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:
VR Counselors routinely partner with students, their families, and teachers to ensure eligible students aged 14 to 21 receive vocational rehabilitation services, including pre-employment transition services.
In response to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), DBVI’s Education Coordinators provide support and technical assistance at the local level to children and students, their parents, school division administrators, and itinerant teachers for the visually impaired. The goal is to further students’ involvement in academics and extracurricular school activities.
DBVI has four Education Coordinator positions located in Regional Offices. Education Coordinators have graduate-level training and when appropriate, participate with VR staff in joint training initiatives per DBVI’s Personnel Development Plan.