. The agreement does not reduce the obligation under IDEA of a Local Education Agency (LEA) or any other agency to provide or pay for transition services, including pre-employment transition services. The LDE and LEA will use appropriate federal, state, and local funds for the provision of educational services on the approved IEP that relates directly to the achievement of the agreed-upon educational goal.