Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for State Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
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.
- GEPA 427 Form Instructions for Application Package - Supported Employment
EQUITY FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND OTHER PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES
OMB Control Number 1894-0005 Expiration 02/28/2026
Section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) (20 U.S.C. 1228a) applies to a State applicant submitting a state plan for a formula grant from the US Department of Education. The State applicant is responsible for completing the GEPA Section 427 form that provides a description of the steps the State proposes to take to ensure all program beneficiaries have equitable access to, and participation in, its Federally funded, State-level project or activity.
GEPA Section 427 Form Instructions for State Applicants
State applicants must respond to the following four questions:
1. Describe how your entity’s existing mission, policies, or commitments ensure equitable access to, and equitable participation in, the proposed project or activity.
2. Based on your proposed project or activity, what barriers may impede equitable access and participation of students, educators, or other beneficiaries?
3. Based on the barriers identified, what steps will you take to address such barriers to equitable access and participation in the proposed project or activity?
4. What is your timeline, including targeted milestones, for addressing these identified barriers?
• Applicants identify any barriers that may impede equitable access and participation in the proposed project or activity, including, but not limited to, barriers based on economic disadvantage, gender, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, disability, age, language, migrant status, rural status, homeless status or housing insecurity, pregnancy, parenting, or caregiving status, and sexual orientation.
• Applicants use the associated text box to respond to each question. However, applicants might have already included some or all this required information in the narrative sections of their applications or their State Plans. In responding to this requirement, for each question, applicants may provide a cross-reference to the section(s) in their State Plans that includes the information responsive to that question on this form or may restate that information on this form.
• Applicants are not required to have mission statements or policies that align with equity to apply.
• Applicants that have already undertaken steps to address barriers must still provide an explanation and/or description of the steps already taken in each text box, as appropriate, to satisfy the GEPA Section 427 requirement.
• Applicants that believe no barriers exist must still provide an explanation and/or description to each question to validate that perception, as appropriate, to satisfy the GEPA Section 427 requirement.
Please refer to GEPA 427 - Form Instructions for Application Package
- GEPA 427 Form Instructions for Application Package - Supported Employment
1. Describe how your entity’s existing mission, policies, or commitments ensure equitable access to, and equitable participation in, the proposed project or activity.
Section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) (20 U.S.C. 1228a) applies to a State applicant submitting a state plan for a formula grant from the US Department of Education. The State applicant is responsible for completing the GEPA Section 427 form that provides a description of the steps the State proposes to take to ensure all program beneficiaries have equitable access to, and participation in, its Federally funded, State-level project or activity.
GEPA 427 - Form Instructions for Application Package
State applicants must respond to four questions.
The first of four questions is:
Describe how your entity’s existing mission, policies, or commitments ensure equitable access to, and equitable participation in, the proposed project or activity.
Current Narrative:
Texas Workforce Commission, Vocational Rehabilitation (TWC-VR) exists to help people with disabilities prepare for, obtain, maintain, and advance in meaningful employment.
TWC-VR offers supported employment services to help customers with the most significant disabilities achieve competitive integrated employment. Providers, known as supported employment specialists, provide supported employment services that include helping customers explore job options, assisting with job searches and training, and arranging extended services to help customers sustain meaningful long-term employment.
TWC-VR is committed to equitable access to and equitable participation in supported employment services. This includes a commitment to ensuring people with disabilities have quality jobs and careers, to strong collaborative partnerships that advance employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and to excellence in public service, including the recruitment and retention of staff who have a passion for serving people with disabilities.
Work at TWC-VR is conducted according to a set of values. These values serve as a cornerstone for high-quality service delivery and help to ensure equitable access to and equitable participation in supported employment services.
TWC-VR Values
- We value keeping our customers first in our priorities and decisions, and we measure our success by the success of our customers.
- We encourage and include diverse perspectives, backgrounds, cultures, and ideas because they enrich our lives and our work.
- Our behavior is honest, responsible, ethical, and accountable.
- We build strong, collaborative relationships with partner programs, schools, employers, and community organizations.
- We create a positive, productive work environment, enabled by supervision that empowers and trusts staff.
- We develop and cultivate specialized knowledge and services that provide targeted, quality, and timely service for customers.
- We are committed to continuous improvement to achieve our shared values and goals.
It is TWC-VR policy that no individual is excluded, denied benefits, limited participation, or otherwise discriminated against based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, or religion.
It is TWC-VR policy that VR customers are afforded basic customer rights, including the right to informed choice, to services that are nondiscriminatory, to protection of personal information, and to appeal decisions regarding planned services or eligibility for such services.
TWC-VR prohibits discrimination against VR customers based on gender identity, gender expression, and sex stereotyping. The VR counselor acknowledges the gender identity and works toward removing any barriers that may have a negative impact on employment opportunities. TWC-VR staff refer to each customer by the name and the gender-specific pronoun the customer prefers.
It is TWC-VR policy that accommodations, including auxiliary aids and services, must be provided, as needed, during VR service delivery to enable customers the ability to access and fully participate.
It is TWC-VR policy that all individuals be provided access to buildings, offices, and events, as well as information provided in the preferred mode of communication to enhance understanding.
Accommodations can vary depending on the specific needs of the individual and the context of the situation. The goal is to create an inclusive environment that allows individuals with disabilities to participate fully in various aspects of society.
The VR Standards for Providers Manual lists standards for physical locations and accessibility to ensure contractors meet each customer’s individual needs. These standards ensure that the customer can fully access and participate in services to achieve an employment goal.
Texas Workforce Commission maintains an Employment First policy and acknowledges that Employment First is the policy of the state, as set forth in Texas Government Code §531.02447, “that earning a living wage through competitive employment in the general workforce is the priority and preferred outcome for working-age individuals with disabilities who receive public benefits.”
TWC-VR is leading an Employment First Expansion project which employs several strategies to increase services to individuals with the most significant disabilities and to improve partnerships with Texas Health and Human Services and Texas Education Agency to provide a seamless service delivery system.
TWC-VR engages in numerous initiatives, programs, partnerships, and activities to inform, advocate for, and make available supported employment services statewide to customers. For more information, refer to the following descriptions in the VR Portion of the WIOA Combined State Plan for Texas (PYs 2024-2027):
- Description (b) Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment
- Description (d) Evaluation and Reports of Progress
- Description (e) Supported Employment Services
- Description (h) Waiver of Statewideness
- Description (i) Comprehensive System of Personnel Development
- Description (j) Coordination with Education Officials
- Description (k) Coordination with Employers
- Description (l) Interagency Cooperation with Other Agencies