Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Jointly, local Public Education Agency (PEA) staff and VR staff will identify students who will require and benefit from involvement in the VR program in order to meet postsecondary education and employment goals. Staff of the local PEA and VR will coordinate the development of the Individualized Education Plan and Individualized Plan for Employment with each other and will involve other community resources such as the Division of Developmental Disabilities and Regional Behavioral Health Authorities.

Services and activities mandated by Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) will be provided by the local PEA staff; these services and supports will not be duplicated by VR. PEA staff will develop a plan for transition services as mandated by IDEA. PEA staff will invite VR staff to participate in transition planning activities. VR staff will participate in individual student planning sessions, as available, and will provide VR program information as well as technical assistance with regard to services and community resources.

VR staff will provide informational presentations and material to parents and students regarding the vocational rehabilitation program. Eligibility and Order of Selection determinations will be made by qualified VR staff. The planning and development of the Individualized Plan for Employment will occur in conjunction with PEA staff, the student, and the student’s guardians. IPE’s will be developed and implemented by VR staff prior to the students exit from high school.

Students who are able to participate in the Transition School to Work (TSW) program through a Third Party Cooperative Agreement (TPCA) are afforded the opportunity to participate in a structured program of services which integrates vocational rehabilitation services into the classroom environment. These services are provided by both the local PEA staff and VR staff. Involvement in these enhanced services are intended to allow the student to learn skills necessary to ameliorate disability related barriers to achieving their postsecondary goals. PEA and VR staff will continue to develop and coordinate new transition services and expand or modify existing services to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities.

The PEA provides non–federal dollars to DES/Rehabilitation Services who in turn uses these funds to generate Federal Basic Support dollars for the purpose of funding Rehabilitation Services personnel, PEA personnel, and other costs associated with the provision of enhanced vocational services as agreed by both parties in the TPCA. Funds are not transferred between the PEAs and DES/Rehabilitation Services for the provision of required transition services.