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
- o. State's Strategies
Describe the required strategies and how the agency will use these strategies to achieve its goals and priorities, support innovation and expansion activities, and overcome any barriers to accessing the VR and the Supported Employment programs (See sections 101(a)(15)(D) and (18)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act and section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)):
- o. State's Strategies
o. 8. B. Support innovation and expansion activities; and
Current Narrative:
DVR has primarily utilized innovation and expansion reserves to support the State Rehabilitation Council and the State Independent Living Council. The SRC spent $16,000 during 2019. These funds were used to pay the operating expenses the SRC incurred to complete their mandated functions. DVR and the SRC have been actively working together to develop an even more robust partnership, ensuring the SRC is an active and engaged partners in improving VR services to Coloradans with disabilities. In addition to their routine activities, the SRC is developing plans to improve their evaluation of customer satisfaction, member outreach, and engagement with relevant policy impacting VR at the state and national level. SB16-077 established the Employment First Advisory Partnership (EFAP) and designated the SRC to convene this inter-departmental and cross-agency advisory group to make recommendations to support the implementation of Employment First principles and practices in Colorado. As the body responsible to convene the EFAP, SRC also expended funds to faciltiate the EFAP, ensuring the group was able to fulfill its responsibilities, which support the development and expansion of competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with the most significant disabilities.
In 2019, the State Independent Living Council (SILC) was allocated and fully spent $48,000. These funds were used to monitor and develop the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL); provide training and advocacy engagement opportunities for SILC members; and to organize and sponsor a Colorado Youth Leadership Forum (YLF). Beginning in the summer of 2018, the SILC has sponsored an annual YLF to prepare young adults with disabilities to serve as leaders within Colorado and their communities and to engage in the workforce. DVR's Office of Independent Living (Office) is the Designated State Entity for the SILC nad works with the SILC to improve and expand the services offered through the Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in Colorado. Of particular interest to DVR's Office and the SILC is supporting the CIL system expand upon the services they currently provie to include high quality pre-Employment Transition Services, as a fee-for-service vendor with DVR.
DVR routinely explores opportunities to develop innovative practices and expand services. Beginning in 2015, DVR began a comprehensive Process Improvement Effort (PIE) to evaluate a number of business practices with the goal of improving efficiencies and effectiveness. DVR assigned a full-time coordinator to guide this project from January 2018 - September 2018. When additional coordination was required to complete a few remaining projects, a part-time coordinator was assigned from February 2019 through January 2020. Additional staff from across the agency were engaged in these projects and implemented a variety of recommendations to streamline business processes. While a number of processes have been streamlined to improve VR services, the group also identified a need to further develop resources and methods of providing pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities. DVR has assigned a full-time position to coordinate and expand pre-ETS activities across Colorado.