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.
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development.
In accordance with the requirements in Section 101(a)(7) of the Rehabilitation Act, the VR agency must develop and maintain annually a description (consistent with the purposes of the Rehabilitation Act) of the VR agency’s comprehensive system of personnel development, which shall include a description of the procedures and activities the State VR agency will undertake to ensure it has an adequate supply of qualified State rehabilitation professionals and paraprofessionals that provides the following:
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development.
i. 5. As appropriate, describe the procedures and activities to coordinate the designated State unit's comprehensive system of personnel development with personnel development under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Current Narrative:
RSB Children’s Specialists (CS) receive training in the Special Education section of RSB’s Children’s Services Manual. RSB provides opportunities for staff professional development internally via trainings offered through the YesLMS system. This includes training topics such as Common Children’s Eye Conditions, Pre-Employment Transition Services, Overview of Assistive Technology, Introduction to Working with Individuals Who are Deaf-Blind, and other courses specific to children and transition age students. Additionally the RSB Children’s Specialists receive training from the Missouri Parents Act (MPACT) as well as participate in professional development with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Regional Professional Development Centers. CS staff also receive training on Individualized Education Plans and participate in IEP meetings as part of their initial training.
The Transition Services Coordinator conducts quarterly caseload reviews with the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and District Supervisors for all of the Students with a Disability. This includes training on the Pre-Employment Transition Guide and on areas of Pre-Employment Transition Services to increase awareness. RSB staff provide PETS services including job exploration counselling and instruction in self-advocacy.
RSB staff are able access additional training, resource, and professional development activities through the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT) to ensure that transition-age youth with disabilities receive high-quality education services.
RSB works with stakeholders to provide additional training and opportunities for collaboration. The cooperative agreement between DESE and Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation (MVR) and RSB ensures joint planning of individualized educational plans and individualized plans for employment. This encourages full participation of students with visual disabilities in high school vocational education programs and experiences. This includes a Transition Handbook for the Cooperative Work Experience Program, jointly developed by the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and RSB staff, provides policy guidance on transition services. The handbook is available on the DESE website.
Similarly a Transition Brochure on transition services, jointly developed by staff of the (DESE) and RSB, is available on DESE’s website. It provides a single source for an overview of the transition services that are available from the state’s two vocational rehabilitation agencies. The target audience includes students, parents, school personnel, and community organizations that might be in contact with individuals who could potentially benefit from vocational rehabilitation services.
RSB provides representation on the Missouri Interagency Transition Team (MITT) which promotes interagency collaboration in Missouri at the state level by establishing a group vision for improving outcomes for young adults with disabilities. MITT consists of diverse state-level members, including RSB, that meet quarterly to share resources, develop goals and promote activities to improve transition education, pre-employment transition services, and post—secondary outcomes. It holds the annual Summer Transition Institute to provide further information and resources to education and RSB personnel regarding matters affecting students with disabilities.
RSB also provides representation and consultation to the Blind Student Task Force. The charge of the task force is to advise the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on issues pertaining to children who are blind and visually impaired. RSB has appointment authority for one position on the Blind Student Task Force.
RSB will approach in-state universities such as Missouri State University (MSU).MSU operates the only graduate education program for Teachers of the Visually Impaired in the state. Initial discussions could be held with regard to bridging the gap between academic and professional programs for blind and visually impaired.
RSB and MVR have developed and implemented a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the state. This MOU outlines each entity’s responsibilities in the delivery of adaptive equipment and technological aids and appliances for students with disabilities in colleges and universities throughout the state.