Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Blind)
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
d. 2. A. Consultation and technical assistance to assist educational agencies in planning for the transition of students with disabilities from school to post-school activities, including VR services;
Current Narrative:
The formal interagency agreement with the Idaho State Department of Education (SDE), the Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (IDVR), and the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ICBVI) contains a number of provisions designed to promote communication and the sharing of technical expertise in transition planning. The agreement stipulates that the vocational rehabilitation agency must provide consultative and technical assistance services to assist educational agencies in planning for the transition of students with disabilities from school to post-school activities, including employment. The agencies agree that:
- They will encourage staff to work closely with LEAs to ensure coordination between education services, pre-employment transition services, and vocational rehabilitation services.
- ICBVI and IDVR counselors will provide training and information to school district personnel, students and families on pre-employment transition and vocational rehabilitation services, including their role as IEP team members.
- ICBVI and IDVR counselors are available to consult with educators concerning preemployment transition and vocational rehabilitation services for students to assist them toward employment.
- ICBVI and IDVR counselors will collaborate with the LEAs in their service area to identify a process for the counselors to provide input and participate in the development of the transition services included in IEPs.
- ICBVI and/or IDVR counselors may attend IEP team meetings for each referred student upon timely invitation by school personnel and the student and/or student’s parent or legal guardian. VR counselors may attend either in person or via video or telephone. The ICBVI and/or IDVR counselors will provide written recommendations, if requested, for use in developing IEPs when unable to attend.
- ICBVI and IDVR counselors will consult with educators concerning referral of students to ICBVI and/or IDVR for rehabilitation services, including pre-employment transition services. Students with blindness or visual impairments should be referred to ICBVI.
- Students with multiple disabilities may have dual cases with both IDVR and ICBVI to provide rehabilitation services.
- ICBVI and IDVR counselors will accept referrals for pre-employment transition or vocational rehabilitation services, when appropriate, and will work collaboratively with input from the student’s IEP team, for service provision and/or to develop an IPE. The vocational rehabilitation counselor, student, student’s parent or legal guardian, and members of the student’s IEP team will collaborate to identify required vocational rehabilitation services that will move the student towards their employment goal.
The Idaho Interagency Council on Secondary Transition is established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to advise, review, analyze, and monitor the implementation of the State’s Interagency Agreement on Secondary Transition. The authority to establish this Interagency Council lies in IDEA Section 640(b)(1)(A) and regulation 300.154. ICBVI continues to be involved in the Idaho Interagency Council on Secondary Transition with the purpose of ensuring that students with disabilities experience a collaborative, comprehensive system that facilitates a smooth transition from secondary school to adult life. The goal of this group is to increase the number of youth with disabilities who are actively engaged in postsecondary education, employment, and community activities. Interagency cooperative planning, information sharing, and the collaborative use of resources assist in accomplishing ICBVI’s mission at the state and local level.